ethioreview.org – An Ethiopian official has dismissed Donald Trump’s claim that the United States funded the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), calling it “false and destructive,” according to the BBC.
Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the GERD Coordination Office, rejected the former U.S. president’s assertion, stressing that the dam was constructed “without any foreign aid.” She stated that both the Ethiopian government and its citizens financed the $4 billion hydroelectric project over a 14-year period.
Trump had claimed last week that the dam on the Nile was built “with United States money, largely.” In June, he made a similar claim on his Truth Social platform, calling the project “stupidly financed by the United States of America” and accusing it of significantly reducing Nile River flows—echoing concerns voiced by Egypt and Sudan.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant, began generating electricity in 2022 and was officially completed earlier this month. Built on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia’s highlands, where roughly 85% of Nile waters originate, the GERD is seen as a national symbol of pride and a vital source of electricity in a country where an estimated 60% of the population lacks access to power.
According to the BBC, Fikrte urged the Ethiopian government to respond to Trump’s remarks “with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures.” Although her office is technically independent, it was established by the government to manage fundraising efforts and public support for the project.
Some Ethiopians have raised questions about whether the GERD Coordination Office would be aware of any potential bilateral arrangements between the U.S. and the Ethiopian government. As of now, federal authorities have not issued an official statement responding to Trump’s comments.
The dam was largely financed through domestic efforts. Citizens purchased bonds, civil servants contributed portions of their salaries, and Ethiopians in the diaspora sent donations. In the past year alone, the Coordination Office reported collecting 1.7 billion birr (approximately $12.3 million) from public contributions.
The GERD has long been a point of regional tension, particularly with Egypt and Sudan, who fear it could reduce their share of Nile waters. During his time in office, Trump aligned the U.S. more closely with Egypt during negotiations, and even threatened to cut aid to Ethiopia over the dispute.
Despite delays, budget overruns, and external pressure, the GERD remains a unifying national project for Ethiopia, with citizens continuing to support it as a symbol of sovereignty and self-reliance.
Source: BBC
