This term paper aims at what legal tools Ethiopia can consider fighting Egypt's hegemony and revoke the Nile treaties to avoid future conflicts in the Horn of Africa over the use of the Nile waters and to improve the livelihood in region. My Thesis is that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam poses no threat to Egypt and in this paper, I will provide a historical and geographical overview of the geopolitical conflict, followed by an explanation of the treaties that Egypt has invoked to date. I will then provide an overview of Ethiopia's legal development since 1959. At the end, I will then draw an appropriate conclusion. The following provides a geographical overview of the Nile River basin.
According to an article in the New York Times "Without the Nile, there is no Egypt." (Walsh & Sengupta, 2020). The construction in 2011 of the largest dam "Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam" also known as GERD has caused dispute for centuries between Egypt and Ethiopia, which despite several negotiations, also with the African Union as a mediator, cannot agree on the utilization of the dam. Egypt obtains most of the water it needs from the Nile which flows from Lake Tana in Ethiopia into the Blue Nile and from Lake Victoria originating in the White Nile, which crosses the borders of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Ethiopia on the other side is one of the countries with one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, at the same time over half of the population in the country live without electricity, which could be remedied by the construction and use of the dam. However, Egypt fears that Ethiopia could now gain control over the flow of the river, citing an old Anglo-Egyptian colonial treaty signed between the United Kingdom and Egypt on behalf of Ethiopia in 1929 that promises Egypt veto power and rights over the distribution and use of the Nile waters to this day.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Geographical Overview
2.1 Share of Water volume
3 Geopolitical context
3.1 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
4 Legal Framework
4.1 Treaties
4.1.1 Treaty from 1891
4.1.2 Treaty from 1902
4.1.3 Nile Water Agreement from 1929
4.1.4 Treaty from 1959
4.2 Legal developments since 1959
5 Conclusion
Objectives & Research Focus
This paper examines the geopolitical tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), investigating potential legal avenues for Ethiopia to challenge historical water hegemony and facilitate regional cooperation through sustainable water management.
- Historical analysis of colonial-era Nile treaties and their contemporary implications.
- Geographical and economic significance of the Nile and the GERD for Ethiopia.
- Legal evaluation of Egyptian veto power claims vs. Ethiopia's rights to resource utilization.
- Development of a regional approach to resolve the long-standing water dispute.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was started in April 2011 (Melesse et al., 2014, p. 128). Figure 1 in Chapter 2 shows that it is located on the Blue Nile at the Sudanese Ethiopian border. The dam is considered to be one of the largest dams in Africa and has a capacity of approximately 74 billion cubic meters (Tawfik, 2016).
Figure 4 shows the dam in September 2019 still under construction in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, less than 50 kilometers from the Sudanese-Ethiopian border. When completed, it will be able to generate up to 6.4 gigawatts of energy, giving 65 million people in Ethiopia access to electricity. (Booth, p. 2) With a total population of about 100 million, this means that approximately 65% of the people are affected by this improvement (International Monetary Fund Search, 2020). However, Egypt gets up to 96% of its water from the Nile and sees the construction of the dam as a threat that will have an impact on the economy in Egypt. From Ethiopia's perspective, the dam creates opportunities for development and to make the country a middle-income country in the future. In addition, the dam can export electricity cheaply to other countries in the region, thus serving as a further driver for a growing economy in Ethiopia that could end its dependence on aid. With the construction of the dam, Ethiopia is also exercising its hitherto denied right to use its own resources, from which other countries such as Egypt have so far benefited more, even though Ethiopia contributes around 86% of the Nile's water volume. (Tawfik, 2016, pp. 5–7). As indicated by the high percentage of 86%, Ethiopia has a high availability of water, at the same time Ethiopia has one of the lowest rates of access to water, which will be significantly improved by the construction of the dam. (Melesse et al., 2014) .
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Introduces the long-standing conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Nile, the significance of the GERD, and the research objective to find legal solutions to resolve this geopolitical issue.
2 Geographical Overview: Provides a spatial analysis of the Nile River Basin, highlighting the flow of the river and the riparian states involved.
2.1 Share of Water volume: Analyzes the water contribution of various riparian states, noting Ethiopia's significant role in providing the majority of the river's water.
3 Geopolitical context: Discusses the centuries-old struggle for control over the Nile and how colonial influence shaped modern-day tensions.
3.1 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Details the specifications, construction timeline, and socioeconomic objectives of the GERD for Ethiopia.
4 Legal Framework: Outlines the various historical agreements that have formed the basis of Egypt's legal claims over the Nile.
4.1 Treaties: Examines colonial-era treaties that attempted to secure British sovereignty and prioritize Egyptian water rights.
4.1.1 Treaty from 1891: Reviews the agreement between the UK and Italy regarding irrigation and water flow in Sudan.
4.1.2 Treaty from 1902: Examines the agreement between the UK and Ethiopia regarding the construction of works on the Blue Nile.
4.1.3 Nile Water Agreement from 1929: Discusses the agreement that granted Egypt veto power and recognized its historical rights to Nile water.
4.1.4 Treaty from 1959: Analyzes the bilateral agreement between Egypt and Sudan that claimed full control over Nile waters.
4.2 Legal developments since 1959: Explores recent efforts, such as the Nile Basin Initiative, to create a more equitable legal framework for all riparian states.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes that a regional, cooperative approach is necessary and recommends reviving the Nile Basin Initiative to ensure sustainable and equitable water management.
Keywords
Nile, Egypt, Ethiopia, GERD, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Geopolitics, Water Rights, Colonial Treaties, Hydropower, Nile Basin Initiative, Water Management, Conflict Resolution, Regional Cooperation, Sustainability, Postcolonialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core conflict discussed in this paper?
The paper addresses the long-standing geopolitical rivalry between Ethiopia and Egypt concerning the control and usage of the Nile River, specifically following the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
What are the primary thematic fields of this work?
The study spans the fields of international law, geography, regional geopolitics, and socio-economic development in the Horn of Africa.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The goal is to analyze legal instruments and political frameworks to determine how Ethiopia can move past restrictive, colonial-era treaties to exercise its rights to its own water resources.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a historical and legal document analysis, reviewing past international treaties and geopolitical negotiations to provide a context for the current conflict.
What is covered in the main section?
The main part covers the geographical layout of the Nile basin, the historical background of colonial treaties, the technical aspects of the GERD, and recent failed and ongoing mediation efforts.
What are the characterizing keywords?
The research is characterized by terms like Nile conflict, water hegemony, GERD, colonial treaties, and regional water cooperation.
How does the author characterize the role of colonial-era treaties?
The author argues that these treaties, particularly those from the 19th and 20th centuries, are outdated relics of European colonialism that unfairly restrict the development rights of upstream countries like Ethiopia.
What is the significance of the 86% water contribution figure mentioned in the text?
This figure serves to highlight the irony that while Ethiopia provides the vast majority of the Nile's water, it has historically had the least access to it, which the GERD aims to rectify.
Why does the author recommend the Nile Basin Initiative?
The author argues that regional problems require regional solutions, and the NBI provides an inclusive framework where all riparian states can participate in the governance of the river.
Does the author believe a 'water war' is inevitable?
The author suggests that conflict is not inevitable and emphasizes that a cooperative, benefit-sharing approach regarding hydropower and resource usage could ultimately benefit all involved nations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Laura Yilma (Autor:in), 2021, Without the nile there is no Egypt. A centuries-old conflict and possible legal solutions for Ethiopia, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1030900
