Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam : Sudan`s Internal  Policy Response and Implications

Abstract: The inception of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam GERD in 2011 by Ethiopia in the Blue Nile River has created an unprecedented series of conflicts between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. It has also stirred a covert dispute over shares and rights of Nile water.   Alongside the regional political turmoil, the dam also sparked local debate among academics, analysts and the official circles in Sudan. Challenges and opportunities for Sudan and the state`s position from the dam remain as central in the debate. By exploring the perceptions of local professionals in the water sector and academics in Sudan this study intends to bring clarity to the dynamics of state`s internal water policy and its implication under the inception of GERD. Key findings indicate that during the inception of the GERD the water sector and the associated policies gained a particular significance to the crucial policies of the state. A situation that called for state`s direct involvement in managing the sector.   The research is curried as an abductive qualitative case study and draws on semi-structured interviews as primary sources of data. For the analytical framework the study draws on the securitization theory to analyze the collected data.   Key words: GERD, Transboundary Water, Irrigation, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nile basin,, Securitization.