Ethiopia has completed construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a multi-billion-dollar hydroelectric project on the Blue Nile, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The dam, which began construction in 2011 with an estimated budget of $4 billion, is Africa's largest hydroelectric plant with a planned capacity exceeding 6,000 megawatts. Ethiopia announced that the dam will be officially inaugurated in September 2025 and has extended an invitation to Egypt, Sudan, and other Nile Basin countries to join the opening ceremony. Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the GERD represents a shared opportunity rather than a threat to downstream nations. However, Egypt and Sudan have expressed strong opposition, citing concerns over reduced water flow and accusing Ethiopia of imposing a "fait accompli" by completing the dam unilaterally without a legally binding agreement. Egypt's water resources minister condemned Ethiopia's approach as an attempt to assert water dominance and reject cooperative partnership principles. Despite years of negotiations, no binding agreement has been reached, escalating tensions among the Nile Basin countries. The dam is fully funded by Ethiopians and is seen as a major source of national pride and a strategic infrastructure project aimed at meeting domestic energy needs and potential power exports.