A new water-sharing agreement for the Nile River Basin has taken effect despite not being supported by Egypt. The African Union confirmed the legal status of this accord, which was ratified by several nations while Egypt and Sudan have opted out. The accord aims for equitable use of the Nile’s resources but raises concerns among Egypt and Sudan about their water allocations, especially amid tensions relating to Ethiopia’s dam construction.
The Nile Basin Initiative has announced that a new agreement concerning the fair use of water resources from the Nile has officially taken effect, despite Egypt’s refusal to endorse it. The African Union confirmed the legal standing of this ‘cooperative framework’ following South Sudan’s accession to the treaty. Ratification has been completed by Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania, while Egypt and Sudan have opted not to sign, and the Democratic Republic of Congo abstained from the process. As of now, Kenya has yet to submit its ratification documents to the African Union. This accord, which came into force recently, is perceived as a significant demonstration of the collective resolve among the Nile basin nations to utilize the Nile River sustainably and equitably for future generations. The Nile Basin Initiative articulated, “This is a testament to our collective determination to harness the Nile River for the benefit of all, ensuring its equitable and sustainable use for generations to come.” However, the absence of ratification from Egypt and Sudan, both of which are concerned about potential reductions in their Nile water allocations, signifies the contentious nature of this agreement. The region’s tensions have been exacerbated by Ethiopia’s recent construction of a substantial dam along the Blue Nile, sparking fears in Egypt about the potential adverse impacts on their water supplies unless Ethiopia takes their needs into consideration. Ethiopia aims to utilize this dam for critical electricity generation, complicating the situation further. The agreement stipulates that Nile basin states shall utilize the river’s resources in an “equitable and reasonable manner.” The Nile, extending 6,695 kilometers, holds the title of the world’s longest river, with one significant tributary beginning in South Sudan and the other in Ethiopia. In light of the confrontation with Ethiopia, Egypt has endeavored to solidify its geopolitical stance in the Horn of Africa by fostering security partnerships with Somalia, which has opposed Ethiopia’s initiatives for maritime access via the Somaliland territory. As of this moment, Egypt has refrained from making a public statement regarding the newly enacted Nile agreement. Historically, Egypt, as a founding member of the Nile Basin Initiative, has staunchly defended its water rights based upon an agreement established during the colonial era with the United Kingdom, which assigned significant allocations of Nile water to Egypt and Sudan without considering the rights of the upstream nations.
The Nile River is a crucial water source for several countries in northeastern Africa, essentially supporting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and energy generation for millions of people. Historically, the management and allocation of the river’s water have been contentious issues, particularly between Egypt and Ethiopia. The colonial-era agreement of 1929 disproportionately favored Egypt and Sudan, granting them significant water rights while sidelining the interests of upstream nations. Recently, as countries in the Nile basin have sought a more equitable distribution of resources, tensions have escalated, particularly with Ethiopia’s construction of a dam that is perceived as a threat to the water security of downstream countries, notably Egypt and Sudan. Thus, the establishment of a new cooperative framework highlights both the urgency and complexity of water-sharing negotiations in the region.
The establishment of the new water-sharing accord among the Nile basin countries marks a pivotal moment in regional cooperation, despite Egypt’s absence from the agreement. This situation underscores the critical and contentious nature of water rights in the Nile basin, where historical agreements have failed to accommodate the needs of all riparian states. As various nations take steps toward sustainable management of the Nile’s resources, ongoing and heightened tensions will likely require careful diplomatic engagements to address the concerns of all parties involved, particularly as Ethiopia continues its ambitious dam projects.
Original Source: apnews.com
