EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
May 13, 2010 (CAIRO) – The European Union has urged today seven Nile Basin countries to reconsider the signing of a new water sharing deal without prior agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
![Graphic shows Nile River Basin region (AP) Graphic shows Nile River Basin region (AP)](https://sudantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/jpg_Graphic.jpg)
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda announced they will sign on Friday the Nile River Cooperative Framework Agreement to administer the longest river in the world despite the opposition of Egypt and Sudan.
Marc Franco, who heads the European Union delegation in Egypt, issued the appeal the seven countries were expected to launch the signing on Friday of a new water-sharing deal. It would “not be a very good idea for seven countries to sign a document at this stage,” Franco told a news conference in Cairo.
A separate deal would “make the political problems that exist worse,” added Franco, urging all countries concerned “to bridge the gaps” and “see what can be done to find a compromise.”
The water Nile is governed by two treaties. The 1929 agreement signed between Egypt and Great Britain (representing for colonies including Sudan), gave Cairo the right to veto projects higher up the Nile that would affect its water share.
The other document is the 1959 agreement, between Egypt and Sudan. It gave Egypt the right to 55.5 billion cubic meters of Nile water a year and Sudan 18.5 billion cubic meters per year.
The new agreement would replace a 1959 accord between Egypt and Sudan. The seven upstream countries have been negotiating for years with Egypt and Sudan to clinch a more equitable agreement but talks have failed to produce any fruit.
The upstream countries say past treaties are unfair and they want an equitable water-sharing agreement that would allow for more irrigation and power projects.
Egypt and Sudan are sticking to colonial-era pacts which give them over 85% of the Nile water. The two countries say the upstream countries have other sources of water while Egypt gets all its water needs from the Nile. Cairo also projects possible shortages by 2017.
However the upstream countries say they are going to ink on Friday the new deal which will allow the others to join it within a year.
“What we are doing is launching the signing. Any country that feels they cannot sign now but may be ready to sign later will have one year,” Jennifer Namuyangu Byakatonda, Uganda’s state minister for water said as it organize the signing ceremony in Entebbe.
Byakatonda told the AFP that the upstream countries will not capitulate to demands for further negotiations.
“Negotiations are closed,” she said. “The terms will not change.”
The Ugandan minister however admitted in statements to Reuters today “We’ve not been insensitive to Egyptian concerns about water security but what we are opposed to is their insistence on maintaining their veto as it is in the colonial agreements,” Namuyangu said.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned in statements published on Saturday that Cairo’s water rights were a “red line” and threatened legal action if a unilateral deal is reached.
(ST)
marie
EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
The EU delegates should be persuading Egypt to join in signing the agreement instead of airing this useless threats. Let the seven countries go ahead and let the rest do whatever they want to do. I think it is unfair to stick to this colonial era agreement.
Samson
EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
Egyptian Govt, never learn any lesson since the colony. They thought they were only country who can or have power in Africa that they can made any decision to rest of African countries. whatever they we the East Africa country we are ready. Go head make my day.Old colony has gone we all in 21rt century.
DASODIKO
EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
Please European are the one given a lion share of Nile water to the Egyptians never listen to them also who are they to decide for the Nile Basin Countries. Second; they should urge Egypt to have more talks not we, they these guys gone nuts? You want me to go bow down to a stranger and beg him to sit with me in my house to didvide my own properties????????????? This was the way how strangers including the Arabs got in to Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope these Nile Basin leaders to to give the lake victoria its old name that I know it and also declare it in public that we have changed Victora to its old African name.
okucu pa lotinokwan
EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
Egypt have no right to the River Nile,the previous agreement in 1929 they did with British will not longer help them, because the River Nile does not originated from Britain,let the Egyptain government put this into their mind.
The seven East African countries they can go ahead with their signiture on Friday as it is put,but they should not forget the new country south Sudan.Why did Egypt not use the Med Sea which is so close to their country ?than making noises to the African countries,first of all Egypt is under Middle East Countries,and have no right to rule the River Nile movement.
We are in new era Egypt should understand this.
Padiet Deng Alony
EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
Africanism go ahead, when you say guys Sudan and Egypt refused let them do what ever they want. mind you that South Sudan is soon to be a country 2011 will too sign new agreement with her African brothers hahaaaaaaaaaaaa bye bye. We do not want double faced parasites here Africa there Arab in middle East; solve the problems in middle east then come to Africa.
Long Live Pan-Africa
John Liai Diing
EU urges upstream countries for more talks with Egypt, Sudan over Nile water
Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia=You made my day. Colonialism must go!
We don`t need this unjust colonial agreement this time and Egypt and North Sudan must decide what they are upto.
Kenya, DRC and Burundi-what are you waiting for?
I would call you cowards and to avoid this embarrassment among your brothers and sisters, you need to reconsider your positions soon.
These evils will never accept anything and give you your natural rights though you indefinitely talk day and night . South Sudan is on the way-no doubt.
John Liai Diing