Cairo: Ethiopia yesterday officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydropower project in Africa. A ceremony was held near the dam in the north-western Benishangul-Gumuz region to celebrate the project's official completion. It was attended by senior Ethiopian officials, African leaders, and representatives from the African Union and other international organizations, including African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Kenyan President William Ruto, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

According to Nam News Network, construction of the 5,150-megawatt hydropower project began in 2011, on the Blue Nile River near the Sudanese border. The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, emphasized the country's commitment to growth while maintaining harmony with neighboring nations. "We are firm believers in collective advancement," Abiy stated, reaffirming Ethiopia's pledge to pursue development without compromising the interests of its neighbors.