Wednesday September 17, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has
said that Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam project will have a significant
impact on the entire Horn of Africa, particularly on Nile River countries such
as Egypt and Sudan.
Speaking to Al-Arabiya television, President Mohamud
described the issue as sensitive and called for dialogue and constructive
cooperation to reach a lasting, mutually acceptable solution for all parties
concerned.
He stressed that Somalia’s ties with Ethiopia would not
affect its strategic relationship with Egypt. The President also underlined the
importance of prioritizing peace and development in the region without creating
new tensions.
Highlighting Somalia’s close partnership with Cairo, Mohamud
noted that Egypt has provided support in the areas of military training,
logistical assistance, and security strengthening.
“This demonstrates the deep relationship between the two
countries and Egypt’s commitment to participate in efforts to stabilize
Somalia,” he said.
On regional concerns, the President dismissed reports of an
imminent war between Ethiopia and Eritrea as baseless speculation, emphasizing
that there were no signs of conflict between the two neighbors.
His remarks came as Ethiopia on Tuesday officially
inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest
hydropower project. Construction of the 5,150-megawatt facility began in 2011
on the Blue Nile River near the Sudanese border.
The project, with a designed storage capacity of 74 billion
cubic meters, has long been a source of tension among Ethiopia, Egypt, and
Sudan. While Cairo and Khartoum fear it could reduce their water share, Addis
Ababa insists the dam will not harm downstream countries.