Today’s guest is Professor Tesfaye Tafese who is currently serving as a Professor of Geopolitics and African Studies at the Institute of African and Oriental Studies, Addis Ababa University. Prof. Tesfaye received a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Master’s Degree in Geopolitics from Addis Ababa University. He also received a Doctoral Degree in Geopolitics and Social Geography from Osun Brook University in Germany.
He taught in different universities such as California, Los Angeles and Germany. He served as the Researcher of the African Council of Social Science Research in Senegal for two years. Moreover, he has produced five books besides publishing several articles in well-known journals. Most of his articles and books focus on the geopolitics and the Nile Basin. We approached Prof. Tesfaye requesting him to share his views on current situations of the Nile River. Excerpts:
Q: What do you say about the negotiations on Renaissance Dam among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt?
Prof. Tesfaye: I believe Ethiopia’s approach has been profiting for all the riparian countries. It has been inviting them for negotiations. As it has a sovereign right to use its water resources, it has been constructing the Renaissance Dam without causing any significant harm.
On the contrary, Egypt has been chasing its interest without taking into consideration the interest of others. Egypt’s selfcentered approach has been complicating negotiations on the Nile since the outset. What the Egyptians are often proposing is inflexible and lacks accommodating space. They neither propose any possible solution nor agree to the mutual proposals Ethiopia has been suggesting.
Since all nations across the transboundary river arrive at consensus, the World Bank and other financial institutions do not support any construction on the river. As a result, Ethiopia decided to build the dam mobilizing the public participation. This is a wise and proper decision. More importantly, Ethiopia invited Egypt and other experts to discuss any possible consequence of the construction so that any significant harm would not exist. It also allowed researchers in the field to undergo researches. Here, Ethiopia has gone extended distance treasuring the bilateral relations.
Q: What complicates the negotiations while Ethiopia’s approach is intended to benefit all?
Prof. Tesfaye: Unfortunately, the interests Egypt is trying to claim cannot be accepted by Ethiopia and other riparian countries. They try to use the 1929 treaty on the Nile River. The agreement, which recognizes on the one hand that the Sudan needs more water for its development, can rights in the Nile waters ignoring Ethiopia’s share. The big problem accompanying this problem is its rejection Ethiopia’s right. It solely supports Egypt’s interest as the then prime minister commented on it to the Cairo correspondent of the London Times, “I, as an Egyptian, believe that the agreement on the waters of the Nile fully and completely safeguards Egypt’s rights.” Such selfish-driven motives cannot be accepted by any means in the 21st century. Though Egypt is trying to claim the agreements as its historic right, it cannot be valid as all the African nations including Tanzania and Kenya do not accept all the agreements that were imposed in the colonial period. There is what we call The Nyerere Doctrine which states “All agreements reached during the colonial period are not acceptable.” When Ethiopia refuses to accept the agreement it did not participate in, Egypt is trying to preset it as pillar for its argumentation. This is source of all the complications.
Another problem with the Egyptians is continuously changing their positions; for example, first they reach agreement through discussions but after a while they appear to disagree and, or come up with another new interest. This has been a major headache for Ethiopians.
Q: What is the aim of Egypt to create such a chain of problems?
Prof. Tesfaye: In my opinion, their purpose was to picture the situation and presenting it as a global problem, something very unlikely. This was evil tactics that can NEVER benefit anyone and solve the disagreement; it rather prolongs the time in which things can be resolved. As long as the three nations Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt make discussions, taking the issue to the other part is unnecessary. It would have been better to do it here in Africa based on the principle of reciprocity. A lesson should be learned from this.
The other problem is Egyptians use a more sophisticated approach whenever they find it interesting. As they have many advisors on international relations and they are wellprepared, they do not care if they pervert the justice to gain their interest on the expense of other nation’s interests. But Ethiopia has not exploited its human resources in this regard even though it has very competent negotiators. Ethiopia has allowed some people to involve in the negotiations although it has many well qualified individuals.
Q: So should the government engage other people?
Prof. Tesfaye: Yes! They should engage people from different areas. For instance in our universities, we have capable individuals who have been researching on the Nile for long. I believe it would be a mistake if the government does not use this opportunity. Egyptians usually do whatever they like to realize their sole interest on the Nile. For instance, at the UN General Assembly in New York, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi raised issue related the Nile that was irrelevant for the occasion. President Sahle Work Zewde responded to his view as it was not a matter to be raised there.
