The inaugural ceremonies for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) kicked off on Monday evening, with multiple events taking place ahead of Tuesday’s official inauguration.
According to Ethiopia’s Fana TV, the ceremony was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Speaker of the House of Federation Agegnehu Teshager, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chafo, and Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh.
Also participating were senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Prosperity Party’s Coordination Center Adem Farah, Former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, former Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, along with regional presidents and ministers.
The GERD is set to be officially inaugurated on Tuesday.
The program on the eve of the inauguration featured a variety of events, including a 1.8-kilometer walk by senior officials along a road on the dam’s banks. The program also included a drone show and other activities.
Reports from official Ethiopian media, cited by Russia Today, stated that tens of thousands of people participated in marches and events in Addis Ababa and the Benishangul-Gumuz region, where the dam is located.
Chants from the crowd included “Renaissance for Ethiopia” and “The Nile for All.”
The celebrations, which began Monday morning and continued until the official inauguration, included artistic performances, musical shows, and the distribution of traditional food.
Young people and children widely participated, raising banners that symbolized “shared energy” and “African development.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
