Sudan condemns the lack of cooperation from its Ethiopian neighbor who refuses to commit to sharing technical information on the management of its Blue Nile dam. In Sudan, those who collect their income directly from the river swing between fear and self-confidence, but above all condemn the total lack of information about the potential consequences of dam construction.
From our special correspondent in Blue Nile,
At the shore of the Blue Nile, about twenty workers mix mud with manure. They make small bricks that they let dry in the sun, stacked like dominoes. This is called here, “toub”, the most important building material in the region.
For his activity, Abdallah Adam, depends entirely on the Nile. “When the Nile overflows, it fills the holes you see here. During the dry season, the sludge is collected and used in the workshops. The Renaissance dam affects us. By retaining water, it retains sediment. The water that comes here is clear, it is less loaded with sediment, he explains.
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This brick manufacturer condemns the total lack of information from the government about the potential consequences of the dam. “We have no guarantees. No information other than what we watch on social media or on TV. Everything happens at the top, at the political level, we, the people below, are not allowed to know anything. There are thousands of people working here with their hands. I have four workshops. Of course I’m worried. These Nilbanks, our entire economy depends on it, says Abdallah Adam.
Short and long term effects
Below, a fisherman pulls his nets on dry land. Abubakar Issa has already noted some changes: “At present the effects are not huge, but there is a risk. When they are going to fill the dam in Ethiopia, the Sudanese keep water in the containers here. Less water flows. I noticed that the rocks at the bottom of the water are buried, covered with sand. It’s not good for fish. And when they open the valves again, the water comes in too fast. It will not be good for the job. “
In the fish market, another fisherman, Ishaq Mohammed, does not agree. “There are plenty of fish stalls here for all tastes. Maybe the dam will affect, I do not know, we citizens have not heard anything “.
It is difficult to predict exactly what long-term effects the Renaissance dam will have on the inhabitants of the Nile. One thing is for sure, the authorities have made some awareness. The Nile still represents the backbone of the country, more than 20 million Sudanese depend on it.
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