eli5 What is the GERD dispute and why is it happening?
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There’s this river called the Nile. it runs through countries like Egypt and Ethiopia (and others). Ethiopia built a dam in it’s own country to generate hydro power from the Nile.
It’s not specifically about what Ethiopia *Will do* with the dam (generate power), but what Ethiopia *Can do* with the dam, which is cut off water resources to countries down stream, which rely on the Nile for it’s resource. These countries are understandably edgy about being blackmailed in the future.
if you mean the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, its a dispute about water.
the dam will block the flow of the Blue Nile, one of the tributaries of the Nile proper. like all dams, it will create a lake behind it, and egypt is basically upset that this dam will reduce the amount of water they will get for several years until the lake has filled up (anything up to 7 years form now, depending on a host of variables, some man made and some natural).
Ethiopia, Eygpt and Sudan are all affected by the dam, and due to regional politics, their is little co-operation between the states on this issue. Egypt are worried about the reduction in control of their primary fresh water supply.
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