By Muhammad Yamany, Wael Naguib
CAIRO (Xinhua) — Some Egyptian experts accused the United States and Israel of raising differences among Nile Basin countries to affect Egypt and Sudan, warning that Nile Basin countries may fight for water in the future.
They referred that Egypt, with a population of about 77 million people, would never give up its historic rights in the Nile water.
There are foreign hands pushing some of Nile Basin countries to amend the 1929 agreement, which organizes the relations among these nations and the proportion of water to each country, so as to put pressure on Egypt and Sudan, said Dr. Abed al-Monem al-Mashet, Director of Search and Studies Center in the prestigious Cairo University.
Al-Mashet told Xinhua late on Wednesday that these hands are Israel, which has some old projects to affect Egypt’s quota in the Nile water especially in Ethiopia, and the United States which has an influence in southern Sudan.
He added that differences among the Nile Basin countries could be normal if there was not an agreement organizing the relations among them signed in 1929 and so no country can change the water quota for each country.
Earlier this week, Egypt’s Minister of Public Works and Water Resources Mahmoud Abdel Halim Abu Zeid said that Egypt is suffering from a serious shortage of water.
“Egypt has already entered the cycle of water poverty,” said Allam.
On the other hand, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Egypt’s need of water is a red line that no one can come across and Nile Basin countries should consult Egypt before carrying out any projects that could affect Egypt’s share of water.
Asked about the outbreak of war due to differences among Nile Basin countries, al-Mashet said that Nile water is a matter of national security to Egypt and in the past Egypt’s former president Mohamed Anwar Sadat threatened to use military power if any of the Nile Basin countries tried to amend the 1929 agreement.
However, al-Mashet said that he does not think it could reach war at the time being as there is no big water projects in the Nile Basin countries, but it would happen in the future.
He called for negotiation in good intentions among the countries, expressing his belief that negotiation needs a summit for presidents instead of water ministers.
Meanwhile, Dr. Eglal Rafat, professor of political science at Cairo University, warned that differences in this issue could lead to war in the future if countries did not reach an agreement about sharing water.
She told Xinhua that Egypt sees that the past agreements about sharing Nile water are legal and the international law is in its side, so it is impossible that Egypt would compromise any of its historical rights as it is already suffering from water poverty.
Egypt reiterated that it would not recognize any agreement or any organization for the Nile basin countries unless it admits clearly the Egyptian rights in Nile water and that Egypt should be consulted before carrying out any project on the Nile which could affect the water quota of Egypt.
Egypt’s water needs will surpass its resources by 2017 because of its population. A recent report by the cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center said that Egypt would need 86.2 billion cubic meters of water in 2017 while its resources would only be 71.4 billion cubic meters.
Egypt’s water resources stood at 64 billion cubic meters in 2006, of which the River Nile provided 55.5 billion cubic meters, or 86.7 percent, the report said.
Egypt says that the Nile water is enough for every country if these countries concentrated on how to mange and use it.
On Tuesday, Nile Basin countries delayed signing a water-sharing agreement rejected by Egypt and Sudan, which opposed any reduction in their quotas.
“Wars could break out for water in the future unless an agreement is reached on how to share the river’s water,” said Rafat.
12 thoughts on “Experts say Nile Basin countries may fight over water”
It is the survival of the fittest. It is a question of power. The West can come to any country peaceful if possible by force otherwise if they need something badly such as oil. That is one major reason that they do not want any oil reach country not to have nuclear power. Egypt will do the same for water if the other parties are weaker than her. That is the rule of the game. We need to be stronger than her or seed protection from others. Remember Israel also wishes to extend Nile to its land. Many Arab-Israel conflicts as well as agreements were related to water. Isreal leased from Jordan number of wells to draw water from agricultural land. I think the near term solution for us is to be diplomatic and smart and the long term solution is unity and growth. There is no permanent friend and enemy, it is survival.
“He added that differences among the Nile Basin countries could be normal if there was not an agreement organizing the relations among them signed in 1929 and so no country can change the water quota for each country”
Ethiopia contributes the minimum of 85% the Nile water in Egypt. During the 1929 agreement between Briton as colonizer to other nations and Egypt, Ethiopia as an independent state was not invited. Ethiopia has no idea about this agreement as it is the same with the 1959 agreement. Any agreement between Egypt and Briton has nothing to do with Ethiopia as Ethiopia was not a British colony. About other nation the agreement became invalid the day Briton has lost its mandate on them. There fore, there is no any agreement gives any right to Egypt. So, don’t vomit your lies here. That time is over. This is the new era. You cannot cheat or lie about it anymore.
