Units of the Ethiopian army guard the area around the Renaissance Dam.

The Ethiopian armed forces disclosed the deployment of national troops in the vicinity of the Renaissance Dam area in an effort to secure it.

Last Wednesday, the Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) said that construction work on the Grand Renaissance Dam is still ongoing without any security hurdles, with the army operating day and night throughout the area.

In addition to Ethiopia's national defense forces, the Federal Police in Amhara, Gambella, Sidama, and Southern Nations and Nationalities People's Region (SNNPR) are also performing their duties, the Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) added.

The EDF also said that "mercenary forces" attempted several times to destabilize security in the Renaissance Dam area, but the national defense forces tasked with protecting the project managed to defeat the aggressors.

On his account, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Mohamed Abdel Aty, recently warned that any water shortage would affect workers in the agricultural sector, causing social problems, destabilizing security in the region, and increasing illegal immigration.

What is happening?

The central Ethiopian government has been engaged, for a year now, in an extended conflict with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

Earlier in November, the Ethiopian parliament declared a six-month state of emergency throughout the country to protect civilians from TPLF fighters advancing on the country's capital, Addis Ababa.

As a result of the developments, several countries have evacuated their diplomatic missions from Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived at the frontline this week to lead the troops fighting the TPLF, amid fears of partition and famine.