Politics of water resources

My last post showed the main issues challenging conflict management between East Nile Basin countries. This time I will focus on how they can reach an agreement on water allocation that benefits every stakeholder. Aswan High Dam: cooperation between the two mega dams is a must for reaching an agreement As I mentioned last week, talks are frozen due to Ethiopia’s rejection of mitigation measures in the case of light rainfall. In addition, there are  flashpoints in coordinating GERD and Aswan dams and question marks around agricultural impacts . In transboundary agreements, there must be effective  data-sharing between riparian state s to evaluate the  quantity, quality and timing of river flow.  Therefore, Ethiopia must make concessions and allow respected consultant firms to assess the impacts of the construction and create a timetable for filling. With this information, the countries will have data on water flow that would be crucial for the technical solution to  save downstream agr

So far, this blog has shown two hindrances to cooperation in the Nile basin: lack of trust because of colonial history and the view that considers mega-projects the only solution. From my past writings, it could seem that there are no endeavours from the sides to make a deal. Well, this is not the case. In this post, I will examine past negotiations focusing on why they failed. The first step towards cooperation was the creation of  the Nile Basin Initiative  in 1999 (NBI). The role of this organisation is to create a platform for Nile countries to accomplish cooperative programs together. In early 2011 the initiative had a historical chance to drive collaboration through the creation of the construction of the Border dam at GERD's current location.  The project would have meant that Egypt and Sudan had contributed  to the mega-project in return for its hydroelectrical benefits. However, the prerequisite for the downstream countries was to write a Comprehensive Framework Agreement

Hoover Dam: one of the first examples of large water engineering projects considered a 'wonder solution' and national pride The dam construction will likely have fatal consequences for Egypt in terms of decreased sediment and water sources. However, the discourse of the project excludes the local effects of the megaproject, potentially because transboundary conflict and the  picture of water wars keep media consumers more entertained.   In my last blog, I showed that most Ethiopian people want the project's implementation. This is partly due to the nationalist rhetoric of the government that suggests GERD is the answer to  socioeconomic tensions in the country.  According to the government, the 6450 MW of electricity produced by the dam could potentially double the energy production, therefore, could induce   35-40% GDP growth in the following decades . Within its communication, the government often highlights that it will be a game-changer for both the economy and the peop

Battle of the Nile: the rule of the British Empire over the Nile still influences water politics In the last posts, I mentioned that the specific geography of the Basin is one of the main reasons for the difficulty of solving the conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt. However, I want to suggest something other than an environmentally deterministic conclusion that ignores social factors. In reality, the  potential solution benefits of sharing and cooperation  are hindered by the region's historical (colonial) legacies. When I asked locals' opinions about GERD during my time in Ethiopia, everyone was enthusiastic and satisfied with the project. They claimed it would 'compensate for the injustices of the past and bring a bright future to all Ethiopians'. This idea of injustice and strike back to Egypt appears in the following video (from 3:50). Ethoiphian leaders want to set the rules after the country's historical marginalisation on managing the water of the Nile. Simul

Welcome to my blog about water and development in Africa!   In this blog, I will focus on the political aspects of the continent's water management. I found this theme intriguing for two intersecting reasons. First, questions of water allocation are inherently political because it is essential for our lives, while  its distribution is immensely unequal . However, it is not only about drinking; the resource determines regions' and countries' agriculture, industry, and energy supply. Second, as this shows, politics influences every aspect and scale of water usage. It is vital in conflicts or cooperation among countries in shared river basins and crucial in domestic water governance. Colonial legacies, negotiations on water distributions, economic interests and technologies are inherently political, giving me good material for the coming weeks. My topic will be the 'classic' case study around the conflicts of the Nile Basin between Ethiopia and Egypt. This is because,