“However, al-Mashet said that he does not think it could reach war at the time being as there is no big water projects in the Nile Basin countries, but it would happen in the future”
Who gave only Egypt has the right to have projects like Aswan dam while she contributes 0% of the Nile water and others such as Ethiopia with 86-95% water contribution cannot? If you think war will solve your problem, come on. We are not coming to you. Of course you are with an indirect war against Ethiopia for many years now. Can I go to Saudi Arabia and claim their oil as mine?
“Wars could break out for water in the future unless an agreement is reached on how to share the river’s water,” said Rafat.
Ethiopia will not accept any agreement signed by woyane. Ethiopia must be represented by elected and true citizens of her not the Tribalist Junita woyanes created and working only for its own Ethnic group.
Some facts:
Blue Nile has 1200 permanent Gebar rivers in Ethiopia including very big rivers like Suha, Muga, Birr, Temcha, Jedeb and many others. In order to use Nile, we have to use these rivers. There is no tree without branches, root and leaves. The Blue Nile case is the same. If we know how to be good for ourselves, we can make the Nile valley empty by diverting the gebars for our use all over the places.
It has 2000 seasonal rivers, too.
44 rivers are poring in the Lake Tana.
About 100 billion fertile soil is dumped/accumulated in Lake Tana because of thousands years of flooding.. If Ethiopia knows how to use this fertile soil from Tracking from Tana, she can get at least a 5o years Organic fertile soil guarantee and the same time Tana Lake would be up to 50 meters deeper and can occupy lots of water.
We wish Southern Sudan become a state in 2011. west and others must work for that.
Dear Tareke: I like some of your arguments though I do not know what International layers would say. But with the pen you wrote that you scribbled a reflection of nonsense mentality. You compare water claim with the oil in Saudi. When it comes to some regions or people, your empty emotions took over you reason. Your aspiration of Saudi oil in Saudi soil is just like an outsider thinking of Adola Gold of Ethiopia. Water flow has its own unique nature.
As ‘No Surprise’ said who ever has power, if it needs it badly can claim your property. Italians did come to Ethiopia, British to Sudan, Egypt etc. America went to Iraq, and Egypt or Israel may come to Ethiopia for water. Ethiopia should be source of wisdom and strength rather than a cradle of hollow arrogance, discrimination, poverty, and disunity
The other nonsense is the Southern Sudan idea. Use your real brain if you have any. Try to maintain your own unity or fight for your own country independence or national integrity rather than meddling with other countries affairs because they are this or that. If we try to destabilize other countries or sympathize with those who do, then our country will be subjected to more destabilization. I think we have enough liberations fronts do you want more?
I hope Ethiopia will use its waters in the future if and only if the regime is overthrown and get a government that can deal on behalf of its peoples interest.very keen that south sudan will be independent by 2011? because we cant deal with sudan and egypt on nile forever.
Ethiopia has a long way to go to have any say regarding the Nile river.we have many rivers other than the Nile but still we have people who are starving to death in the 21st century,unless we sort out our differences which drags us behind the rest of the world we can do nothing let alone start a conflict with Egypt.
As for the Nile i was in Egypt and know how the Egyptian depend on this river,it is the blood vessel of the country where 90% of the land is desert.we can’t denied Egypt that or the animals and plant who depend on the Nile.however we can’t agree with the out of date agreement Egypt made with England almost a century ago.
Well, it should not surprise us Egypt’s attitude toward Nile river and as they claim their number one national interest. So far all three Ethiopian regimes since 1929 has acted and worked diligently to protect Ethiopia’s interest at best. However, the issue is exactly as the commentator (#1) has described it; “survival of the fittest”. So let us be smart and develop our nation both economically and militarily so we could matter and truly negotiate if and when we are ready to negotiate. I truly believe we must first concentrate growing without Nile using every other river and without majorly affecting Nile’s flow. For starter we should start supporting the Gilgel Gibe projects, and projects on Dedesa, etc. Even when we do not like the government, we must always support what ever that make us strong as a nation. Can you imagine what we could do with every other resource we have, knowing what we have achieved just using Awash River; the only partially utilized river in Ethiopia.
Want more?
