In spite of nine years of negotiations since Ethiopia took advantage of the chaotic Arab Spring to begin construction of the $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile the concerned parties — Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa — are still far from reaching an agreement on various technical and legal issues.

Time is now of the essence to agree a solution to avoid possible all out military conflict.

The largest hydroelectric power plant on the continent of Africa is a source of national pride for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad who hopes to strengthen his nation’s electricity grid and plans to export electricity to neighbouring countries.

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