Addis Ababa, September 23, 2025 (FMC) – Thousands of residents in Sidama Region have taken to the streets of Hawassa to celebrate the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), joining a wave of nationwide festivities following the project’s inauguration.
The regional rally, held under the theme “We Did It in Unity,” attracted participants from multiple zones across Sidama as well as officials from the Hawassa city administration. Attendees expressed pride and gratitude, praising the government’s efforts to advance Ethiopia’s development and prosperity.
The GERD, Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, was officially inaugurated on September 9, 2025, by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region. Designed to generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity, the dam is expected to double Ethiopia’s energy capacity and position the country as a regional energy exporter.
Since the inauguration, similar celebrations have taken place across the country, reflecting widespread public enthusiasm and national pride. In Sidama, the rallies emphasized unity and collective achievement, highlighting the GERD as a symbol of Ethiopia’s progress and self-reliance.
The project, largely funded domestically, marks a historic milestone in Ethiopia’s development agenda, promising to alleviate power shortages, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen the country’s role in regional energy cooperation.