Sudan not part of possible action against Egypt on Nile water
June 25, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan will not be part of possible legal action against Egypt being pursued by some Nile basin countries, an official said today.
The 1929 agreement signed between Britain and Egypt states that no project on the Nile would be undertaken by any basin countries that would impact the volume of water reaching Egypt.
Legal experts say that the agreement is binding to Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo despite the fact that most of these countries were not independent at the time.
Thirty years later Sudan and Egypt amended the agreement that enabled the construction of the Aswan dam close to the borders between the two countries.
The 11 countries will reportedly also add Britain to the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asking for compensation losses incurred because of these agreements.
The move reportedly came after Egypt refused to sign a framework agreement in the Congo last month saying it amounts to its “historical right” in the Nile water.
The Egyptian Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper said that Cairo asked that other signatories “explicitly approve Egypt’s right to 55.5 billion cubic square meters of water annually; that no projects on the Nile be implemented without Egyptian approval, and that Convention articles be amended only on a unanimous vote”.
However, the stipulations put forward by Egypt were deemed unacceptable by other countries.
The 1959 agreement between Egypt and Sudan states that no projects are allowed on the Nile by any other country without its consent.
A unidentified Sudanese official at the water resources and irrigation ministry emphasized to Al-Akhbar newspaper that neither his government nor Ethiopia will join the effort to sue Egypt.
He added that Sudan under British rule in 1929 and thus was not a party to the first agreement and noted that it is up to the political leaderships not the parliamentarians to take such a step.
Egypt is extremely sensitive to any talk about modifying its share in the Nile water with some officials saying that this amounts to a declaration of war warranting military action.
Yesterday the editor in chief of the semi-official Al-Ahram daily Morsi Atallah wrote a column saying, “Nile water is a red line”.
“Egypt will not forfeit its historical rights…will move to defend these rights if any attempt is made to touch Egypt’s share and no one inside or outside should be surprised” he wrote.
(ST)
pol d
Sudan not part of possible action against Egypt on Nile water
Time is come for the people of African to get the River Nile back even God know,to know that
Egypt was geting 95% of water free.Those joints African
was geting 5%.EGYPT time is over for you,
God bless African and our Great Mile River.
Jur_likang a likan'g
Sudan not part of possible action against Egypt on Nile water
Black Africa is not a property of Egypt nor are africans slaves of Egyptians to decide for Africans on what the people want to do within their sovereighty. Let Egyptians go to hell if it so wishes.
Martin D Ajhak
Sudan not part of possible action against Egypt on Nile water
Bravo Parliamentarians! the extend in to which Egyt has gone in using this water is unbeareable .
Also,Sudan as represented by Khartoum need to answer some questions regarding 1929 agreements in which Sudan was a part of other 12 countries.
What brought volation of this unified agreement on water is unacceptable and ratification of this mistake is very important. What is life and Egytian must acknowledge and appreciate this offer by keeping the agreement terms
South Sudan is going to be a part of other African nations being cheated in the agreement .Egyptian must the price..
Jakok Loakloak
Sudan not part of possible action against Egypt on Nile water
Of course, Egyptians must act stuborn and bullyish because they had it all for centuries without a single soul challenging their lustvicious gain. One thing they are ignorant of is that ‘we in the upper basin, are not going to deny them their riht of consumtion as they did to us.’ Only that each member of the nile basin will enjoy their rightful share. No more under table deals even if it takes us to the extremes of their set RULE. After all we are the sons and daughters of the same blessed water.
jakok
Sase Naim
Egypt and the Nile water
Whether Egypt likes it or not, Ethiopia is going to use the water which comes from its womb. Ethiopia has tried to engage the Egyptians to constructive dialog, but the Egyptians have showed no interest at all. So Ethiopia and the rest of the African Nile basin countries have the right to utilise the water. Another solution could be if Egypt is ready to pay tax for the water, say one dollar for every 1 cubic meter of water. Egypt, it is your choice! Either way, African Nile basin countries are going to get benefit from the Nile. Some thing which is free tastes too good, the Egyptians know very well than any one else. You have been spoiled to get the water for free and for too long.
Sase Naim, Sweden