Egypt and Sudan have rejected the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), which took effect on October 13, after being ratified by six upstream nations. They argue that the CFA violates historical agreements, calling for a restoration of the 1999 Nile Basin Initiative to ensure inclusive and cooperative management of the river’s resources, while emphasizing adherence to established international laws regarding transboundary water management.
Egypt and Sudan have formally rejected the newly ratified Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) which has taken effect on October 13, following approval from six upstream nations. After a recent meeting of the Egyptian-Sudanese Permanent Joint Technical Commission for the Nile Waters (PJTC) in Cairo, the two nations called upon all countries within the Nile Basin to restore the 1999 Nile Basin Initiative’s integrity and to avoid unilateral actions that risk increasing discord between upstream and downstream nations. The PJTC emphasized that the recent six-state commission developed from the current draft of the CFA lacks representation for the entire Nile Basin. Both countries maintain that the CFA undermines the historical agreements made in 1929 and 1959. Asserting that the principles established by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) uphold water agreements with the same level of importance as border agreements, Egypt has voiced that revisions cannot proceed without the consensus of all involved parties. Recent statements from the PJTC described the 2010 draft CFA as lacking necessary agreements and failing to align with international best practices regarding sustainable development and collaboration. Egypt and Sudan provided examples from other African river basin collaborations, emphasizing the need for prior notifications and consultations for water projects. The two nations reiterated their desire for a cooperative framework among all Nile Basin countries adhering to international standards that protect the interests of every party and mitigate potential harm. They highlighted that the six-state commission does not reflect the Nile Basin’s full stakeholder community and advocated for a more inclusive initiative to facilitate effective cooperation. The CFA’s enforcement follows prior ratifications by countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, aiming to establish the Nile River Basin Commission (RNBC) that would manage the rights and responsibilities of Nile Basin nations, alongside the legacies of the earlier Nile Basin Initiative initiated in 1999. Tensions over the CFA’s implementation were foreshadowed by the abrupt cancellation of a planned summit on October 10, which was intended to celebrate progress in Nile Basin cooperation and mark the transition from the NBI to the RNBC. Historically, Nile water management has been guided by treaties dating back to 1929 and 1959, which conferred significant water rights to Egypt and Sudan while limiting upstream nations. Since the 1959 treaty, numerous efforts to redefine Nile water-sharing agreements have unfolded, culminating in the 2010 CFA that resulted in considerable contention. Despite strong opposition, Ethiopia ratified the CFA in June 2023, followed by others, ultimately leading to its current enactment.
The Nile River has long been a source of contention among the countries that share its waters, particularly between the upstream nations, such as Ethiopia and Uganda, and the downstream nations of Egypt and Sudan. Historically, the management and allocation of the river’s resources have been governed by treaties from the late 1920s and late 1950s, which favored Egypt and Sudan. This has led to a series of collaborative initiatives aimed at resolving disputes, notably the Nile Basin Initiative launched in 1999. The CFA was drafted in 2010 to establish new governance structures for the Nile Basin in light of changing geopolitical dynamics and developmental needs of all basin states. However, Egypt and Sudan have consistently opposed this framework, arguing it undermines their historical rights and international water law.
The rejection by Egypt and Sudan of the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement signifies a continuing divide within the Nile Basin regarding water resource management. Their call for restoring the integrity of the older Nile Basin Initiative highlights the importance they place on historical treaties and collaborative frameworks that include all stakeholder nations in the decision-making process. As upstream nations proceed with the agreement despite these objections, it remains to be seen how this divide will affect future negotiations and the management of the Nile’s vital water resources.
Original Source: www.agenzianova.com
