Mutiny on the river Nile as African countries push Egypt, Sudan into a corner on water sharing
April 15, 2010 (CAIRO) — The Egyptian government today warned that it is prepared to respond strongly to any initiative taken by Nile basin countries that would have an impact on its share of the Nile waters in accordance with the 1929 agreement.
The three days marathonic meetings at the ministerial level in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm Al-Sheik failed to bridge differences between Egypt and Sudan on one side and other Nile basin states. The Nile basin nations have failed for years now to agree on the Nile River Cooperative Framework Agreement to administer the longest river in the world, which would reduce Egypt’s share of the Nile water.
Egypt’s state news agency (MENA) reported Tuesday that source nations because their rivers flow into and make up the Blue Nile and White Nile that come together in Sudan’s capital Khartoum — would sign the agreement on May 14.
“The sources nations decided to go ahead with signing,” the report said. “Egypt and Sudan decided to stay away.”
Reda Bebres, a spokesman for Egypt’s delegation, said the move to sign the deal was a “regrettable unilateral decision” by the other Nile basin nations.
Bebres also said that any accords signed should not affect Egypt’s share because it is protected by international law threatening that his country would reconsider its funding to water projects in these nations. However, he stressed that Egypt will work with those countries to reach a compromise.
At the meetings, the Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohammed Nasr El-Deen Allam insisted that Egypt would maintain its share of 55.5 billion cubic meters of water from the river — more than half of the Nile’s flow.
Egypt also wants veto power over any new irrigation projects undertaken by the other nine riparian states.
Egypt’s claim to Nile water is based on a 1929 agreement between Egypt and Great Britain on behalf of Britain’s colonies which gave Egypt the right to most of the more than 100 billion cubic meters of water that reaches the downstream countries annually.
The Sub-Saharan African states have rejected the clause and called for the signing of the agreement.
Egypt, a country of some 80 million people says if Egypt’s annual share of Nile water remains at 55.5 billion cubic meters, per capita water availability will stand at around 630 cubic meters in 2025, compared with 1,213 in 1990.
Observers say that Sudan’s stance which is supportive to Egypt is driven by political considerations rather than economic ones. They point out that Sudan itself will require more water than is available in the coming years for economic and agricultural expansion.
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Sober
Mutiny on the river Nile as African countries push Egypt, Sudan into a corner on water sharing
Egypt should seek fresh new agreement on the Sharing of Nile Water,Old books are useless today but their information are important.
River Nile is a resource to whom it environs have it and should use it without limitations.
Aduol Liet
Mutiny on the river Nile as African countries push Egypt, Sudan into a corner on water sharing
Egyptian people.
You have develop your nation very well while those who own River Nile watering are still under development and I don’t think Southern Sudanese people or Uganda and Ethiopian will follow the Old agreement 1929, made by Britain in the colony time this is unacceptable for us to follow this so call British and Egypt colonization agreement. We Southeren Sudanese people will use water for all purposes in Southern Sudan land and more flow water to Northern Sudan and even Egypt will not be necessary in these generations of ours. Sudan government have been benefits getting 4 billion a yearly while Southern Sudanese get none for watering.