In the summer of 2021, the Ethiopian government announced that it would definitely carry out the second phase of the filling of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The largest project in Ethiopia's history could be the cure for the country’s economic and social problems and secure Addis Ababa's supremacy in the region. At the same time, however, the dam is also a source of tension, as the potential negative consequences could severely affect neighbouring countries, particularly Egypt and Sudan. Over the summer, negotiations appeared to have reached an impasse, and the possibility of armed conflict remains. Could there be a war between Egypt and Ethiopia? Are fears about a fully operational dam exaggerated or well-founded? How are the major and regional powers dealing with this issue?

The goal of the online roundtable discussion is to answer these questions and outline the possible outcome of the GERD.

Speakers:

• Daher Rashed, Director, Contemporary Arab World Center, Assistant Professor, Department of Semitic and Arabic Studies, Eötvös Loránd University
• Viktor Marsai, Research Director, Migration Research Institute, Associate Professor, University of Public Service 

Moderator:

• Lukács Krajcsír, International Relations Manager, Global Relations Department, Antall József Knowledge Centre