The visit by 13 intelligence officials comes as Ethiopia attempts to boost the image of the dam, which has been a source of bitter tension with Egypt
15 May, 2025
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been under construction since 2011 and is now generating electricity [Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images]
A group of African intelligence chiefs visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Wednesday in a public relations effort by Ethiopia.
Thirteen intelligence officials were taken to GERD while visiting the country for the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa, held in Addis Ababa from Sunday to Thursday.
The officials were briefed on GERD’s development, which, according to Deputy Director of the project Ephraim Hailay Mikkel, is already producing electricity and is set to generate 2,600 megawatts of power, up from its current production of 1,800 megawatts, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.
Tazer Gebre Qezabihir, the Deputy Director General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service, claimed the visit was part of efforts by the Ethiopian government to combat “disinformation” about the project.
He said that the project was an example of how African countries can develop mega projects, according to the Ethiopian news agency Fana.
Downstream countries, such as Sudan and Egypt in particular, however fear that the controversial project will deprive them of life-giving Nile water, exposing their populations to drought and famine.
The Nile river provides over 90 percent of Egypt’s water and construction of the Ethiopian dam began in 2011, when Egypt was preoccupied with internal politics following the ouster of longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Years of negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia over the project have largely stalled, with Egypt calling its water security a “red line”. In the past, Egyptian leaders have threatened military action if Ethiopia were to proceed with the construction of a dam on the Nile River
The visit from security officials is the latest in Ethiopia’s efforts to promote GERD, with the inclusion of the project in February’s Nile Day celebrations, which sparked condemnation from Egypt.
Several high ranking officials from African countries, including the water ministers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan, visited GERD during the celebrations.