Despite Egypt’s protest, “historic agreement” among Nile Basin countries enters into force

A historic agreement between several Nile Basin countries regarding “fair and sustainable” management of the river’s waters has come into force despite opposition from Egypt, according to informed sources.

The Framework Agreement for Cooperation in the Nile Basin came into force on Sunday, after more than ten years of negotiations between the Nile River countries, according to the Nile Basin Commission, which consists of ten countries, and welcomed this “defining moment.”

The commission said in a statement that the agreement “confirms our collective determination to exploit the Nile River for the benefit of all, and to ensure its equitable and sustainable use for generations.” to come.”

According to the Commission, the project aims to “correct historical imbalances in access to the Nile waters and ensure that all Nile Basin countries, both upstream and downstream, benefit from this shared resource.”

To date, five of the ten countries that belong to the Commission have ratified the agreement reached in 2010 in Entebbe, Uganda. These countries are Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi, while Egypt and Sudan rejected it.

These two countries have long had disputes with Ethiopia over the large hydroelectric dam built by Addis Ababa on the Nile River.

Ethiopia considers this infrastructure essential to its development and provides electricity to its 120 million people.

However, Egypt, which relies on the Nile River to secure 97 percent of its water needs, continues to protest, citing a historic right to the river, and considering that the Renaissance Dam is a “lively” threat.

Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Sweilem said on Sunday that “one cubic meter of Nile water cannot be given,” adding that Egypt “will not recognize the agreement”.

For his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiri, told Agence France-Presse on Monday that a summit of the Nile River countries was to be held in Uganda on October 17, but was postponed until the beginning of the next year, refusing to say the reason.

Media reports said the summit was canceled due to disagreements between countries.

The Nile Basin Commission brings together Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, while Eritrea has observer status.