Why Egypt and Ethiopia are Fighting Over the Nile (Again) (Level 1)

Ethiopia built a very large dam on the Nile River. It is called the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, or GERD. Egypt and Sudan were worried because they need water from the Nile. But Ethiopia continued building and filling the dam. Now Ethiopia wants to build three more dams on the same river. These new dams will be smaller. Each will make about 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Egypt is very angry. Egypt gets 90% of its fresh water from the Nile. The country is also facing hot weather and money problems. Egypt says it will protect its water under international law. Some people fear a water war, but that is still unlikely. Egypt might instead help Ethiopia's rivals. This could increase conflict in the region.