There is a conflict simmering among between Ethiopia and Egypt and North Sudan over the use of the waters of river Nile. When Ethiopia decided to construct its mega dam known the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD) the upstream countries of North Sudan and Egypt weren’t happy. They think that the GERD will adversely impact on the supply for these arid countries. Thus, they’d to act decisively and quickly. They recently took the matter to the UN while the matter is still in the hands of the AU. This shows distrust in and disrespect to the AU. Again, this isn’t the first time the two countries to have tried to intimidate the downstream countries. When Tanzania started the $85.1 million project draw water for domestic use Nyanza in 2012, the same raised a red flag to no avail. When Tanzania, like Ethiopia stood its ground, the duo backed down.
In April this year, Egyptian dictator, Abdel Fatah al Sisi’s quoted as saying that “no one is allowed to take away a single drop of water from Egypt; no one can even imagine the instability that will ensue in the region if such a thing were to happen. No one should dare question our capabilities. But if they want to put us to the test, then so be it” (Al-Monitor, April 1st, 2021). If you read this threat that has never come to fruition, who is allowing whom to use the water of Nile? Where does the Egypt get the legality and authority to decide on who’s the right to take even a drop of the Nile? Will the upstream countries cower and give in to this blatant hegemony? Ethiopia and Sudan, African countries that view themselves as Arab countries must be told to their face that it is only God who can decide otherwise when it comes to using the water of Nile. Ethiopia and other upstream countries have exclusive right to use their waters as pleased. If Egypt daydreams thinking it can take Ethiopia on militarily, it’ll regret. Shall it attempt to do so, Ethiopia will use water to finish the war. This is possible if Ethiopia decides to use more water for more projects that consume water if need be. Therefore, threats won’t help Egypt and North Sudan. So, too, threats won’t bring any solution. Al Sisi added that “hostile action is ugly and has effects that extend for many years because people never forget such actions. Egypt’s water is off limits. If anyone were to cross this red line, our response would affect the stability of the entire region.” Whom is al Sisi trying to intimidate? His threats seem to aim at intimidating upstream countries without underscoring the fact that if they team together, Egypt’s no match. Egypt needs to be told that upstream countries will use the water of Nile whenever they need without necessarily asking for permission from anybody. When it comes to using the water to develop their people, Egypt needs to understand that nobody can stop them. Instead of hollering, Egypt needs to come to a roundtable and plead with the upstream countries. Are the lives of Egyptians more important than those of upstream countries? This is where colonialism, holier than thou and racism emanate.
The current tussle over the water of Nile has some coloniality in it. For example, how come a country like Ethiopia that produces over 80% of Nile waters has to seek understanding with the country like Egypt that doesn’t produce even drop except using the water? If Gulf emirates and Middle Eastern countries are selling petrol to countries like Ethiopia, what’s wrong to start charging Egypt and Sudan for the water they’re using from the Nile? I know due to African generosity; Ethiopia doesn’t think about doing that. Again, had Egypt been the one produces the waters for the survive of Ethiopia, it would have already charged for ‘its’ water. Let’s ask more questions to see if what’s ongoing is or isn’t hegemony and holier than thou based on racism. Why do Egypt and North Sudan want to use intimidations to make their points? Can Ethiopia and other upstream countries arrest the development of their people simply because countries downstream are starving? Ironically, Egypt that’s now hollering, apart from having a good supply for its people, it is among top ten African countries with good supply of electricity at number three after Mauritius and Tunisia (Legit August 5th, 2020). One’d think that if Egypt wants coexistence not dominance and arrogance, could help Ethiopia to finish the project since it gets a lot of money from the US compared to Ethiopia.
Although life’s the right to everybody, everybody, especially countries, is supposed not to suffocate another simply because its wellbeing has been threatened by a natural phenomenon. For those who remember how Tanzania reacted when it’s told not to use water from lake Nyanza, still remember how tough it stood telling the two that nobody can teach or dictate it on how to use its God-given resources including the waters in its waterbodies. As argued above, water’s a resource just like petrol, natural gas, diamond and whatnots. Instead of complaining, Egypt and North Sudan must negotiate how to trade their resources.
