Sudan’s policy of selling land is more dangerous than building dams
By Professor Ali Abdalla Ali
April 29, 2010 — Under the above title came the front page news in “Alsahafa” daily in Khartoum 12/2/2010, that an Egyptian Engineer Mamdouh Hamza advised Egypt to take a lesson from the dams established by Ethiopia on river Omo which feeds Kenya with water. This is said in a conference held in the Egyptian Journalists Association in Cairo on 10/2/2010 on the issue of the Nile. He indicated that the Kenyan tribes living on the waters flowing to them from River Omo started to suffer from starvation because the water level in lake Turkana had dropped by 10 sq.metres in spite of confirmation from the Ethiopian side to the Kenyans that the objective of the dam was to produce power only. Then he adds that the apposite took place, but he does not explain how took it place?
Hamza referred to a study made by him on the sources of the Nile which indicated that the total absorptive capacity of the four dams on river Omo is 73.1 billion cubic feet of
water and that Ethiopia was able to construct (10) dams during the last (12) years. Moreover, he indicated that Karadobi dam on River Omo was higher than the Aswan High Dam (AHD). He added that he expected the failure of the dams’ projects on the Nile sources because such projects were not well studied. He, moreover, considered that the basic danger that faces Egypt is not so much dams, but the intention of some countries of the Nile Basin to offer their cultivable land for lease or sale to multinational companies, foreign countries and Arabs to be utilized for agricultural development.
He went on to elaborate that these leased or sold lands will be irrigated from the waters of the Nile. This according to him could be considered as smuggling of the Nile water as well as stealing of such water. He gave an example of Sudan which is offering (30) million acres of land through the lease system to Arab and foreign companies, Saudi Arabia, UAE as well as companies from S. Korea and Jordan.
Hamza threw the question as from where will these offered lands be irrigated especially that the total share of Sudan of the Nile waters does not exceed 19 billion c.metres He called on his government , Egypt, to take a position against these Nile Basin countries who lease their lands for agricultural development and to find out (meaning the Egyptian Government) from where will these lands be irrigated so that Egypt will make sure that such lands shall not be irrigated against its own allocation of water. According to him this might end up in creating famine among the Egyptians (!!). One of the journalist attending the conference (Adil Hamoda) told about his trip to Ethiopia and the abject poverty which the Ethiopian people are suffering from. Adil added that ten years ago when Sadig Al Mahdi the ex PM of Sudan was in Cairo, declared that Israel had offered to buy from the Sudan and other riparian countries a share of the Nile Waters. Adil added that in fact he does not believe that Israel will one day suffer from water crisis for a simple reason , because the canals which were dug in Sinai in order to develop projects there failed. According to him such waters will be used to provide Israel with water in future , the same way Egypt did with Gas to Israel!!
In the same front page of Al Sahafa referred to above there was a piece of news which indicated that an Egyptian Company is contracting to cultivate 160,000 acres in Argin in Northern Sudan as well as the intention of Cairo (meaning the Egyptian government) is to study three scenarios to cultivate Sudanese lands.
Moreover, and according to the Egyptian ambassador in Sudan (Al Sahafa 31.3.2010) declared that arrangements are in progress to cultivate 3 million acres of Sudanese land in order to produce Wheat, Sesame, Sun Flower, and Sorghum .On the same date “Elaf” weekly gave a full page report on the launching of a joint partnership between Kenana Sugar Company and a company in the name of Boltone which will establish a one billion Dollar fund for the development of agriculture in Sudan and export of such crops to Egypt to be processed in Egypt.(This last issue shall be dealt with in a separate article).
First of all one would like to discuss the points raised by this Egyptian expert since he seems to be making these points away from the spirit and objectives of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) which had celebrated ten years of existence in Dar Es Salam in December 2009 (See Ali, www.sudantribune dated 15th.January 2010 ). In addition to bearing in mind the official Egyptian stand on historical rights given to it by the 1929 and 1959 agreements. This is being the fundamental obstacle in bringing the NBI to its noble objectives i.e. of having the Nile Water to be justly and equitably utilized by the riparian countries in such a way to benefit all those living in Nile Basin (NB).
1) The first point made by the Egyptian expert indicated that tribes in Kenya living the water of River Omo , the level of the water had dropped in spite of confirmation from the Ethiopian side that the objective of the dam on River Omo was only to produce electricity. He is indicating that because the dam was built on River Omo the water level had give down and is causing starvation.
