Ethiopian Cardinal Appeals for Dialogue Over Controversial Dam Project in New Year Message

The member of the Congregation of the Mission (CM) founded by St. Vincent de Paul also expressed his appreciation for the mediation efforts being undertaken by the international community.

“I am grateful for all the efforts of the international organizations, especially the African Union, which are facilitating such dialogues. The African Union’s stand: African problems with African solutions is encouraging,” Cardinal Souraphiel said.

Located in Western Ethiopia, the US$4 billion GERD project has been considered one of the world’s most controversial dam projects due to the protracted international dispute it has triggered among the countries over the sharing of the waters of the Blue Nile.

Set to start its operations by the end of 2022, the dam, when realized, will be the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, doubling Ethiopia’s power generation capacity and thus allowing for export to neighboring countries within the East African regions.

However, Egypt whose 90 percent of freshwater supply is from the Nile River is concerned that GERD is an existential threat to her population. 

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Sudan, located between Egypt and Ethiopia, is also concerned that GERD will endanger its own dams. 

In July, Cardinal Souraphiel, who doubles as the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia said that the Church “aims at a just solution for fair use of these international waters.”

In the September 10 message, the Prelate said, “As it is known, Ethiopia is building a dam, called the Great Renaissance Dam of Ethiopia, on the Abay River, known also as the Blue Nile, which flows to join the White Nile in Omdurman (Khartoum) and continues its journey to Egypt and ends in the Mediterranean Sea.”

He continued, “Water is life and, as such, it is right that the three countries: Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt are giving it high value.”

The Ethiopian New Year falls on the 11^th of September except during leap year when it is celebrated on September 12.

The Ethiopian Calendar has thirteen months. The last month, Pagume, which has only five days (six during leap year), is the shortest.

“Happy Ethiopian New Year! May it be a blessed year of good neighborliness, peace, health, and prosperity,” Cardinal Souraphiel said on New Year eve and added, “I especially would like to convey my New Year best wishes to Sudan and Egypt.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.