Egypt and Ethiopia are finally working on a water deal – what that means for other Nile River states
Retrieved on:
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Justice, International, International court, Agriculture, Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936, Electricity, Water supply, Drought, Blue Nile, Climate change, Flood, Fresh water, Water, International law, Nile Basin Initiative, Dam, Reinsurance, Gum arabic
Egypt and Ethiopia have waged a diplomatic war of words over Ethiopia’s massive new dam – the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – on the Blue Nile, which started filling up in July 2020.
Key Points:
- Egypt and Ethiopia have waged a diplomatic war of words over Ethiopia’s massive new dam – the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – on the Blue Nile, which started filling up in July 2020.
- The political row has threatened to get out of hand on occasion but now the two countries have finally agreed to conclude “a mutually acceptable agreement” within four months.
What is the context of the current tussle?
- It sees the “Nile as a gift of God” given to Ethiopians to use for their development.
- After Egypt’s diplomatic efforts failed to stop construction, Cairo redirected its energies to securing a legally binding agreement for filling and operating the dam.
- Egyptians claimed that Addis Ababa was “violating its obligations under the 2015 Declaration of Principles” and endangering Egyptian “water interests”.
What are the main sticking points going into the talks?
- An agreement would have to explicitly deal with issues that are important to Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.
- The most important are Egypt’s and Sudan’s historically acquired rights to Nile waters.
- The rights were granted by the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and the 1959 bilateral agreement between Egypt and Sudan (1959 Nile Treaty).
What impact would a breakthrough have on other Nile Basin agreements?
- Assume that both Egypt and Sudan agree to abandon the rights granted by the 1929 and 1959 treaties.
- The other Nile Basin states see these colonial-era treaties as a violation of international law principles, and a breach of the vision of the Nile Basin Initiative.
What other claims threaten the status quo?
- This could harm Egypt’s water security and ability to control projects on the Nile River and its tributaries.
- Then, there is the matter of how to manage issues related to climate change, such as droughts and floods.
- In times of drought, for example, the Ethiopian dam will be expected to release some water to help Egypt and Sudan.
- Egypt remains adamant that the dam will hurt its water supply and threaten domestic development.