(Sept 04, 2012, The National)--Amid continuing political drama in both Egypt and Ethiopia, the
management of Africa's longest river might not seem an urgent priority.
But every year that passes without meaningful cooperation between the
Nile Basin's two most populous states narrows the room to find
compromise over that most precious of finite and depleting resources:
fresh water.
With the appointment of a new government in Egypt and the death of Ethiopia's long-serving prime minister, Meles Zenawi, the emergence of new leadership in both countries presents opportunity for renewed dialogue and cooperation on Nile waters.
In 2005, the former UN secretary general and Egyptian foreign minister Boutros Boutros Ghali famously predicted that a future military confrontation over water rights was nearly inevitable. In 2005, Egypt's population was 75 million people. There are some 83 million Egyptians today. Ethiopia's population has similarly increased - from 78 million to 85 million in the same period.
No war over water is imminently probable. Yet even the colonial legacy that gives Egypt the bulk of the Nile's flow, and in the absence of a new consensus determines the share of Nile waters - treaties signed in 1929 and 1959 are still in effect, even though the signatories did not even consult Ethiopia or other upstream states - is not enough to meet Egyptian demand. Read more the original article from The National »
Related topics:
Wikileaks: Sudanese launchpad for Egyptian attack on Ethiopian dam
Dam plan upsets Ethiopia neighbors
Ethiopia to launch three new dams
Egyptian delegation flies to Ethiopia to discuss Nile issues
Losing the Nile
With the appointment of a new government in Egypt and the death of Ethiopia's long-serving prime minister, Meles Zenawi, the emergence of new leadership in both countries presents opportunity for renewed dialogue and cooperation on Nile waters.
In 2005, the former UN secretary general and Egyptian foreign minister Boutros Boutros Ghali famously predicted that a future military confrontation over water rights was nearly inevitable. In 2005, Egypt's population was 75 million people. There are some 83 million Egyptians today. Ethiopia's population has similarly increased - from 78 million to 85 million in the same period.
No war over water is imminently probable. Yet even the colonial legacy that gives Egypt the bulk of the Nile's flow, and in the absence of a new consensus determines the share of Nile waters - treaties signed in 1929 and 1959 are still in effect, even though the signatories did not even consult Ethiopia or other upstream states - is not enough to meet Egyptian demand. Read more the original article from The National »
Related topics:
Wikileaks: Sudanese launchpad for Egyptian attack on Ethiopian dam
Dam plan upsets Ethiopia neighbors
Ethiopia to launch three new dams
Egyptian delegation flies to Ethiopia to discuss Nile issues
Losing the Nile
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