According to ‘Seven Days Up Date’ published in Addis Vol. XVI No. 50 February 15th.2010, it was reported from the East African Standard (February 8/2010) that Kenya and Ethiopia, two nations that have coexisted peacefully for five decades in one of Africa’s toughest neighborhood, last week deepened their economic ties with a major energy-sharing deal. Meeting on the side lines of the Africa Union Conference, President Mwai Kibaka (of Kenya) and his counterpart Ethiopian’s PM Meles Zenawi signed deals for a new power grid connection. This will enable Kenya to tap into cheaper electricity as its Northern neighbor embarks on one of the continents biggest large-scale hydro electric power projects. The deal opens on a crucial strategic front on Kenya’s Northern border, which is expected to expand the country’s trade routes and renew security ties with a historical ally” unquote.
If such starvation has taken place among the Kenya tribes who live on the water of River Omo referred to above by the Egyptian expert, the above quote about deepening of the relations between Ethiopia and Kenya would not have taken place and at least some reservations about the negative effects of constructing a dam on River Omo would have definitely been highlighted by the Kenyan side. Moreover, the Egyptian expert did not give adequate proof that the dam on River Omo had led to such starvation. By this the Egyptian expert is trying to throw his weight behind the official Egyptian policy which is dead against dams being built on the Ethiopian Highlands or anywhere in the riparian countries of the Nile . Many a time such notions were spelt out by experts and journalists or whom I call the loud speakers(!) in defense of the official Egyptian policies as regards the Nile as well as any other issue( for example the reactions to the Football match between Algeria and Egypt which was held in Sudan this year and in which the Egyptian team was defeated!! In that incident the Sudanese authorities were insulted and blasted by the Egyptian media.). One would venture to state that such news are sometimes subtly made by the media in order to set obstacles in any attempt by any two riparian countries to come closer together. This is evidenced by what happened in 2009, when Sudan succeeded in signing many cooperation agreements with Ethiopia, especially Ethiopian Western regions, which were tantamount to a gradual integration between Sudan and Ethiopia. Immediately and after few weeks, Egypt sent a delegation of (100) officials and private businessmen in a mission to Addis to discuss a wide range of economic and trade agreement. The mission was headed by the lady Minister of International Cooperation.
This is because official Egypt is always wary and suspicious about any attempt on the part of Sudan, Ethiopia or any other NB member to come closer together, since that might strengthen the negotiating capacity of the NB members when the Nile water issues come under discussion.
2.The second point one wishes to discuss is the statement by that Egyptian expert that according to a study made by him …etc. that Ethiopia had constructed (10) dams in the last 12 years and he expected the failure of the dams projects on the Nile sources because such projects were not well studied.
This is an absurd accusation which goes back to the initial position i.e. that Egypt is and was never in favour of any riperian country to construct any dam so that the smooth flow of the Nile water to Egypt is not interrupted. In Sudan and for almost forty years it was not possible to heighten the Roseires Dam because of a subtle delay tactics from the Egyptian side so that Sudan would not be able to store water inland and develop its agriculture. It is only when the present government came in that it was able to construct Merowi Dam to produce power and also received finding from Arab funds for the hightening of the Roseires Dam which will store about 4 billion c.f. of water. As to who will compensate Sudan for the opportunity lost in four decades to produce food and whereby help in the issue of food security only God knows?!
To state that such dams are not well studied is a clear insult to those in charge of such projects. It is true that such studies are made by highly qualified technicians because in the end it is concerned with peoples’ lives. Egypt built the Aswan High Dam in spite of the fact it had a great damaging effect on the Sudanese living in Wadi Halfa who were resettled in East Sudan in an environment which was utterly hostile to them and affected them psychologically. Had this human agony experienced by Halfa citizens been anticipated in the studies made for the AHD let alone the unjust financial compensation that was given by Egypt to Sudan which was a mere LS.15 million and also not to forget the unusual loss of history that was submerged by the water of AHD. In fact it is a loss to human heritage. In addition to that Egypt at that time never offered to provide Sudan with part of its electricity power produced by AHD, since Egypt in all its history never wanted the Sudan to become an industrialized state. It always wanted Sudan a weak and submissive Southern partner and never wanted any troubles in its backyard.
3)The Egyptian expert indicated that “the basic danger that face Egypt is not dams but the practices of some riparian countries to lease or sell their lands to multinational companies and foreign countries and Arabs. He indicated that Sudan is offering 30 million acres of land for agricultural development. This is also an absurd statement. Land in any country is meant to be cultivated so that people can eat since food and food security is gradually becoming a critical a global issue especially for developing countries whether in Africa or the Middle East, the latter dependent largely on imported food because of the nature of such countries. Does the expert suggest that such lands had to remain barren because Egypt does not have enough of it? Whether be it Sudan or any riparian country, fertile lands have to be fully utilized for the sake of all the riparian people. Moreover, if Sudan or other riparian countries do not have adequate financial resources obviously they had to resort to external resources whether in the Gulf or any other country. That is natural since the issue of food security is gathering a very strong momentum and good lands have to be urgently planned for and utilized specially in the Nile Basin for the benefit of its entire member.
