![A combination picture of handout satellite images shows a view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) July 25, 2017 (top left), July 20, 2018 (top right), July 3, 2019 (bottom left), July 9, 2020 (bottom right) in Ethiopia, in these Sentinel-1 satellite imageries obtained by Reuters on July 14, 2020.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5PLXAFELPHYBLDK4EMKKYCJSJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=85f1528d546602a54e6dc43044bcb5e614f8025ed1ba0034646475874b6649f6&width=400&height=225)
![A satellite image taken on June 26, 2020 shows a close-up view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Maxar Technologies via Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L27PPHM5E2FO6BGNVYEVLPRJOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3ca6ef8c4cbdcedb440cbce943b4dfad3bf87ebd4c5b913718ff8c8f524a501&width=400&height=225)
![The construction site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba in the North West of Ethiopia, seen in November 2017. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2RU62FW7UYKC2TUKHLK6744CY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d8c7b3310ae3c61d59e5071f605925e8db7a6d33da966e9b6a37a8b7acf65dd&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7OHKOSSEZGBUXNWUN4CUNN5YZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4fba6e9d3cebbe6da6d368c59434e8570fb694b3497105cb92635477aed9c3dc&width=400&height=225)
![An aerial view of water levels at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia, 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIN3QUJOQ6XBCIRWK4AW7WOKC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7edb7f2589f7b7a9f0d91f7e2a083cf4f2919472fc813b3d74d93cd0dd07aca2&width=400&height=225)
![The Blue Nile River is seen as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam reservoir fills near the Ethiopia-Sudan border, in this broad spectral image taken on November 6, 2020. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSHUZHYAX4DCXQI3ULCKT2FKMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9eea59a2ed207a2e5516a5429ef0b0655a355416b7689bcb3678dc91b3c5d4e1&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of discord for years. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VM2DBQ5MKETURQBNCZIRWEOAZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f81f2b25ce832feb6a44693665006472ee3850b3388692feafc24ecceb14ee83&width=400&height=225)
![The GERD dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia has been under construction since 2011. EPA/MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BDRGLVY5YOPHJMKONS4XTQ43VY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8043927fd0e3f87e0b67d8fae8af6ae8fc2d62fbadbfda9ff90660e9aa1257ad&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River is considered by Ethiopia to be integral to its energy supply, but neighbouring countries say it jeopardises their own water resources. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UTF4YFOYJGNORQIPNTPEMXA5IM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c297ee5345de75f5cb65d46c018a5b9e6fbff5e2afd0a61c4f62040d055fada&width=400&height=225)
![This frame grab from a video obtained from the Ethiopian Public Broadcaster (EBC) on July 20 and July 21, 2020 and released on July 24, 2020 shows an aerial view of water levels at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MCUNPE2EJGPLA43KBKBXW5TVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf8732349b914c6489796c0a7ce3060e11f569ac2be2a95e17a1f83ade1ed0ef&width=400&height=225)
![A view of northwestern Ethiopia that focuses on the status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Blue Nile River on July 11, 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKX2AA3UHWICYVDDVXVYIBN3T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc0ce763e91d8c9767a1b75c59b08d39a6497eb5cc000b8fbf7769640336ae86&width=400&height=225)
![A handout satellite image shows a closeup view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia June 26, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M2WY3FWJ3NMGREZPS7BQ7KK6RM.jpg?smart=true&auth=def7c8831850d5780688d2c5d0ea72f88c15237d232f5cb208d3e803152fd53b&width=400&height=225)
![The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will return to Washington this week for another round of talks to reach an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam after missing the deadline last month. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CSDBD65B7O4FCHN4FG3V56LRJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d891239e0e3b231cb720a5e2d213389177d9e287bb592c3c45641d52d6aafc53&width=400&height=225)
![The Blue Nile river flows near the site of the planned Grand Renaissance Dam near Assosa in Ethiopia. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TEPJMQ5MQWHHYYVPHDBP5GBYZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=551857c9c96279d1ae8730417dc6dc41981cfc479d7875cea7eda2a7743a2427&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Renaissance Dam hydroelectric project in Ethiopia. Egypt belives Adis Abbaba is being deliberatley slow in negotiations. William Lloyd George / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZNMF6JU63Y6VXM5OY73FQ7SSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=32984febfc0e08c079d9c5212a692408912f8f6209ced55bba98f256fbfe485f&width=400&height=225)
![A combination picture of handout satellite images shows a view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) July 25, 2017 (top left), July 20, 2018 (top right), July 3, 2019 (bottom left), July 9, 2020 (bottom right) in Ethiopia, in these Sentinel-1 satellite imageries obtained by Reuters on July 14, 2020.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5PLXAFELPHYBLDK4EMKKYCJSJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=85f1528d546602a54e6dc43044bcb5e614f8025ed1ba0034646475874b6649f6&width=400&height=225)
