Ethiopia Delays the Next Round of Filling the Renaissance Dam

During a session on July 7 at the Ethiopian House of Representatives, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that Ethiopia will delay the next round of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The fourth filling of the major hydroelectric dam on the Nile River was scheduled for early August, but is now postponed until September. Abiy said: “This year’s filling will be done differently from the previous three rounds by carrying out the filling in such a way as to alleviate the concerns of the neighboring people.” Abiy affirmed that his decision was based on the effort to foster regional cooperation and maintain positive relations with its neighbors. His decision should be seen in the context of regional discussion surrounding the crisis in Sudan.