According to the East African Security Analysis (2026) energy transition among the east African nations would bring advantages of economic, diplomatic and social integration. In addition to be a key factor for sustainable growth, power integration can secure harmonized relations among the states of east Africa (East African Security Analysis, 2026). Ethiopia is driving the east African region by investing on energy as a pillar of its own national development and regional integration. The Continent of Africa Analyzing the GERD through the Pillars of Hydro Hegemony reveals a shift from Egyptian dominance toward a contested multipolar order in the Nile basin. Ethiopia’s assertion of material, bargaining, and ideational power challenged Egyptian long lasted hydro hegemony. Thus, the GERD represents more than a dam. It is a transformative force in Nile geopolitics, and it illustrates how upstream states can disrupt old assumption hierarchies and demand equitable shares. However, ones should understand that the framework of hydro hegemony is not static but subject to contestation, negotiation, and reconfiguration. As the hub of hydro power in East Africa, Ethiopia is managing power transmission and grid infrastructure both domestically and cross border. Transmission is a system of passing electric power over relatively long distances from central generating station to main substations (EEP, 2024). The grid infrastructure is an electric highway that links and carries electric power from power generation plants to the load centers through a transmission system with various voltage levels at HVDC, 500kV, 400kV, 230kV and 132kV (EEP, 2024. P. 12). Domestically, Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) governs 16305 km route length and 21335 km circuit length including substation line of 66 kV and 45 kV. The EAPP has three main strategic objectives to achieve among the Eastern African nations: to increase power supply in the region in order to increase access rate of the population to electricity in Eastern Africa, to reduce electricity production cost in the region by using power system interconnection and increase power exchange between countries, and to create a conductive environment for investment in order to facilitate integration projects financing in the fields of power generation and transmission in the region (EAPP objectives: https://eappool.org/). (Pulse of Africa English, 2025)
Speech of AU Commisioiner M. A. yousuf : 09 sept. 2025 (Pulse of Africa English, 2025: Beginning Minutes: 0: 17) … High dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed a historic day for Ethiopia. The inauguration of the Renaissance Dam will be remembered for generations to come. The inception of this project, its construction and today, its inauguration to decades of hard work, dedication and a visionary leadership. (Pulse Of Africa English, 2025): Beginnin Minutes: 0: 045) …. It is well known that its primary purpose is to produce green energy up to 5000 megawatts. Ethiopian people and the neighboring countries will certainly benefit from abundant source of electricity. I would like to seize momentous opportunity to congratulate his Excellency Prime Minister Abiy for his incredible achievement and the Ethiopian people as such, who believe in this project and finance it on their own savings, blood and sweat. (Pulse of Africa English, 2025: Beginning Minutes: 01:33) ……Your Excellences, the program for infrastructure development in Africa is one of the most strategic framework and flagship program of agenda 2063. (01: 44) It was launched in 2012. And it covered four major areas: (01:50) transport, energy, transboundary water resources, and information and communication technology. PETA provides the vision, policies strategy for large scale cross border infrastructure project. You’re Excellences, after a successful second African climate summit organized Addis Ababa yesterday, this dam comes as a testimony of words translated into action. Yes indeed, energy transition based on renewables, remains at the heart of our collective ambition on the continent.
02: 39) ….Now, as the chairperson of the African Union Commission, is also my duty to equal Egypt and Sudan's concerns with regards to the unimpeded flow of the Nile water and their expectations of a trilateral agreement. His Excellency Prime Minister Abiy reassured everybody in his statement, and he said, this time is not meant to harm anyone. 03: 18 The best way the three countries could resolve this issue is through diplomatic means, around the table of negotiations. I urge the three countries to resume dialog and talks on the basis of the 2015 agreement on principles signed in Khartoum. 03: 36The African Union Commission is ready to assist the three countries to find an amicable solution. Nobody is going to invent or reinvent the wheel. 04: 01There are successful experiences even on our continent that can be a good reference to that trilateral cooperation. I am referring to the very wise cooperation between Senegal, Mali and Mauritania through the organization for the promotion of Senegal River. Yes, it is possible to find common ground for collaboration. It takes political will and wisdom. My brother from Eswatini quoted the Bible. So maybe it's my turn to quote the Holy Quran Allah said in the Quran hail, we made a live everything from water. I thank you.
They did, though, fail to mention that Ethiopia has already taken twice unilateral action that has an impact, a negative impact, on the negotiating cycle. We thereby are encouraged that they have demonstrated all the elements that are contained in the resolution that has been draft resolution that has been submitted by the Republic of Tunisia. And therefore we look forward that that will reinforce and empower further the efforts of His Excellency, President filis hailgedi, the chairman of the African Union, to initiate a augmented negotiating cycle, with the assistance of the United Nations, the United States of America, the European Union, the potentially South Africa, and any other observers that the three states might request, we believe that again, the statements made related to the colonial nature of that has been inflicted on Ethiopia is again fallacious and unhelpful and does not conform to a reality. This issue has been extended now. These negotiations have continued over the past 10 years, the unilateralism that is being displayed by Ethiopia threatens the water security of Egypt and Sudan. It does imperil the livelihoods of 150 million inhabitants, and we have not sensed that there is a political will on the part of Sudan. This is not an unresolvable issue on the basis of technical and the best practices that exist on all of the continents, countries have been able to reach an agreement if the will exists. In this case, Ethiopia has not demonstrated the political will to reach an agreement, and that has been the main obstacle to reaching an agreement, despite the moderation and the flexibility that both Egypt and Sudan has shown. So we look now to the Security Council in its responsibilities in the area of preventive diplomacy to reiterate exactly what the 15 members have indicated in their statements, that they are supportive of the reinitiation of the negotiations under the auspices of the African Union and in an augmented fashion that allows the observers to provide the guidance and the recommendations and the technical expertise that might bring the countries to an equitable and legally binding agreement that can fulfill their aspirations, that responds to their needs and that
diffuses the potential escalation of conflict that will have dire consequences on the region and on the African continent as A whole. the issue of the grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam and its the existential threat that it poses, I think, only reinforces the competence of the necessity for the council to address this issue. And I think every member will have to provide the justification why they would not address this issue and determine the council especially since the draft resolution, once again reiterates every single thing that was said by the council members in supporting the African led negotiations, that it should be reinstated as soon as possible, that it should be enhanced by the presence of the observers that the three countries should reach a legally binding agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the Ethiopian Renaissance dam. The draft resolution has nothing other than those elements. Those elements were echoed by the statements of the members of the council. So I'm confident that that should be a there should be a demonstration of of what was said by the endorsement and the adoption of the draft resolution, Mister Minister, you said in the council that Egypt will not tolerate and cannot tolerate the current situation. So are there circumstances where you would consider military action? The matter of Egypt's protection of the rights of its citizen is inherent and is a matter that necessarily any responsible government would apply we have been in negotiations now for 10 years. We have indicated our good faith, our flexibility, and will continue to and in coming to the Security Council, I think is the ultimate demonstration of our desire that the international community assists the three countries at this very dangerous junction in terms of alleviating the tensions and encouraging the return to negotiations and to conclude those negotiations, as the Minister of Water of Ethiopia said, he seemed very willing to embark upon negotiations that he is equally unwilling to terminate, to come to a conclusion. If that is the tactic, as has been for the last
decade, then I don't see any resolution of the conflict, but Egypt is committed to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. Will continue to demonstrate every flexibility and desire to support the African Union process, but at the same time, it will recognizably defend the interests of its citizens, their livelihoods with all means available at this is its disposal. ………