On February 19, 2022, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam stands impressively. [Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency]
The Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) officially gained momentum on Sunday. This occurred despite ongoing opposition from Egypt and Sudan, as mentioned by the Ethiopian prime minister, according to Anadolu.
This agreement opens the doors to the Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC). This new body aims to foster a spirit of harmony among the Basin countries regarding the management of the Nile.
Egypt and Sudan have continued their opposition to this agreement, while upstream nations such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have endorsed it.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed extended an olive branch to those yet to sign. He dubbed the pact the ‘Nile Family,’ promoting unity in overseeing the Nile’s resources responsibly.
The CFA stands as the inaugural collective stride by Nile Basin countries. It seeks to establish a formal agreement for the river’s stewardship.
Tensions simmer over the Nile, especially between Egypt and Ethiopia. Ethiopia took the plunge with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project on the Blue Nile, a crucial Nile tributary.
Ethiopia sees the dam as a ticket to economic advancement and assures it won’t impact downstream water supply. Conversely, Egypt fears the GERD endangers its water access and urges a formal accord on the dam’s filling and operation.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
