Ethiopia says planned attack on flagship dam project foiled

Ethiopia says it has foiled a planned attack by an Eritrean backed group on the massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.

According to reports, Ethiopian security forces killed 13 members of the Benishagul Gumuz People’s Liberation Movement, who had travelled from Eritrea to attack the country’s flagship hydro-power plant.

On its part, Eritrea’s government denied any knowledge of the rebel group and termed the allegations by Ethiopia as preposterous.

The 6,000 mega-watt project is due for completion next year and is set to be Africa’s biggest hydro-power plant.

It is being built on the Blue Nile River near the border with Sudan, at an estimated cost of $6.4 billion.

Eritrea achieved independence from Ethiopia in 1993, after decades of armed struggle. The two countries have a long history of border disputes.