Bridging the Gap in the Nile Waters Dispute

Men at work on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project, 2014.

Men at work on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project, 2014. (Photo: Jacey Fortin)

Ethiopia’s decision to build the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2011 triggered a three-way dispute between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan that remains unresolved. Settling the dispute before the dam comes online is critical for mitigating the risk for future conflict. Nile basin countries can take a number of trust-building measures to reduce mutual suspicion. In the short term, the three countries should reach an agreement on how quickly Ethiopia will fill the dam’s reservoir. In the long-term, negotiating a comprehensive transboundary resource management agreement could provide a lasting framework for resource sharing.

Read the Report (PDF)

Security Topics:  Regional and International Security Cooperation