ADDIS ABABA – It is up to Sudan’s responsibility to choose between the past non-beneficial relations it had with Egypt, and the beneficial relations it will have with Ethiopia, according to Professor Yacob Arsano, political science and international relations instructor and researcher on Nile water affairs at Addis Ababa University.
Speaking to the daily Amharic newspaper ‘Addis Zemen’ on Sudan’s recent position on GERD, he underlined that Sudan’s lasting benefit from the waters of the Nile could only be ensured by linking with Ethiopia and the other riparian countries, and not with Egypt that had been taking advantages of the country for years by imposing its will and intruding in its internal affairs. It is up to Sudan to choose between the disadvantageous relation it had with Egypt, or the lasting benefit it will have with Ethiopia.
The Sudanese government was a partner and on the side of Egypt regarding GERD and any Nile issues at the beginning of the dam, which was displayed during negotiations of the CFA (Cooperative Framework Agreements). But after the building of the dam started, he noted, the Sudanese government has been supporting the dam after making sure that it benefits Sudan in many ways.
He recalled how Sudan stood with Ethiopia in arguing that the usage of Transboundary Rivers should be based on principles of fair and equitable utilization during negotiations on the Declaration of Principles.
According to him, the agreement on a declaration of principles not only incorporated this same idea, but Egypt was to accept and sign the principles of international water for the first time. And Sudan’s role in all this has been huge.
Further noting that Sudan and Egypt share a long history of relations and close ties as neighboring countries, the Professor added that Sudan has seen Egypt’s colonialism and interference whilst Egypt has forcibly occupied Sudan’s land even today. He also indicated that Egypt has been for long pressurizing Sudan from utilizing the waters of Nile, which crosses through its land, in a fair and equitable manner.
Egypt has also been pressurizing the other riparian countries, including Ethiopia, from using the river for development.
As to Yacob, the fact that Sudan’s ties with Egypt has been an obstacle to its national interest. On the other hand, beginning from 2013, after coming to terms with the number of benefits the dam brings, and the fact that it gets most of the water from Ethiopia, Sudan has been supporting the construction of the dam.
Sudan knows that Ethiopia will soon start to fill the dam, he continued, and the fact that it came out with a statement that calls Ethiopia to agree with Egypt before starting filling the dam not only goes against its position up until now, it should have known that there is nothing that stops Ethiopia from filling its own dam. Rather, Sudan’s national interest is protected when it continues the cooperation it initiated with Ethiopia on the issue of the dam’s filling.
As it is known, the overall project accomplishment has reached 73 percent, and the water filling will start next July.
The Ethiopian Herald May 20/2020
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