In sum, the conflict over Nile’s an African issue or problem that needs an African solution. Therefore, Egypt’s and North Sudan’s attempts to drag it before the UN won’t help them. Apart from showing their holier than thou comportment, the duo’s dissed the AU, which is currently looking into the matter. Importantly, I’d urge the upstream countries to come together and issue a response to any threats that are done over the water of Nile. So, too, they’d start thinking about charging the duo shall their needs adversely impact them.
In April this year, Egyptian dictator, Abdel Fatah al Sisi’s quoted as saying that “no one is allowed to take away a single drop of water from Egypt; no one can even imagine the instability that will ensue in the region if such a thing were to happen. No one should dare question our capabilities. But if they want to put us to the test, then so be it” (Al-Monitor, April 1st, 2021). If you read this threat that has never come to fruition, who is allowing whom to use the water of Nile? Where does the Egypt get the legality and authority to decide on who’s the right to take even a drop of the Nile? Will the upstream countries cower and give in to this blatant hegemony? Ethiopia and Sudan, African countries that view themselves as Arab countries must be told to their face that it is only God who can decide otherwise when it comes to using the water of Nile. Ethiopia and other upstream countries have exclusive right to use their waters as pleased. If Egypt daydreams thinking it can take Ethiopia on militarily, it’ll regret. Shall it attempt to do so, Ethiopia will use water to finish the war. This is possible if Ethiopia decides to use more water for more projects that consume water if need be. Therefore, threats won’t help Egypt and North Sudan. So, too, threats won’t bring any solution. Al Sisi added that “hostile action is ugly and has effects that extend for many years because people never forget such actions. Egypt’s water is off limits. If anyone were to cross this red line, our response would affect the stability of the entire region.” Whom is al Sisi trying to intimidate? His threats seem to aim at intimidating upstream countries without underscoring the fact that if they team together, Egypt’s no match. Egypt needs to be told that upstream countries will use the water of Nile whenever they need without necessarily asking for permission from anybody. When it comes to using the water to develop their people, Egypt needs to understand that nobody can stop them. Instead of hollering, Egypt needs to come to a roundtable and plead with the upstream countries. Are the lives of Egyptians more important than those of upstream countries? This is where colonialism, holier than thou and racism emanate.
The current tussle over the water of Nile has some coloniality in it. For example, how come a country like Ethiopia that produces over 80% of Nile waters has to seek understanding with the country like Egypt that doesn’t produce even drop except using the water? If Gulf emirates and Middle Eastern countries are selling petrol to countries like Ethiopia, what’s wrong to start charging Egypt and Sudan for the water they’re using from the Nile? I know due to African generosity; Ethiopia doesn’t think about doing that. Again, had Egypt been the one produces the waters for the survive of Ethiopia, it would have already charged for ‘its’ water. Let’s ask more questions to see if what’s ongoing is or isn’t hegemony and holier than thou based on racism. Why do Egypt and North Sudan want to use intimidations to make their points? Can Ethiopia and other upstream countries arrest the development of their people simply because countries downstream are starving? Ironically, Egypt that’s now hollering, apart from having a good supply for its people, it is among top ten African countries with good supply of electricity at number three after Mauritius and Tunisia (Legit August 5th, 2020). One’d think that if Egypt wants coexistence not dominance and arrogance, could help Ethiopia to finish the project since it gets a lot of money from the US compared to Ethiopia.
Although life’s the right to everybody, everybody, especially countries, is supposed not to suffocate another simply because its wellbeing has been threatened by a natural phenomenon. For those who remember how Tanzania reacted when it’s told not to use water from lake Nyanza, still remember how tough it stood telling the two that nobody can teach or dictate it on how to use its God-given resources including the waters in its waterbodies. As argued above, water’s a resource just like petrol, natural gas, diamond and whatnots. Instead of complaining, Egypt and North Sudan must negotiate how to trade their resources.
In sum, the conflict over Nile’s an African issue or problem that needs an African solution. Therefore, Egypt’s and North Sudan’s attempts to drag it before the UN won’t help them. Apart from showing their holier than thou comportment, the duo’s dissed the AU, which is currently looking into the matter. Importantly, I’d urge the upstream countries to come together and issue a response to any threats that are done over the water of Nile. So, too, they’d start thinking about charging the duo shall their needs adversely impact them.
Source: African Executive Magazine Wednesday.
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