Q: So should the team include professionals from different arenas?
Prof. Tesfaye: Yes! Since the issue requires multidimensional insights, it has to be responded to in different directions. The Minister of Water is an engineer. She has no deep international legal knowledge. They cannot have the expertise of international diplomacy. One cannot be everything. If you answer the technical question, on the other hand, you need to answer diplomatically. Gathering only those who are close to the government may not bring effective results. So it is better to have diversity so conduct fruitful negotiations.
Q: As Ethiopia has not done adequate diplomatic negotiations so far, what should be done by ambassadors in every country?
Prof. Tesfaye: This is one of the ambassadors’ duties. The ambassadors in any other country are required to explain Ethiopia’s position. They need to prove that Ethiopia is right. This is their mission. Unfortunately, sometimes some ambassadors are well-qualified to play their role efficiently. Ambassadors in Egypt and Sudan should inform people of those nations that the construction of the dam will not cause any significant harm to the riparian nations. They ought to explain that Ethiopia can use its sovereign rights to construct the dam.
Q: To what extent Ethiopians are familiar with the details of the negotiations? Do all citizens appreciate the commitment of the government in pursuing negotiations that foster mutual benefits?
Prof. Tesfaye: Though they do not know the details of the negotiations, they appreciate the commitment the government has been demonstrating in the last years. The dam has initiated national unity and sentiment. All Ethiopians are well aware that they have the right to use their water resource. Nevertheless, concerning the details of the negotiations, many Ethiopians even the educated ones do not have adequate information. Now, it is time for the government to communicate everything to the wider public.
Q: Ethiopia has scholars who have researched on the Nile River? Are they carrying out their duties at this significant time? What would you advise?
Prof. Tesfaye – Yes. Many scholars have worked on the Nile. Unfortunately, some do not want to go out and speak. Their contribution plays a great deal in the process of negotiation. It is time for them to participate and play their roles during this decisive time. On the contrary, Egyptian scholars inform their people widely on the Nile River. There is a tendency to consider the other 10 countries to be non-existent. To address this, Egyptian scholars write extensively
Q: Any suggestion for the tripartite nations?
Prof. Tesfaye: Nile River is somehow for many years considered as a cause of mistrust and source of conflict especially among the eastern Nile riparian countries. Now, we are in the 21st century where the world by and large governed by cooperation and collaboration.
Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan should work hand in hand in cooperation and realize the aspiration of their people. Regarding the focus, right now it should be on the filling and operation of the GERD. Any attempt to bring back colonial era and unjust and unacceptable “treaties” will not move the process forward.
Hence, it is up to the three countries to resolve their differences by themselves. If third party is necessary, as the issue is African, the motto shall be, “African solutions for African problems.” Overall, regarding the management and utilization of the Nile, it is in the best interest of Egypt and the Sudan to join the rest of the Nile Basin countries and accede to the CFA. Sustainable solution for the Nile rests on having a multilateral and basin wide cooperation platform which will be established as per the CFA by transforming the transitional mechanism, the Nile Basin Initiative.
So, Nile Basin should be transformed to source of cooperation and economic integration. Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt have so many opportunities that can transform their economies for better if they work together. These countries have more than 250 million population sizes that can be a good market for their economic development and other mutual benefits. They can develop more joint projects on the river Nile and generate huge economic success. So they should turn their face towards cooperation and mutual benefit.
Third-party interference, arbitration or mediation will not resolve potential conflicts in the Nile Basin. The only way out is accepting the principles of equitable utilization without causing significant harm to others, as per the Entebbe agreement.
Understanding why Ethiopia is building the GERD should be clear to the whole world.
Ethiopia is building the GERD to eradicate abject poverty in the country. Utilizing the Nile is a matter of survival for Ethiopia without violating the rights of Egyptians in benefiting from the river.
The solution is in the hands of the three countries. What is needed is to focus on the technicality of the issues and resolving it accordingly. The international community should encourage Egypt to make its focus on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD not on outdated and unacceptable historic wrongs of colonialism.
The Ethiopian herald June 2,2020
BY MIHRET MOGES
