Wayne Lumbasi
Ethiopia has firmly rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States financed its colossal Nile River project, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Speaking to parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that the dam, Africa’s largest hydropower project, was built entirely with Ethiopian resources, with no foreign loans or aid from any country, including the United States.
The GERD, which cost around $4 billion and is expected to generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity, has long been a symbol of Ethiopia’s ambition to expand its energy capacity and drive economic development. According to officials, the project was financed through domestic taxes, public fundraising campaigns, and bonds purchased by citizens at home and abroad, underscoring a strong national commitment to self-reliance.
Trump’s remarks, delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, suggested that the U.S. had funded the dam and described it as “blocking the Nile.” He also hinted at renewed American involvement in negotiations between Ethiopia and downstream nations, particularly Egypt, which relies heavily on the Nile for its water supply.
Ethiopian authorities swiftly dismissed these claims as inaccurate. Project officials highlighted that no international lender, including the United States, contributed to the dam’s construction. A portion of specialized equipment, such as turbines, was sourced with limited financing from China, but the bulk of the project relied entirely on Ethiopian resources.
The issue of funding is closely linked to ongoing regional tensions over the Nile. Egypt and Sudan, downstream countries that depend on the river, have expressed concerns over the dam’s impact on water flow. Ethiopia has consistently maintained that GERD is designed to regulate water and generate power, not to deprive its neighbors of their share of the Nile.
For Ethiopia, the dam represents more than energy production. It stands as a testament to national ambition, technological advancement, and the country’s determination to achieve major infrastructure projects without foreign dependence. Prime Minister Abiy’s rejection of Trump’s claims reinforces Ethiopia’s stance that GERD is an entirely homegrown achievement , a project that has galvanized citizens and investors alike to contribute to the country’s development.
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