Is the Nile Basin Organization threatening our water security?! – The Face of Truth – ✍️ Ibrahim Shaqlawi
Given Sudan's concerns about its internal war, an important meeting is expected to be held next October, which will bring together all the Nile Basin countries to sign the creation of the Nile Basin Organization, the creation of which was dependent on the signing of the Entebbe Agreement. Agreement of the State of South Sudan, which it surprisingly recently ratified in early June 2024 AD, which represents (the Nile Basin Cooperation Framework Agreement). Thus, the State of South Sudan has granted a quorum to the countries that signed the agreement. to submit it to regional and international organizations (the United Nations and the African Union) for ratification and approval. The agreement allows for a reduction in the quotas of Sudan and Egypt on the waters of the Nile. and approved the creation of the Nile Basin Organization. to redistribute water, manage it and supervise its use. It is clear that the State of South Sudan continues to sign the Comprehensive Framework Agreement known for short as (CFA), which aims to establish a comprehensive arrangement for water management. at the level of the Nile Basin… the establishment of the Permanent Organization for Cooperation among the Basin Countries, the establishment of which was approved by the Entebbe Agreement, which Sudan and Egypt boycotted in June 2010 and froze their membership in the initiative by opposing the signing by 6 of the Nile upstream countries of the Legal and Institutional Framework Agreement, which included three points. A controversial dispute rejected by Sudan and Egypt because they are downstream countries… which is… the water security clause in. in exchange for not recognizing the historical share of Sudan and Egypt in the Nile waters, estimated at 18.5 billion for Sudan and 55.5 billion cubic meters for Egypt, without harming them as downstream countries… this is in accordance with the agreement of the year 1959 AD. … This is in addition to the application of the clause of prior notification of the implementation of any project on the Nile… and the clause of voting for decisions unanimously instead of by majority… As we know, in February of the year In 1999, an agreement was signed… the Nile Basin Initiative in Tanzania… between the ten Nile Basin countries (Sudan, Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Eritrea). ) with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation ties between these countries. However, Sudan and Egypt have not yet ratified this agreement. Therefore, this planned signing of the establishment of the organization, if it takes place next October, will allow its establishment to be finalized. the quorum in the State of South Sudan… although this violates the Nile Basin Agreement… because Ethiopia has continued throughout the past period to call for the need for fair and reasonable use of the Nile water resources… It has also continued to confirm its determination to resolve disputes over the use of water… despite the fact that Ethiopia continues to fail to meet its commitments, particularly with regard to the Renaissance Dam, and has followed a fait accompli policy. This was clear in its steps. this followed the annual filling operations of the Renaissance Dam, despite the interest of Sudan and Egypt on the importance of integrating roles to maximize interests and exchange benefits. Therefore, the order to sign the organization now requires an urgent study by Sudan through the relevant authorities. authorities of all the implications of this… including the negative effects that could harm our water security… We must also anticipate any potential developments that could harm our share of water that was guaranteed to us by the agreement prior to the establishment of the organization… Therefore, we must The relevant authorities of the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation must expedite the submission of studies and research papers and provide their views on the matter before the time runs out, given the country's preoccupation with the war that has This organization represents the most important provisions of the Entebbe Agreement, which requires that a clear position be crystallized before that of Sudan in an agreement. in a manner that takes into account its interests in the Nile waters as a downstream state, so that we are not surprised by the current circumstances, in which the country is preoccupied with stopping or resolving the war and returning to civilian life. .. On the other hand, it is clear that Ethiopia has managed to implement its plan to create the Renaissance Dam and has mobilized international positions to support it or converge with its interests inside and outside the African continent. It is therefore now up to Sudan to accept this reality and face it in all circumstances. In order for the creation of the organization not to take place in the same arbitrary manner, the country's leaders must pay attention to it by ordering the relevant authorities to prepare the government's strategic vision to face this new reality, which will undoubtedly affect our share in the Nile waters and could thus become a threat to our water security. We must also, through our study, determine the reasons for our refusal to sign so that a dialogue can be initiated on this subject with our partners. . We must also study the possibilities of reacting to the signing and to what extent our water strategy is affected by it… or reserve some provisions and agree on others… if we see it. The situation must also be examined. The legal requirements of existing agreements, in addition to the importance of respecting the prior notification of development projects dependent on the waters of the Nile… This is therefore the face of reality that requires us to work immediately and to prepare well and seriously the studies and strategies. that clarify the position of the Sudanese government on the establishment of (the Nile Basin Organization) at this important meeting, which could become. Through this, our national water security is threatened… if we do not take the necessary measures and preparations… in light of this war in which the lines of communication and communications have diverged between the experts concerned with the issue of water in our country… and the people busy with resilience or survival.
May you always be well.
Thursday, August 22, 2024 AD (email protected)
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