Essay On Nile River Water

793 Words2 Pages

Since ancient times, the Nile River has provided all of Egypt's fresh water for agriculture, industry and human consumption. Water comes from ten upstream countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan and the Sudan. The demand for water among the Nile river states have increased due to population growth and the need for agriculture, domestic, and industrial uses, as well as the construction of dams for hydroelectric power. Britain, the colonial master of these riparian states, signed agreements with Egypt authorizing it to use 94% of the total water. Other countries, which were not part of the agreement, are entitled to only 4% of the waters. The rights of Egypt to …show more content…

It is both a major upstream to South Sudan, North Sudan and Egypt, and downstream country to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This unique position puts Uganda at the centre of all disputes, and also dictates the kind of decisions and positions the country takes when dealing with Nile River differences. Because of its unique geographical positioning on the Nile River Basin, any problems; that affect the water levels, volumes of water and the flow, created by Sudan and Egypt affects Uganda in as much as the problems created by downstream countries will also affect Uganda. As water scarcity worsens due to environmental changes, economic development, and rising populations, disputes over access to contested water resources will become increasingly acute due to human health and survival. The Nile River is one such a …show more content…

The 1929 treaty between Egypt and Britain (the colonial master) stipulated that no works were to be done on the Nile without Egypt’s consent, this puts the entire Nile basin at Egypt’s disposal. The agreement was only bilateral and did not include any other riparian country of the Nile Basin. The 1929 treaty was a culmination of previous agreements made in 1889, 1891, and 1902. The dominant interests of Egypt were particularly noticeable in Article 4 Clause (ii) which state in part “No irrigation or power works or measures are to be constructed or undertaken on the river and its branches, or on the lakes from which it flows, that would prejudice the interests of

More about Essay On Nile River Water

Open Document