Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday joined regional leaders in Ethiopia’s capital for the official launch of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the continent’s largest hydroelectric project.
The high-profile ceremony, hosted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, drew leaders and representatives from across Africa, underscoring the dam’s regional and continental significance. Prime Minister Abiy described GERD as both a national achievement and a Pan-African vision, symbolizing Ethiopia’s unity and ambition to power development across the region.
The GERD, built on the Blue Nile in the Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudanese border, has long been a source of national pride for Ethiopians. The multibillion-dollar project, which has been under construction for more than a decade, is expected to generate over 6,000 megawatts of electricity—making it Africa’s largest power plant.
For Somalia, participation in the launch reflects Mogadishu’s efforts to strengthen regional cooperation at a time when the Horn of Africa faces overlapping challenges, from climate shocks to security threats. Somalia, which has been working to rebuild its energy infrastructure, sees regional initiatives like GERD as opportunities for greater economic integration.
The project, however, has not been without controversy. Downstream countries, particularly Egypt and Sudan, have raised concerns about the dam’s impact on their water security. Despite years of negotiations, no final binding agreement has been reached on the dam’s operation and water-sharing arrangements.
Nonetheless, Tuesday’s launch marked a historic milestone for Ethiopia and the continent. For many Africans, GERD stands as a symbol of self-reliance, technological progress, and the promise of sustainable energy to drive growth.
President Mohamud’s attendance signals Somalia’s readiness to engage more actively in regional infrastructure and energy conversations, as the country positions itself within the broader Horn of Africa integration agenda.