What do you want? Do you want a kind of medicine to heal you? Because you seem are angry, uncivilized and suffering with some kind of illness from your head. Your behaviour shows how you are as a human being and your relationship with others that are close to you. Calm down boy.
It is clear that you are not an Ethiopian. So, don’t be angry and so attached in a bad way about something that has nothing to do with you.
Peace; boy!
________________________
You wrote:
Ethiopia should be source of wisdom and strength rather than a cradle of hollow arrogance, discrimination, poverty, and disunity”
Very good. But bad governor is the source of all bad things any nation faces including with poverty and disunity you are mentioning here. Bad governor is also the source of unbalance and illegal foreign relationship working against own nation he/she is ruling with impunity. .
The Ethiopian Nile issue is the biggest foreign relation we have in Ethiopia today. Because as you know Egypt is getting our fresh water for free even without transportation cost while she is playing dirty games for years against Ethiopia. The conflict they are causing in Ethiopia cost dearly directly and indirectly. This is what we get in return from them. Instead of True, trusted and loved Ethiopians such as EPPF, Egypt and her allies are conspiracy associating with woyane with their campaign against Ethiopia.
“You compare water claim with the oil in Saudi. When it comes to some regions or people, your empty emotions took over you reason. Your aspiration of Saudi oil in Saudi soil is just like an outsider thinking of Adola Gold of Ethiopia. Water flow has its own unique nature”
Why are you so worry about Egypt, Saudi and Sudan? Have you any idea how they are lying, misleading and causing bad things as far as internationally against Ethiopia? Ethiopia is not allowed even to borrow any money for water project and meaningful development activities around the Blue Nile regions because of Egypt and Arabs fierce involvement. How you eliminate poverty, if you are not able to use your precious and valuable resources, water which is a life next to the air the living is berating? Not only that, they are causing conflicts in Ethiopia.
Read
Any resources below, on or above the ground with in a specific boundary is the property, responsibility and right to that country. Oil comes from under the ground. You have to dig and refinery it in a hard way. There are other resources on the ground. Our water comes is from above the ground/sky and it is raining and ready for use without additional effort. So, who says oil and other resources must be for the country it is existing but water not. Boy, all this shit things is made by bad human being according to its own benefit at the cost of others. Anything with in your boundary is yours and do what ever you want and like do with it. That is what we are looking for in Ethiopia when we get elected and true Ethiopian leaders. We are not looking to affect or hurt anyone but to free our people from poverty and be the people of the 21-century. Look Egyptian living condition and look Ethiopians. Do you think we have to suffer and die for their lavish life and ask for food aid because of lack of water/irrigation use?
You like it or not, we will make it on our way. It is our God given precious wealth. Thanks to the Ethiopian hills and valleys, we can easily and quickly divert any Nile gebar river to use it for Irrigation and other uses. We don’t care about the Blue Nile valley. If we use all rivers that are pouring to the Blue Nile, the Blue Nile will be empty.
I don’t care about your look likes. You are just a lost traveller dropped here with your shit thinking for a while and will leave. What I do care is that having a new, honest, true and fair relationship with Egypt to use the water resources for both nations benefit. Their old tactic being against Ethiopia in all directions must stop now. It is the 21-century. As I said we Ethiopians are looking to use the total of 3200 permanent and seasonal rivers poring to the Nile from the place each river is passing. That means we don’t need big investment, high tech and any international assistance. Thanks to our landscape, we are enough by our self to use irrigation in Ethiopia. We don’t dig right, left and/or in front to lead/stop the water. We just need to block its front and the water is now become a big dam. Left and right are the hills keeping the water to be like a human made lake ready for irrigation, fishery, power and the likes. Because of the Highlands nice weather/ temperature including the summer time, the Ethiopian water is not evaporating as it is in Sudan and Egypt. In Egypt is it evaporating 50 times than it does in Ethiopia.
We just need commitment from ourselves. We just need to have elected leaders that are serving Ethiopia. We just need to eliminate from Ethiopia the Ethnic junita woyanes that seem are working for any one who is against Ethiopia.
Do you want more? Ask politely and behave as a civilised one. Why are so angry and upset about it? It is not your matter. You will not change that, even Egypt doesn’t if she not behaving the right way for both country fair benefits. We will not suffer and die because of poverty. We are ready to suffer and die while fight the cause of poverty. Egypt behaviour is one of the main causes to poverty in Ethiopia. And we are ready to fight them if they think this is the best way for them rather than having the right approach towards Ethiopia including isolating/disassociating with woyane.
