An Ethiopian official has firmly denied U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that the United States “largely” funded the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), calling the claim “false and destructive.”
Trump made the remark last week, suggesting that the controversial hydroelectric project, Africa’s largest, was built with U.S. money.
However, Ethiopian officials have refuted the statement, emphasizing that GERD has been a homegrown project, financed primarily by the Ethiopian government and public contributions.
“This is not only incorrect but undermines the tremendous sacrifices made by Ethiopians to realize this national project,” the official said. “The dam stands as a symbol of Ethiopian pride and sovereignty.”
The GERD, constructed on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, has been a major source of national unity in Ethiopia since work began 14 years ago.
Despite regional tensions with Egypt and Sudan over its impact on Nile water flows, the Ethiopian government has maintained that the dam is essential for economic development and energy generation.
Ethiopia’s government launched an internal funding campaign at the project’s inception, relying on local bonds, donations, and state financing to avoid external political influence.
While the United States has provided aid to Ethiopia in various sectors over the years, officials stress that GERD was not part of that funding.
Trump’s remarks have sparked concern in Ethiopia, with some viewing them as an attempt to distort the dam’s legacy and fuel regional controversy.
Author: Bashir Juma
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