The Egyptian & Ethiopian perspectives on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

September 11, 2020

Discover the 4th Chapter of the Annual Report on Africa’s Geopolitics 2020 on the Egyptian & Ethiopian perspectives on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, with Sara Mokaddem, International Relations Specialist at the Policy center, and Nihal El Mquirmi, Researcher in International Relations at the Policy Center for the New South The 2011 announcement of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s construction came at a critical time, as Egypt was in the midst of a revolution and relations between Egypt and Ethiopia were already tense. Despite initial Egyptian threats of undertaking military action, Ethiopia pursued the construction of what has been presented as an essential part of its national and, to some extent, regional development. Tensions between the Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been extremely high for the past years, and despite having met several times, negotiations are at a deadlock. This chapter explores the Egyptian and Ethiopian perspectives on the issue, and analyses the points of contention and technical aspects that have impeded the two countries from finding a common solution. Read more about it : https://www.policycenter.ma/publications/egyptian-and-ethiopian-perspectives-grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam This chapter was originally published in "Rapport annuel sur la géopolitique de l’Afrique - 2020" : https://www.policycenter.ma/publications/rapport-annuel-sur-la-géopolitique-de-lafrique-2020

Speakers
Nihal El Mquirmi
International Relations Specialist
Nihal El Mquirmi is an International Relations Specialist within the Department of Research in International Relations at the Policy Center for the New South. Her research focuses on North Africa, the gender-security nexus and the use of Private Military and Security Companies. Nihal joined the Policy Center for the New South in March 2019 following the completion of her M.A. in International Security at the University of Warwick, and her B.A. Hons in International Relations from Complutense University of Madrid. Prior to joining the Policy Center, Nihal interned at the General Consulate of Morocco in Brussels and at the Mission of Morocco to the European Union. ...

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    Sous la direction de
    June 18, 2025
    Bientôt disponible en vente sur Livremoi. Les différentes éditions du Rapport annuel de la géopolitique de l’Afrique, que le Policy Center for the New South publie chaque année, se suivent mais ne se ressemblent pas. Elles ne gardent en commun que leur inscription, dans une même ligne éditoriale, celle qui privilégie l’Afrique en particulier et le Sud en Général. Les différentes éditions se ressemblent en ce sens que leur objet, à toutes, est de permettre à des Africains d ...
  • Authors
    June 18, 2025
    In 2000, The Economist dismissed Africa as the “Hopeless Continent”—a label reflecting a broader system of marginalization rooted in colonial legacy and post-Cold War neglect. This essay offers a realist reappraisal, arguing that Africa’s growing strategic relevance is not the result of benevolence, but of structural necessity.Amid a fracturing global order and the rise of transactional geopolitics under Trump 2.0’s Bessent Doctrine, Africa has become indispensable: rich in critical ...
  • May 28, 2025
    Ce Policy Paper analyse l’érosion progressive de l’ambition d’influence internationale de l’Afrique du Sud, jadis portée par un capital symbolique exceptionnel issu de sa transition postapartheid. Il montre comment Pretoria, longtemps perçue comme une puissance morale et normative au service de la transformation continentale et multilatérale, fait désormais face à des contraintes structurelles qui fragilisent son rôle sur la scène internationale.À partir d’un cadrage histor ...
  • May 27, 2025
    تتناول هذه الحلقة الأهمية الاستراتيجية المتزايدة للفضاء البحري لإفريقيا الأطلسية، في ظل تصاعد رهانات السيادة والأمن البحري والتعاون الاقتصادي. نناقش سبل الاستفادة من الثروات البحرية الهائلة، وسبل تعزيز الاقتصاد الأزرق والتنمية المستدامة. نتطرق إلى التهديدات الأمنية كالصيد غير القانوني و...
  • Authors
    Pascal Chaigneau
    Eugène Berg
    Thierry Garcin
    Jérôme Evrard
    Anne-Sophie Raujol
    Oumar Ba
    Niagalé Bagayoko
    Alain Oudot de Dainville
    May 12, 2025
    Prochainement disponible sur Livremoi.   Les Dialogues Stratégiques, fruit d'une collaboration entre le HEC Center for Geopolitics et le Policy Center for the New South, constituent une plateforme d'échanges biannuelle dédiée à l’analyse des grandes tendances mondiales et des problématiques régionales qui lient l’Europe et l’Afrique. Réunissant praticiens, décideurs, universitaires et représentants des médias, cet espace de réflexion permet de décoder les transformations ...
  • April 18, 2025
    In this episode, we discuss the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, exploring its key terms and strategic motivations. We assess how the deal reshapes the securit ...
  • Authors
    April 3, 2025
    Le présent ouvrage reprend les contributions présentées à l’occasion de la première édition de la Conférence-débat sur les enjeux stratégiques des espaces maritimes de l’Afrique atlantique organisée par le Policy Center for the New South le 16 avril 2024. Une Conférence-débat qui procède d’une double logique : continuité et originalité. Une logique de continuité, d’abord, parce que l’Atlantique a toujours constitué pour le Policy Center, depuis la création du think ...
  • Authors
    December 24, 2024
    Over the past 50 years, international law relevant to the Sahara Issue has evolved significantly. Yet, even recent developments, such as a decision by the EU court and a proposal by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to partition the Saharan provinces, have not adequately accounted for these advancements. Actions by a state that may not have been scrutinized in 1975 could now face condemnation under contemporary legal standards. Notably, the right to self-determination must not ...
  • November 21, 2024
    In this episode of Africafé, Dr. Marcus Vinicius de Freitas, Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, examines the evolution of transatlantic relations over the past three decades. From NATO's strategic role to the impact of Russia and China's global ambitions, the dis...