• Ethiopia inaugurated the $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa's largest hydroelectric project.
• The dam aims to generate over 5,150 megawatts of electricity, more than doubling Ethiopia's power supply.
• Egypt and Sudan express concerns over the dam's impact on their water security, calling it an "existential threat."
• The project is seen as a symbol of national pride and unity for Ethiopia, despite regional tensions.
• Leaders from several African nations express support for power imports from Ethiopia following the dam's completion.

Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which stands as Africa's largest hydroelectric project. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the dam as a "great achievement for all black people" and a crucial step for Ethiopia's economic future, aiming to generate over 5,150 megawatts of power and boost national self-reliance, according to BBC and Reuters.

The dam has been a source of regional concern, particularly for Egypt and Sudan, which have voiced fears that it undermines their water security, especially given Egypt's dependence on the Nile for nearly all its fresh water. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has called the dam an "existential threat" and expressed intentions to defend Egypt's water rights, as stated in statements to the Reuters and highlighted by Al Jazeera.

The dam's construction, which started in 2011 under a fully domestic funding plan, is celebrated by many Ethiopians as a symbol of national unity amid long-standing internal conflicts. Premier Abiy Ahmed characterized the project as a "shared opportunity" meant to foster regional cooperation, according to TRT Global and SCMP.

While the dam's inauguration attracted regional leaders from countries like Kenya and South Sudan, who expressed intentions to import electricity from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan's absence signals ongoing tensions. Both countries continue to demand legally binding agreements regarding the dam's operation and filling, as they worry about its potential impacts on their water supplies, as noted by Africanews and NPR.

Despite the fears expressed by its neighbors, Ethiopia maintains that the GERD will not significantly harm downstream flows, emphasizing that the dam's function is to produce hydroelectric power rather than consume irrigation water. Observers note that the dam represents both an economic potential for Ethiopia and a source of geopolitical friction in the region, as indicated by LA Times and Dawn.