South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit said his country is set to sign an agreement with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to receive hydroelectric power from the newly inaugurated Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
President Kiir made this announcement during the dam’s inauguration ceremony on Tuesday September 9, 2025.
He stated that the agreement would be a significant step toward providing electricity to towns, villages, schools, and hospitals across South Sudan, which he said would “open new opportunities for our people.”
In his address at the grand event, President Kiir praised the Ethiopian government and its people for the completion of the dam, calling it a “symbol of unity, sacrifice, and determination.”
He added that the project demonstrates what a nation can accomplish when its people work together.
The president also highlighted the strong relationship between the two countries, describing Ethiopians not just as neighbors but as “brothers and sisters” who share a common history and future.
“The progress of one nation is the progress of all,” Kiir said, emphasizing that through cooperation, challenges can be turned into opportunities for peace, stability, and growth.
The GERD is a major hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia, and its completion is seen as a key component of Ethiopia’s development plans.
The new power-sharing agreement is expected to significantly boost access to electricity in South Sudan, where reliable power is a major challenge for most of the over 12 million population of the young East African nation.