An Ethiopian official has directly challenged a persistent claim made by President Donald Trump regarding the funding of the nation's monumental Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Trump had stated last week that the controversial megadam was built "with United States money, largely," a claim that has been swiftly and unequivocally dismissed by Ethiopia as both false and "destructive."
Officially known as the GERD, this colossal project stands as Africa's largest hydroelectric plant, a beacon of progress and a profound source of national pride for millions of Ethiopians. For over 14 years, during its extensive construction, Ethiopian authorities have consistently maintained that the dam was financed solely through the government's budget, augmented by significant contributions from its diaspora and the dedicated Ethiopian people themselves. This narrative of self-reliance is deeply woven into the dam's identity.
On Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, the Deputy Director of the Gerd Coordination Office, minced no words in refuting Trump's assertions. She firmly stated that the dam was constructed "without any foreign aid." While the Gerd Coordination Office operates as a technically independent body, its primary mandate, established by the government, is to mobilize resources for the dam, lending weight to its financial declarations. Ms. Fikrte, acknowledging the diplomatic sensitivity, suggested that the Ethiopian government should respond to Trump's comments with "far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures."
However, Ms. Fikrte's denial has, ironically, prompted some Ethiopians to question just how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any clandestine deal between the government and the US, given its ostensibly independent status. This highlights an underlying layer of public scrutiny even within the supportive local context. Despite the unfolding controversy, Ethiopia's central government has yet to issue an official response to Trump's direct funding claims. The dam, which began generating electricity in 2022, reached full completion earlier this month, a testament to its long and arduous journey.
This is not the first instance of Trump making such claims. Just last month, in a post on his Truth Social platform, he similarly asserted that the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and warning it would "substantially reduce the water flowing into The Nile River." These remarks underscore the lingering concerns from downstream nations.
Indeed, the construction of the GERD has been a significant point of contention with Egypt, a historical ally of the Trump administration, and Sudan. Both nations, situated downstream on the River Nile, fear that the gargantuan dam – which spans over a mile long and stands 145 meters high on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopian highlands, a region supplying 85% of the Nile's waters – could severely disrupt their vital water supply.
