Community | August 01, 2009 | 6 comments

Egypt blocks Nile water deal

source: http://water-is-life.blogspot.com/2009/08/egypt-blocks-nile-water-deal.html

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JanforGore
Hopes that the 10 Nile Basin countries would sign a water-sharing agreement at a meeting in Alexandria to settle one of the planet's most contentious water issues have been dashed — for now at least — after Egypt and Sudan rejected any cuts in their traditional quotas.

But the prospects of a long-term accord on an equitable share-out of the waters of the 3,470-mile Nile, the world's longest river, remain dim, largely because Egypt, the largest user, refuses to surrender its veto powers and its historic rights over the river that has been its lifeblood since time immemorial.

The Nile and its tributaries flow through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

The water ministers of these states put off finalizing a treaty for six months when they wrapped up their four-day Alexandria meeting on Tuesday.

In May, the riparian states had drafted a Cooperative Framework Agreement at a summit in the Congo, but Egypt and Sudan refused to sign because it made no mention of their historic claims on Nile water that date back to the colonial era.

Cairo and Khartoum, which do not see eye-to-eye on most things, hailed Tuesday's postponement. "It's a big victory," a senior Sudanese official declared. "They were going to sign the agreement beginning Aug. 1 regardless of Egypt and Sudan."

The dispute over the Nile's life-giving waters has stirred resentment and tension for years now. But now the feuding over water appears to be intensifying.

Some international law experts have gone so far as to suggest that if political and diplomatic efforts fail to settle the issue, the use of military force would be the only option.

Others say it is unlikely that any of these states would resort to such extreme action. But the U.N. Development Program recently voiced concern that conflict over shrinking water resources could trigger "water wars" — as has happened before in the arid Middle East.

Climate change in recent years has reduced rainfall, leading to lower water flows in the Nile and jeopardizing hydraulic projects in several states.

Egypt and neighboring Sudan are the Nile's largest consumers. Egypt, which lies at the end of the river as it flows into the Mediterranean, does not contribute any water to the Nile system.
  1. groups:
    Community,   Green,   Earth and Science,   Sustainable Agriculture,   2 more
  2. tags:
    Water,  Egypt,  Drought,  Global Water Crisis,  4 more
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6 comments // Egypt blocks Nile water deal

  • mixmaster
  • mixmaster
  • idealist
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • While I have always thought water to be a kind of MAD(mutually assured destruction) resource in that the lack of it on the part of one country effects another therefore treaties would be agreed to in order to avoid that, I am beginning to wonder if that war over water scenario may just be valid. And it will not only effect the Middle East and Africa, but Asia, and also the US as water resources in the West are beginning to feel the effects of climate change and waste. It boggles my mind how people cannot be outraged that farmers in California haven't got enough water to irrigate their crops as the Bellaggio in Las Vegas pushes out thousands of gallons of water in one spurt of their extravagant fountains. The disconnect on this may well lead us to that war, and we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

    • 2 years ago
  • idealist
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Will this area be a place of 'water wars' as climate change and population increases continue to place strains on water resources? Tensions are already flaring as Egypt claims it needs to have the water it was allotted previously due to the fact that it is the Nile alone that supplies the majority of its water. Whereas other riparian states have other sources of water and receive more rain. Is this a valid claim? Does Egypt not hold any responsibility for the water it uses, its population increases, nor its consumption and irrigation practices? What of the future as we already see many areas getting less rainfall and water evaporation taking place due to changes in climate?

      Also, there are many dams built in this area that already decrease available water resources to agricultural areas and which have displaced thousands of people. I find it illogical that based on the predictions of future climate changes for this area, drought, and water usage that is wasteful as well as the many dams being built that cause diversion of water resources and environmental devastation that Egypt or Sudan can continue to give these same excuses for much longer.

    • 2 years ago
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