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As the region approaches its crucial rainy season for the Nile River, tensions remain regarding the status of Ethiopia’s controversial mega-dam, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Addis Ababa has indicated that it intends to complete its second filling of the dam’s water reservoir this year, regardless of any objections or threats from its contemporary downstream neighbours, Sudan and Egypt. Sudan, for their part, have threatened to file a lawsuit at the Ethiopian government, and the Italian construction company behind the project, for “environmental and social impact as well as the dangers of the dam”. This follows months of increased friction due to spill-effects of Ethiopia’s military operation in Tigray, as well as problems at the disputed border of al-Fashaga, where both countries have accused the other of violating their borders with military personnel.