Moreover, the Egyptian expert is totally ignorant of the fact that a number of Egyptian companies got into a contractual agreement with Sudanese investment authority to have large tracts of land to produce enough for the people of Sudan and Egypt as stated above. Moreover, China which is Sudan’s major development and trading partner is entering in an unconventional way in developing agriculture in a joint partnership (see Ali Abdalla ,”Sudanese Chinese Partnership in Agriculture,”ST,20/7/2009). This is a new direction in China’s economic policy towards LDCs which is greatly appreciated i.e. the combination of Sudanese natural resources, Chinese financial resources and technology, almost the same formula that led to the establishment of AAAID .Unfortunately AAAID had largely failed to achieve the objective of transforming Sudanese agriculture and , therefore make Sudan the granary of the Arab world, because of its first chairmen (Egyptian) and his hidden agenda (See Ali Abdalla Ali ,”Sudanese Egyptian Relations; Crisis behind Silence : sudantribune.com, 19/5/2008).
4) We now come to a very crucial part of the statements made by the Egyptian expert and that is “from where will such agricultural land leases or sale will be irrigated? The Egyptian expert’s point is that the water allocated to a country such as Sudan is not more than 19 billon qf of water (actually 18 billion vide the 1959 agreement) which has been generally thought of in Sudan as most unfair and unjust agreement till today since the government then was a military government which did not consult the Sudanese population and that any more use of water beyond that allocated vide the 1959 agreement is according to him a matter of smuggling or stealing of such water!!
He goes to state such a behavior will cause a lot of problems for the increasing population of Egypt because such smuggling and stealing will be at the expense of Egypt’s share of the Nile Water. Ethiopians can be allowed to experience famine since according to the agreement it can draw only 1% of the water provided by the Blue Nile which flows from the Ethiopian highlands. The Ethiopians should experience famine and starvation but not the Egyptians !!!Unfortunately the Egyptian expert seem to have no notion about the noble objectives of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) which talk about a new basis for the use of the Nile water among the riparian countries which does not take into consideration such historical rights or talk about allocations given by such historical agreements which were designed by the imperial powers. In fact it is this very part in which Egypt (and not necessarily the Sudan) is taking a stand which is tantamount to rejecting any change or reductions in the allocation of the Nile Water given to it by such outmoded agreements. Such agreements which do not make sense in such a globalized world where people are now aware of their rights and are determined to have a place under the Sun even if they had to take to arms!!! Egypt’s stand on the basis of allocation rather then benefits for all will go on for some time. And that will delay the signing of the NBI Framework Agreement for the countries of the Nile Basin. The Sudan’s position has been confirmed in the clear speech made by the Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources during the celebration of 10 year of NB, where he had confirmed that the water of the Nile has to be fairly and justly utilized for the welfare and benefit of all the people of the Nile Basin.
Moreover , the Egyptian expert seem to be unaware of the fact that a number of Egyptian companies are approaching Sudan Investment Authorities to allow them to cultivate crops, that use considerable amount of water in Egypt. This will have to be against the water allocated to Sudan which is already declining. According to him any such irrigation beyond Sudan’s share or any riparian country is considered by him as smuggling and stealing water which is due to Egypt thus adding insult to injury!!
5)This point relates to a very serious advice by the Egyptian expert to his government. He called upon his government to take a stand against these NB countries that lease or sell their lands to multinational companies, foreign and Arab investors. This is so because he maintained that the water that will be used for these lands will be tantamount to smuggling and stealing and will lead to reducing Egyptian allocations which might lead to the starvation of the Egyptian people. Moreover, such notions seem to be a direct intervention in the internal choices of some riparian countries who wish to lease their lands for agricultural development.
However, he did not have the courage to elaborate on what kind of stand or measures his government should take. Here is a real manifestation of the kind of an upper attitude that Egypt both official and private exercise towards their neighbours whether Sudan, Ethiopia or any other riparian country. Recently news came from Ethiopia that the Egyptian PM visited Ethiopian not to enhance economic and trade cooperation, but rather to warn the Ethiopia authorities to stop building the rest of the five dams earmarked by Ethiopia. An Egyptian expert stated that Egypt will not to go to war with Ethiopia, but if Egypt were to be forced to do so it will use the long borders of Sudan, or collaborate whether Eritrea or Somalia who are both hostile to Ethiopia (see Ali Abdalla Ali, Nile Basin ten year obstacle and future challenge 15/2/2010).
