Ethiopia says all Nile states agreed on NBI, but not Sudan and Egypt
August 5, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia on Tuesday said that member states of the Nile basin, which gathered last week in Egypt in an annual ministerial meeting, have approved Nile Basin Initiatives (NBI), with an objection from Sudan and Egypt.
At a news briefing he gave in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Minister of Water Resource Asfaw Dingamo said that seven member countries have unanimously agreed in favor of all articles of the initiative. But Sudan and Egypt have objected one article on the security of water from the total 39 articles of the package.
According to the Ethiopian minister, Sudan and Egypt have sought a special privilege on Nile River, but have failed to get support from other members and both countries are given six months to act in accordance with the article or to come up with an alternative idea that, in principle doesn’t deviate far from their agreement reached in Alexandria.
If the two countries fail to meet dead line, the implementation of the whole package will begin then after hence forth it is approved by a majority vote.
The package has been designed to benefit all riparian countries in using transboundary water resources in an equitable and fair manner. Asfaw said adding, the meeting was successful in protecting Ethiopia’s interest.
The NBI is a partnership initiated and led by the riparian states of the Nile River through the council of ministers of water affairs of the Nile Basin states.
Egypt and to a lesser extent Sudan are strongly resisting attempts by other Nile basin countries to modify their shares of the river per the 1929 and 1959 treaties.
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 1959 agreement between Egypt and Sudan states that no projects are allowed on the Nile by any other country without its consent.
(ST)
Kur
Ethiopia says all Nile states agreed on NBI, but not Sudan and Egypt
Why do other countries along the Nile Basin need permission from Egypt? If they need water why they do not ago head and use as much water as they need? They should not be bound by the agreement made by the colonial authorities.
Kur
Oduck Bol
Ethiopia says all Nile states agreed on NBI, but not Sudan and Egypt
Dear Africa Countries who share Nile water:
My appreciation goes to Ethiopia and African for what they have been doing for long time to support democracy in among countries which chared Nile Basin to initiative of Nile Basin water. For those who have never been in Ethiopia, you will never find out a country in Africa that give value of each human being as Ethiopia dose. We use to Walk in Addis Abada all day and night in 1980th until now. If you are doubt to my commment go to Ethiopia today and you will enjoy life you want unless you are thugs like Ajus who defends their tribe leader; event SPLM had been supported by Ethiopia children as Mongisto EvnMaram and Malas Zanawoe who is Leading ETHIOPIA now. Event they have light skin in Africa,but they are the best to defend the Africa Continent from Arabic or ISLMIC culture to today. For my opponent Ajusmandos or Ajus or how he call himself. Please talk to your comunity tribe leader which you claim last week that he is for Denka tribe so you do not want any body to abuse him to say his opinion on that issues. I was born at the bank of that Nile water and rose up at the same place. Eygpt is an Arabic country that appear in Africa contient. So we have to deal with Silamic Culture which see women as evil. For water Nile, please Eygpt follow Africa rule or go back where God sent Mahemed. We are black people do not want to be disturb by any anything came from out side the Africa contient. We are aware that you are building nulear power to fear Africa contient. We need Eygpt to value Africans and talk nicely as its brother instead brenging a hate cultuer.Iam sure Northerns are not bad people but religion mad them like that.
Oduck Bol
John Liai Diing
Ethiopia says all Nile states agreed on NBI, but not Sudan and Egypt
Dear Nile Basin Countries,
I`m extremely excited to hear you take these positive steps to dismantle the water policies prejudicially imposed by colonial powers which are of no importance to us in this century.
Generally, don`t worry about their political blackmailing. They are not creators of this water. God of all people gave it to all of us and we should share it as brothers and sisters instead of having one person exploiting it in our face when we desperately need it all.
Remember, one hand can not clap. Remain together as one person and they will never do anything. I read article over the past few weeks about Egyptian minister threatening you for a possible war, that is only a war of nerves and has no impact on us as one people.
I remember one best statement from Tanzanian minister, possibly in 2007 if I did not forget it. He said there is no reason we let this water that passes in front of us go and then we later follow it to beg someone who is neither a owner himself to give it to you. Therefore, we must make our own hydro-system (for Hydroelectricity, e.g.) with this Nile Water.This is the policy I ask you to adopt. If they want to fight, let them go ahead.
This is a different century. Not the time when these mindless people thought they must control all African resources against our will. We must establish ourselves as people and that is when we shall be respected. If they don`t show up during the deadline you set, don`t waste your time, just implement the newly drafted policy and unanimously approved by you. Time has come for us to re-establish ourselves as equal people.
We should even build and divert some dams to connect other African brothers and sisters, for example, Central African, Chad, etc., who are suffering from droughts to benefit from this water. Appeasing someone always is not productive policy for us with regards to these selfish people. There are more water bodies close to them, for example, Red Sea or Midetranian Sea. Let them go and use it.
Good move and thanks for the move!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!