![A satellite image taken on June 26, 2020 shows a close-up view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Maxar Technologies via Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L27PPHM5E2FO6BGNVYEVLPRJOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3ca6ef8c4cbdcedb440cbce943b4dfad3bf87ebd4c5b913718ff8c8f524a501&width=400&height=225)
![The construction site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba in the North West of Ethiopia, seen in November 2017. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2RU62FW7UYKC2TUKHLK6744CY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d8c7b3310ae3c61d59e5071f605925e8db7a6d33da966e9b6a37a8b7acf65dd&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7OHKOSSEZGBUXNWUN4CUNN5YZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4fba6e9d3cebbe6da6d368c59434e8570fb694b3497105cb92635477aed9c3dc&width=400&height=225)
![An aerial view of water levels at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia, 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIN3QUJOQ6XBCIRWK4AW7WOKC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7edb7f2589f7b7a9f0d91f7e2a083cf4f2919472fc813b3d74d93cd0dd07aca2&width=400&height=225)
![The Blue Nile River is seen as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam reservoir fills near the Ethiopia-Sudan border, in this broad spectral image taken on November 6, 2020. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSHUZHYAX4DCXQI3ULCKT2FKMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9eea59a2ed207a2e5516a5429ef0b0655a355416b7689bcb3678dc91b3c5d4e1&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of discord for years. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VM2DBQ5MKETURQBNCZIRWEOAZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f81f2b25ce832feb6a44693665006472ee3850b3388692feafc24ecceb14ee83&width=400&height=225)
![The GERD dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia has been under construction since 2011. EPA/MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BDRGLVY5YOPHJMKONS4XTQ43VY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8043927fd0e3f87e0b67d8fae8af6ae8fc2d62fbadbfda9ff90660e9aa1257ad&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River is considered by Ethiopia to be integral to its energy supply, but neighbouring countries say it jeopardises their own water resources. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UTF4YFOYJGNORQIPNTPEMXA5IM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c297ee5345de75f5cb65d46c018a5b9e6fbff5e2afd0a61c4f62040d055fada&width=400&height=225)
![This frame grab from a video obtained from the Ethiopian Public Broadcaster (EBC) on July 20 and July 21, 2020 and released on July 24, 2020 shows an aerial view of water levels at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MCUNPE2EJGPLA43KBKBXW5TVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf8732349b914c6489796c0a7ce3060e11f569ac2be2a95e17a1f83ade1ed0ef&width=400&height=225)
![A view of northwestern Ethiopia that focuses on the status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Blue Nile River on July 11, 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKX2AA3UHWICYVDDVXVYIBN3T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc0ce763e91d8c9767a1b75c59b08d39a6497eb5cc000b8fbf7769640336ae86&width=400&height=225)
![A handout satellite image shows a closeup view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia June 26, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M2WY3FWJ3NMGREZPS7BQ7KK6RM.jpg?smart=true&auth=def7c8831850d5780688d2c5d0ea72f88c15237d232f5cb208d3e803152fd53b&width=400&height=225)
![The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will return to Washington this week for another round of talks to reach an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam after missing the deadline last month. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CSDBD65B7O4FCHN4FG3V56LRJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d891239e0e3b231cb720a5e2d213389177d9e287bb592c3c45641d52d6aafc53&width=400&height=225)
![The Blue Nile river flows near the site of the planned Grand Renaissance Dam near Assosa in Ethiopia. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TEPJMQ5MQWHHYYVPHDBP5GBYZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=551857c9c96279d1ae8730417dc6dc41981cfc479d7875cea7eda2a7743a2427&width=400&height=225)
![The Grand Renaissance Dam hydroelectric project in Ethiopia. Egypt belives Adis Abbaba is being deliberatley slow in negotiations. William Lloyd George / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZNMF6JU63Y6VXM5OY73FQ7SSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=32984febfc0e08c079d9c5212a692408912f8f6209ced55bba98f256fbfe485f&width=400&height=225)
![A combination picture of handout satellite images shows a view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) July 25, 2017 (top left), July 20, 2018 (top right), July 3, 2019 (bottom left), July 9, 2020 (bottom right) in Ethiopia, in these Sentinel-1 satellite imageries obtained by Reuters on July 14, 2020.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5PLXAFELPHYBLDK4EMKKYCJSJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=85f1528d546602a54e6dc43044bcb5e614f8025ed1ba0034646475874b6649f6&width=400&height=225)
Egypt's diplomatic reach grows further in Africa with no end in sight to Nile dam crisis
Egyptian leadership counsels against conflict to resolve dispute with Ethiopia and instead visits Addis Ababa’s neighbours
![Hamza Hendawi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd19fdbcc-f962-44d4-8282-3338a0550c7e.png?smart=true&auth=4d21e32ab7cc6f3efcb0a50da2b489234eb013c147f5b8108cb74285962fe0f3&width=70&height=70)
Hamza Hendawi
June 01, 2021
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