Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa's largest hydroelectric dam. The GERD, a source of national pride, is expected to significantly increase Ethiopia's electricity generation, electrifying much of the country and providing power to the region. Its construction, however, faced diplomatic tensions with downstream countries. The project, funded domestically through public contributions and bonds, involved thousands of workers and millions of financial contributors. While the dam is operational, expanding the national power grid remains a significant challenge to ensure widespread access to electricity.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.