The ownership, use, and even identity with the Nile River shoulder a big debate. There now exist queries difficult to answer. What is important though is that some riparian countries regard the river as their life blood. But the situation is changing. Climate change and increasing demand for agricultural and industrial products and services implies that reliance on the river is rapidly changing face. The situation is not helped by land degradation. The Nile is no longer “that longest river” cutting across many sub-Sahara African countries. Water is becoming as good as oil, if not more than oil. It is life and river Nile is the storeroom to many countries.
Controversies and Other Developments
The question of who accesses the Nile waters, how it can be used, is among many aspects of the agreements signed by the River Nile sharing countries. In 1929, the Nile Water Agreement was signed, which granted Egypt and lions share of the waters. About 55.5bn cubic meters (of the total 84bn meters of the Nile waters) of water are guaranteed for Egypt a lone under the terms of the agreement. Cairo is granted the authority to monitor the Nile River, since the agreement forbids any development projects that stand to threaten the water volume accessible by Egypt. In 1959, a second agreement was signed but bore little, if any, differences from the initial agreement.
While the agreement demonstrates the value of the river to Cairo, it also showcases the best of injustices the colonial masters brought to the river sharing countries. Today, complaints are ripe and news over the war possibilities is looming. There is a war possibly. Are we already for it? No doubt many would choose to die fighting for their rights over the waters, than face the pangs of hunger because the agreement denies them their natural water use right. East Africa has taken critical steps of withdrawing from the colonial initiated agreement. and there seems to be no turning back. Tanzania has announced plans to build a 105-mile pipeline drawing water from Lake Victoria which feeds the Nile. This project flouts the treaty (s).
Controversies and Other Developments
The question of who accesses the Nile waters, how it can be used, is among many aspects of the agreements signed by the River Nile sharing countries. In 1929, the Nile Water Agreement was signed, which granted Egypt and lions share of the waters. About 55.5bn cubic meters (of the total 84bn meters of the Nile waters) of water are guaranteed for Egypt a lone under the terms of the agreement. Cairo is granted the authority to monitor the Nile River, since the agreement forbids any development projects that stand to threaten the water volume accessible by Egypt. In 1959, a second agreement was signed but bore little, if any, differences from the initial agreement.
While the agreement demonstrates the value of the river to Cairo, it also showcases the best of injustices the colonial masters brought to the river sharing countries. Today, complaints are ripe and news over the war possibilities is looming. There is a war possibly. Are we already for it? No doubt many would choose to die fighting for their rights over the waters, than face the pangs of hunger because the agreement denies them their natural water use right. East Africa has taken critical steps of withdrawing from the colonial initiated agreement. and there seems to be no turning back. Tanzania has announced plans to build a 105-mile pipeline drawing water from Lake Victoria which feeds the Nile. This project flouts the treaty (s).
The project is expected to benefit about 400.000 people in the North-West arid parts of the Country but the number is expected to reach 900,000 people in a space of two decades. This is not an irrigation project, but water supply is for domestic and industrial use. Approximately 160 million people in the 10 Nile Basin countries survive on this river and its valuable tributaries. The population is expected to double in the next 55 years.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abu-Zeid the Egyptian water minister, described Kenya's intention to withdraw from the agreement as an "act of war". In addition, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former secretary-general of the UN, has predicted that the next war in the region will be over water.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abu-Zeid the Egyptian water minister, described Kenya's intention to withdraw from the agreement as an "act of war". In addition, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former secretary-general of the UN, has predicted that the next war in the region will be over water.
The 2010 Nile cooperative Framework Agreement
Since May 14th 2010, four countries i.e. Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda, signed a “land mark agreement” at Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe. Kenya signed the agreement on May 20th and other countries such as Burundi and DRC are itching to put the pen to paper. The Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement which is meant to replace the 1929, and 1959 agreements has been rejected by both Egypt and Sudan. As the Sub-Saharan countries got independent, so should they be free of any instruments left behind by those who worked to define (abuse) their rights to water. It is a matter of negotiations and understanding.
The impact of deforestation, soil erosion, and overgrazing means changed lifestyles, values, and goals. So should be the dynamics in the water resource use.
Ministers from the Nile Basin pose for a photo after signing the agreement at Entebbe on Friday 14th May 2010. Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/719720/nile%20agreementAlso, open http://www.ntz.info/gen/n01799.html
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