Intrigue due to historical circumstances, the legacy of the Berlin conference legitimatizing personal ego especially conquering the sea, rivers and aqua cultures upon their conference to scramble Africa ushered new era. Starting from the invention of Maxim gun, the Europeans rapacious interest pointed into the African interior which is ironically defeated due to arms superiority.
Starting from the early ages Africa grabs the eyes of the needy continents so that conquering Africa appeared to be the question that matters. In doing, so, as time went by at the very first the Europeans began to navigate the globe to discover raw materials and market for their nation.
Eventually, Bismarck who is believed to lay foundation for the two world wars adopted the policy of water and yearn it to be one of the cardinal principles of the conference stating that you cannot claim water as a private property which later interpreted to consider trans boundary rivers as an exclusive property denying sovereign right of countries.
It is a universally accepted fact that Ethiopia generates more than 85 percent of the River Nile from the tributary Abbay. Meanwhile, though nature blessed the country it was presumably decided that the citizenry are created to toil while they are feeding the downstream counties.
It is true that there are unilateral projects in lower course countries that deny Ethiopia to build projects which is a very violation of sovereign right on own natural resources. Scholars on the field advocate that the issue of Trans-Boundary Rivers is a mere political matter than that of international convention due to the fact that changes of fundamental circumstances would alter things upside-down.
Ethiopia is the only African country which never colonized and remains independent since the emergence of state formation. The country contributed a lot to the establishment of international organizations like the league of nation and then the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Pan Africanism among others as an independent nation.
However colonial expedition of the European nation to Africa in general and The Horn, in particular, have adversely impacted the country’s national interest and sovereignty.
Besides the country lost access to the sea, trying to impose post-colonial convention on independent Ethiopia in the areas of utilization trans boundary rivers and other resources is a double jeopardy and has no legal ground from the perspective of international law, scholars claim.
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) is building key power infrastructure to support the nation’s economic growth. According to Corporate Communications Director Moges Mekonnen, economic and social development is impossible without electricity.
EEP is currently constructing five major power projects, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and expanding transmission and distribution networks to improve electricity access. The goal is to increase national electricity coverage from 54% to 78% within five years.
The government is also focusing on off-grid areas and exporting electricity to neighboring countries like Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan, with plans to supply Tanzania. Although exports account for less than 10% of power generated, they contribute over 30% of EEP’s revenue.
These days the country is striving to eradicate poverty exploiting resources mainly building dams on Trans Boundary Rivers with the principle of shared benefit and cooperation. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) aroused paradoxical interest from downstream countries.
The yearning of Egypt to maintain rapacious interest and claim River Nile as an exclusive property is an insult for Ethiopia which sourced more than 86% of the volume of the water and striving to eradicate poverty.
Colonization by nature is about exploiting, is a means of snatching away resources and ownership from the sovereign people of the country. Thus, root of colonization is against law and laying its foundation on immorality.
The Europeans assembled and discuss in berlin conference to scramble Africa violating the Westphalia Treaty of 1648 which advocates Sovereign Equality of States. The colonizers assumed themselves as executive of civilizing mission and white man duty regardless of the full consent of nations. Thus, to ease the colonization process they have signed numerous treaties that ignored the national interest of African countries having hardly foreseen destinies of its people.
Of course, there are situations to apply the post-colonial convention to avoid border clashes among Africans as per Nerere Doctrine. But the situation cannot apply to monopolized utilization resources like Trans- Boundary Rivers as a fundamental change of circumstances need alteration of laws and treaties.
Even though there are numerous post- colonial laws that colonizers signed representing respective colonies offending clean state theory. The case in Ethiopia remains to be unique for the country remains to be an autonomous and independent state for centuries.
Ethiopia according to international law can have a right to claim its resource as matters of sovereignty as long as abstain from fully arrest a Trans Boundary River.
Egypt never sleeps to sustain its exclusive interest over the utilization of River Nile though according to empirics it possesses underground water which can be consumed for about 900 years. Besides, though the country is surrounded by water bodies, the country failed to utilize the alternative water bodies applying technologies and want to elongate its hegemonic interest referring to unjust post-colonial protocols and conventions.
Scholars further said that Egypt is busy with deceiving the Arab World disseminating fake news and portraying the image of Ethiopia as an offender of international Law. It was insisted that the stance of Egypt would not be acceptable from the perspective of the framework of international law and moral ground however the Egyptians will continue to consider colonial protocols and convention as the sole legal framework to utilize River Nile.
For this to happen they engage in instigating ethnic and religious conflicts among Ethiopians and would deploy all resources at its disposal to sustain its voracious interest. Hence leaders are urged to be alert on further negotiation to be held. Egypt and Sudan can only claim the right to utilize the River Nile but not to decide over Ethiopia’s domestic matter and sovereignty. To effectuate this they only need to come to renegotiate with Ethiopia which is the owner of the river and not part of post-colonial agreement.
Fair utilization of Trans Boundary Rivers is crucial for preventing conflicts, fostering cooperation, and ensuring sustainable development in regions sharing water resources, ultimately leading to food security, economic growth, and regional integration.
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2025
