An Analytical Essay Based on the Embassy of Ethiopia in Israel’s Clarification Statement
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is more than a hydroelectric power project—it is a monument of national pride, resilience, and determination. In response to recent misleading remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Embassy of Ethiopia in Israel issued a clear and firm statement titled “Clarifying the Facts: GERD is an Ethiopian Achievement, Built by Ethiopians.” This public communication underscores the financial independence behind GERD's construction and its symbolic importance for Ethiopia's sovereignty and development vision.
1. The Misconception and the Clarification
According to the embassy’s statement, Donald Trump’s recent comments once again sparked confusion over the source of GERD's funding. The statement emphasised that this was the second time such incorrect claims were made, requiring a respectful but firm correction. The embassy asserts that the dam was never financed by the United States or any foreign donor. Instead, it was built exclusively through Ethiopian public contributions, diaspora remittances, and domestic resources, with no loans, grants, or external support.
This direct clarification aims to protect the narrative of Ethiopia’s development and counter any misinformation that could undermine the country’s autonomy or delegitimise people's efforts.
2. The Intentional Path to Sovereignty
The embassy further emphasised that Ethiopia’s decision to self-finance GERD was intentional. This was not merely a technical or financial decision, but a political and ideological stance—a reflection of Ethiopia’s aspiration for national sovereignty and self-reliant development. In an era when many large-scale African projects are heavily influenced by foreign capital, GERD stands as an exception and a symbol of Pan-African pride.
By consciously avoiding foreign debt or conditional aid, Ethiopia safeguarded the project from geopolitical pressure and maintained complete control over planning, implementation, and operation.
3. GERD as a Symbol of Unity and National Purpose
The message concludes by recognising GERD as a powerful example of unity. The dam is not just a state-driven project but a people-powered achievement. It brought together millions of Ethiopians from various walks of life, both inside and outside the country, united by a shared purpose. This unity transcended ethnic and political divisions, reaffirming that national goals can be met through collective sacrifice and vision.
The embassy's statement also references a July 2025 article from Horn Review titled “GERD: A Leap Towards Pan-Africanism,” reinforcing the dam’s broader symbolic role in Africa’s struggle for economic independence and self-determination.
4. Global Implications and Geopolitical Context
This public clarification also reflects the broader tensions in global diplomacy concerning Nile waters. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly expressed concerns about GERD’s impact on downstream water flow, while Ethiopia has maintained that the dam is essential for energy security and poverty reduction. Trump’s earlier remarks in 2020 even suggested that Egypt “might blow up the dam,” comments that sparked outrage and global criticism.
Therefore, statements like the one issued by the Ethiopian embassy not only correct misinformation but also serve as diplomatic tools to reinforce national narratives and defend sovereign interests in the international arena.
🔚 Conclusion
The Embassy of Ethiopia in Israel’s statement regarding GERD is more than a factual correction—it is a powerful declaration of Ethiopia’s agency, unity, and development philosophy. GERD is not merely a dam but a national project financed by Ethiopians' blood, sweat, and hope. It stands as a shining beacon for Africa, showing that even the most ambitious dreams can be realised without external dependency through unity, sincere dance, and clarity of purpose. In the statement, “GERD stands as a powerful example of what Ethiopians can achieve when united by purpose.”
📚 Reference:
Embassy of Ethiopia in Israel (2025). Clarifying the Facts: GERD Is an Ethiopian Achievement, Built by Ethiopians. [Facebook Post]. Retrieved from: https://hornreview.org/2025/07/08/gerd-a-leap-towards-pan-africanism
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