Nile River accord enters into force despite Egypt, Sudan objection

Six Nile upstream countries have ratified a deal dubbed The Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework (CFA) Agreement, which officially entered into force on October 13, despite objections by downstream countries: Egypt and Sudan.

In a joint statement, Sudan and Egypt urged all Nile Basin states “to restore the integrity of the 1999 Nile Basin Initiative and to refrain from unilateral actions that could exacerbate divisions between upstream and downstream states”.

“The six-state commission established on the basis of the incomplete draft of the CFA cannot, under any circumstances, be considered representative of the Nile Basin as a whole,” the two countries said in a statement.

Sudan and Egypt urged attachment to pre-colonial deals which gave them the lion’s share of Nile water.

Key downstream countries reject the colonial deals arguing that they were elaborated without the consent of upstream states and their growing need for setting up dams to produce hydro-power.

Seven countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania have endorsed the CFA, which became effective on Sunday, October 13, forming the Nile Basin Initiative.

“The CFA recognizes the legitimate needs of all Nile Basin states and commits us to the equitable sharing of these waters in a manner that promotes sustainable development. This agreement represents hope for the future, where each country can grow and prosper without depriving others of the same opportunity,” the NBI statement read.

Tension over the Nile River rose as Ethiopia started filling the Renaissance dam, triggering fears in Egypt of affecting the river’s flow.