The Nile River is one of Africa`s most important water bodies, providing life-sustaining water to millions of people across eleven countries. With so much at stake, it`s no surprise that there have been many agreements made on the Nile River Basin over the years. In this article, we will discuss some of these agreements and their implications.
The first agreement was made in 1929 between Egypt and Sudan. The agreement guaranteed Egypt 48 billion cubic meters of Nile water each year, while Sudan would receive 4 billion cubic meters. This agreement effectively gave Egypt control over the Nile River and its resources. However, this agreement did not take into account the needs of the other countries sharing the Nile.
In 1959, another agreement was reached between Egypt and Sudan. This agreement increased Egypt`s share of Nile waters to 55.5 billion cubic meters annually, while Sudan would receive 18.5 billion cubic meters. The agreement also recognized the rights of other Nile Basin countries to use Nile water for development purposes. However, this recognition was not enough to satisfy the other countries.
In 1999, Nile Basin countries began negotiations to form a new agreement that would be more inclusive of all countries sharing the Nile. In 2010, the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) was signed by six upstream countries: Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Burundi. The agreement aimed to ensure equitable use of Nile water while respecting the historical water rights of downstream countries, such as Egypt and Sudan. However, Egypt and Sudan did not sign the agreement, as they felt it threatened their water security.
In 2015, a deal known as the “Declaration of Principles” was signed by all eleven Nile Basin countries. The agreement aimed to create a framework for cooperation and sustainable development in the Nile Basin. This agreement recognized the need for cooperation and the importance of equitable and reasonable use of water resources. However, the agreement did not settle any issues regarding water allocation or usage.
The Nile River Basin agreements have been an ongoing process aimed at ensuring equitable sharing of Nile water resources. While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all countries sharing the Nile River benefit from its resources. With continued dialogue and cooperation, we can hope for a fair and sustainable future for the Nile River Basin.