From what has been discussed and analyzed in conclusion the writer is convinced beyond doubt that ;
*The Egyptian media will remain adamant in propagating unjust and unfair ideas on the issue of the Nile waters just as they did when their national football team was beaten by Algeria’s national football team which was organized last year in Sudan. The Egyptian media found it a chance to insult the Sudan and the Sudanese and accuse them of not availing enough security for the team after the game was over . The scars inflicted in the relation between the two countries will take a long time to heal in spite of apologies on the part of Egypt.. Egyptians feel superior to every one else in the region and cannot accept any form of defeat of any kind.
*The water allocated to Egypt by the two agreements is taken as some thing which is sacred and is considered a Red Line in Egyptian policy. Egypt does not wish to realize that these agreements do not hold in this modern world where every people and countries have become aware to their rights , thanks to the IT revolution. Moreover, these agreements were made by the colonial powers and the people of the Nile Basin were never consulted. In fact the 1959 agreement signed with Sudan is still and will remain in the minds and hearts of the Sudanese as the most unjust and unfair deal in Sudan’s recent history as stated before.
*Not only this, but Egypt and in order to strictly conserve its share of the Nile water given to it by these agreements, had subtly and intelligently worked towards militating against Sudan’s development in the areas of agriculture (non-heightening of Roseris Dam, AAAID ..etc).Moreover, it had recently started reducing the growing of water hungry crops such as Wheat, Sesame, Rice and Sorghum in Egypt and encourage Egyptian companies both public and private to invest in Sudan’s agriculture by obtaining large tracts of land as mentioned above. Such land will obviously be irrigated from Sudan’s share of the Nile water which is gradually dwindling. The Sudanese authorities naively welcome Egyptian companies not being aware of such motives. In such a case who is stealing and smuggling from whom?!!
*That Egypt has over the years been extremely reluctant to allow, especially Ethiopia to build dams in the highlands so that the Nile flows to Egypt shall not be interrupted. It is concerned about its growing population and to secure enough water so that they do not starve, but definitely less concerned as to what happens to the people of the Nile Basin!! For example the share of one percent allowed to Ethiopia out of its waters is ridiculous. Many Ethiopians attribute the recurring famines and starvation to this unjust formula. Moreover, Ethiopia is not to construct dams so that the flow to Egypt is sustained. What happens to the poor Ethiopian farmers is no body’s concern!! Therefore, neither dams should be built nor the riparian countries are allowed to utilize their fertile land lest that such behaviour by the riparian countries would interrupt or delay the flow of the Nile to Egypt!!
*That Egypt is advised by one of its experts to take a stand against the riparian countries that lease or sell their land to foreigners, Arabs and multinational companies to use it for agricultural development. As mentioned above the expert did not elaborate on the kind of stand. Is it bullying and pressure? Is threatening to go to war? Since Egypt is very proud of its military might. Such unfortunate statements in the media are often made by people who only see their point of view ignoring everyone else. If Egypt’s policy continues in that direction Egypt will definitely lose its reputation.
*The writer’s sincere strategic advise would be for Sudan to enhance it cooperation and further integration with its neighbour Ethiopia in order to create a wider entity of (80+40) 120 million population and 110 million if the South unfortunately decide for a separate state. It will definitely be a near homogenous populations with unusual natural resources. The second advice is for Sudan to expand its relation with China (and also India) especially in the area of joint agricultural projects. Such an arrangement will insure for Sudan strong international allies to reckon with. Such strategic relationship with Ethiopia and China (in spite of some reservations on China) will go a long way to secure Sudan’s integrity. Moreover, it will be a better and secure arrangement than that proposed recently as between Sudan, Egypt and Libya. Pragmatism is much need in this harsh and selfish and uncertain world.
* Lastly , one is not hopeful that the forthcoming meeting (April 2010) to be held in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, will achieve any real progress on the signing of the Framework Agreement . However, what had been achieved so far by the NBI should as much as possible be maintained. If any member or members try to overrule any other members there are many alternatives open to the others to get what they believe is their right. The world has become a small village and no longer will anyone’s right for a decent living can be taken away from him.
Professor Ali Abdalla Ali is Professor of Economics,
Ahlia Omdurman University & Economic Advisor, Khartoum Stock Exchange . He can be reached at
[email protected]