In 2011, Ethiopia began construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The dam would by the largest in Africa and produce more than 6,000 MW of power. While potentially providing substantial benefits to the region, it also posed an existential threat to the two downstream countries – Egypt and Sudan. Egypt threatened to go to war. Discussions between the countries have failed to solve the dispute. The dam is now filling and a potential conflict looms. Register in advance: go.unc.edu/nile.

Please join in a moderated conversation with Dr. Aaron Salzberg. Dr. Salzberg served as the first Special Coordinator on Water at the U.S. Department of State – working on behalf of the United States to mitigate tensions over water in places where water is, or would become, a source of tension/conflict. For more than a decade (through six Secretaries of State), he worked with the Nile basin countries to address the potential for conflict.

Moderated by Erika Weinthal, Professor of Environmental Policy and Public Policy in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.

Register in advance: go.unc.edu/nile.

Hosted by the UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies.