Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation: Water Release from GERD Raised River Levels in the Country

Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation stated that the completion of water storage at Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the start of water releases from it on September 10, at an average of 750 million cubic meters per day, have significantly contributed to rising water levels across the country.

The ministry’s statement noted that “flood season discharges in the past were at higher levels, but the timing of this release had a major impact on the hydrological patterns of river levels.”

It further explained that “rainfall on the Ethiopian plateau this season exceeded the average, coinciding with an unprecedented increase—since 2020—in the inflow of the White Nile, ranging from 60% to 100% above the average, in addition to a marked rise in the inflow of the Atbara River. These increases reflect the effects of climate change in the region.”

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty accused the GERD of causing the catastrophic floods striking parts of Sudan, citing the lack of coordination over dam operations and Ethiopia’s unilateral actions despite repeated warnings from the two downstream countries.