Introduction to the Nile River
The Nile River is the longest river in the world, stretching over 4,000 miles across eleven countries in Africa. The Nile’s source is located in the mountains of East Africa, and it eventually flows into the Mediterranean Sea in the north. For thousands of years, the Nile has been critical to the lives of millions of people who depend on it for drinking water, irrigation, and fishing. More recently, the Nile Basin has become the focus of national and international disputes over who controls its resources.
Who Owns the Nile Now?
Today, the Nile Basin countries are Egypt, Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Although no one country “owns” the Nile, each of these countries is recognized by international law as having sovereign rights over the water flowing through their own borders.
The water resources management of the Nile River is regulated by two bilateral treaties. The first treaty, known as the 1959water agreement, has been in place since 1959 and was signed between Egypt and Sudan. It gives the two countries control over the waters of the northern portion of the Nile River, with Egypt receiving two-thirds of the water. The second agreement, which was signed in May 2010, is known as the Entbeshy Agreement. This agreement gave the other countries—Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan—equal rights over the Nile River waters, as well as the ability to share in the benefits of the Nile’s resources.
Debate Over River Rights
For many years, the debate over who controls the Nile River has been characterized by tension between the upstream countries and Egypt, who have traditionally received the bulk of the Nile waters. Ethiopia has proposed constructing a series of dams that could potentially threaten Egypt’s access to the water they’ve come to depend on. In response, Egypt has threatened to take “all necessary measures” to protect its rights over the Nile.
The upstream countries, in turn, have accused Egypt of imposing colonial-style control over the use of the Nile. In 2009, the upstream countries formed the Nile Basin Initiative to raise awareness about the need for equitable and sustainable management of the river’s resources.
Controversy Over the Renaissance Dam
In 2011, the debate over who owns the Nile River became even more heated when Ethiopia announced plans to begin construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. This massive dam will be the largest in Africa and will be capable of storing up to 74 billion cubic meters of water.
The GERD project is of great concern to the downstream countries, especially Egypt, who fear the dam could significantly reduce the amount of water flowing into countries like Sudan and Egypt. However, the upstream countries have argued that the dam is essential to their development and will give them the means to generate clean electricity.
Evolution of International Laws
The debate over who owns the Nile River has been further complicated by a lack of international laws and regulations governing the management of waters of international rivers. In recent years, the nations of the Nile Basin have attempted to reach an agreement that recognizes the rights and interests of all the countries involved.
In May 2015, representatives of all eleven Nile Basin countries signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement, which lays out a process for the sharing of the Nile’s resources. The Agreement codifies the principles of equitable and reasonable utilization, covers a wide range of issues, and creates a unified transboundary water management agency.
Environmental Impact of the Nile
The Nile River not only provides the water essential for life, but it is also a vital source of food and livelihoods for millions of people. Without the Nile and its rich, fertile soils, it would be impossible to grow the crops and livestock that sustain rural populations in the Nile Basin countries.
However, the Nile is under threat from over-exploitation of its water, as well as increased pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. Overfishing has pushed many species, such as the Nile perch, to the brink of extinction. The Nile floods also bring unwanted fertilizer runoff from nearby agricultural areas, which can cause eutrophication in the river’s ecosystems and reduce the quality of its waters.
Conclusion
The debate over who owns the Nile River has been a contentious issue for decades. On the one hand, Egypt and Sudan have argued that they have a right to the waters of the northern portion of the river, while upstream countries have argued that they should have equal access to the river’s resources. In recent years, the eleven Nile Basin countries have been exploring ways to reach an equitable and sustainable management plan that takes into account the interests of all countries involved. The ongoing effort to protect and manage the Nile River will be essential to the future of millions of people who depend on it for their livelihoods.