My brother Tareqe thank you very much for telling to Want more? You are right he is not Ethiopian, and he doesn’t know us so fullish of him. I’m sure Want more is from Egypt. water is more than oil for a country like Egypt which is a desert, what do you do with oil if you don’t have water? drink it?
Tsegish:
You Calm down because who ever reads what you replied can sense your blood rushing through your veins and your heart beating to come out of your chest. That is what I am against. The solution is not hate and old rusty opinions about others. Chill out! Even if Egypt or any other future aspirant of the Nile is truly our enemy, anger, hate, bitter slogans will not do any good. Those are your lethal (subside) piles. You can take them if you want, but Ethiopia wants more, a brain that can save, work for prosperity, heal and elevate Ethiopia not a decaying brain that breeds hate, ready to revenge or destroy.
Look guys how this instinct thinks low; he boldly attributed our poverty mainly to Egypt. Imagine if Ethiopia had a Nuclear power and Tsegish you were leading Ethiopia. Do you think you would do less crime than may be what Hitler or Sharon did?
I do not and can’t have the slightest doubt that Ethiopia should not use its water. But what I said and believe is that let’s overcome our hate of others and desire for revenge though we do not have the capacity to carry it out and replace it with setting priorities, diplomacy, wisdom, internal unit for the sake of our peoples and nation. When we grow in thinking, economy, technology, and defense we can negotiate and get close to or more than what we want. Fighting is not the solution all the time even for those who do have the capacity but for sure poverty will lead to defeat all the time.
Tsegish I have a dream that Ethiopia will one day be victories with its people who think best for all, follow win-win strategy, all are sons of Adam and Eve, creations of God!!!! If on the other hand we believe the game is a win lose then the winner is the powerful.
Dear Tsegish, no matter how you may picture me, I know you love Ethiopia and you wish the best for Ethiopia and I also do so our difference, I believe, is how to get best for Ethiopia. May God show us the right way and make us sober.
Want more?
“You Calm down because who ever reads what you replied can sense your blood rushing through your veins and your heart beating to come out of your chest.”
I don’t get it. I don’t have this kind illness. Is that you have the kind of sickness like this coming between you and your weak social life? How do you know it if you are not suffering from. O, Boy you really need help for your multiple illnesses.
“All are sons of Adam and Eve.”
O, I don’t know that. Bravo for telling me this new news.
Who knows you might are thinking that we all are believe with the same God.
Some believe in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Others believe with Allah and Mohammed as a messenger.
Are they the same father(s)? Who know you might think, that way. Because you are unpredictable.
No, they are not the same. The one has the Son called Jesus who is from a Jewish Mother. And the other? you Answer it
Don’t be a kind of stupid Sudanese who has the worst identity crisis on earth he is a dark African but he doesn’t like it and want to be called an Arab the same way like Lebanese, Egyptians, Palestinians, Iraqis, Syrians, Saudis and others that are calling him my Slave do. Sudan means Black/Slave but the centuries long Slaves and brainwashed Sudanese think they are Arabs the same way like their masters, The Arabs.
The reason why I’m telling you about the sick with the worst identity crisis and wanting to be their masters Arab, the Sudanese, is that you have no a clear and clean belonging you can be proud of it and yourself. On one hand you are acting as an Ethiopian while On the other you are defending the Arabs benefit at the Ethiopian cost. you also are saying all are the children of Eve and Adam Listen Boy, 4+ billion people in the world have no idea about it(Hinduism, Buddhism and the likes know nothing about your Adam and eve).
You are confused. Be clean and clear. If you are defending Egypt, it is your choice. But they will not stop calling and treating you as a slave. Arabs are the first and worst slave traders. Currently as always the worst racism against black on earth is the Middle East and North Africa.
If Egypt thinks Ethiopia is going to be cowed, they are making a big mistake we will remind them who we realy are!! Even though they are armed to the tooth, the weapons by themselves are useless. It is the spirit of the solders that Gods the weapons !!
Egypt should thank Ethiopia for the thousands of years they have been using the Nile River. It is not fair what Egypt is saying about the agreements with Britian when Ethiopia wasn’t even at the agreements when the’re supplying the water.Plus if Egypt can sell their natural resources Ethiopia should be able to also.One thing that amazes me is that when I was watching Aljazera was one sudani guy that said he would fight for it. Does he think that Ethiopia wouldn’t retaleate.