It is remembered that we invited a renowned scholar on our Friday Exclusive column earlier. This guest has touched upon a range of issues revolving around Ethio-Egypt Nile dispute, GERD importance, current scenario and other related aspects. He appeared again to cite indispensable ideas from a variety of dimensions.
He has been making a colossal contribution to the development of his country in myriads of areas. He has also been showered with a wide spectrum of certificates in detailed Structuring of Subject related Didactics, Planning, Conducting and Analyzing Teaching and Learning Process according to the Ethiopian Vocational School Standards, Work Processes as Core Element of Subject related didactics.
By the way, the guest goes by the name of Dr. Eng. Tilahun Erduno. He is the President of the Ethiopian Surveying Professionals Association (ESPA) and General Manager of Joka General Business Association. Furthermore, he served as coordinator of the Community Development Association (GDA), and Board member of the Ethiopian Charities and Societies Forum (ChSF). Of late, he has made a short stay with The Ethiopian Herald. He has touched upon quite a lot of issues revolving around the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Ideas that were not cited in the previous edition are entertained here. Excerpts:
What do optimistic Egyptian scholars say regarding the Nile River?
Optimistic Egyptian scholar, Haggai Erlich a Professor of The Middle East and African Studies, at Tel Aviv University, comments “for such all Nile solutions to materialize, a unified multinational action was needed.” “In other corners of the globe, around other rivers, such unity and cooperation have been mostly achieved. But the enormous, mysterious Nile, the home of humankind since its very beginning, has never experienced such human unity.”
Professor Haggai’s conclusion is justified by Egypt’s actions today. Instead of sitting together with its counterparts, Egypt refuses to negotiate and drops out of the meeting halls for nine consecutive years. Moreover, it tries to use illegal side options like the international monetary fund (IMF), USA, The EU, Arab League member states, and others. Considering Egypt’s appeal to Arab involvement seems that Egypt is calling for crusading against Ethiopia.
If not, what is the meaning of calling Arab League member states to discuss the Nile issue? Nile River is an African river originating from Africa and ends in Africa. Therefore, any issue related to the Nile must be discussed and solved in Africa.
What do you think is the mystery behind the failure of negotiation to reach to equitable use of Nile Waters?
The other reasons for the mystery behind the failure of negotiation to reach equitable use of the Nile waters are Egypt’s rigidity to stick to vague “historic right” and “colonial period agreements” of 1929 and 1959 signed between Egypt and Britain on one hand and Egypt and Sudan on the other respectively. The most unsuccessful sides of these agreements are that both were signed in the absence of all upper stream countries including Ethiopia.
Britain’s stand and support to Egypt and Sudan were as clear as daylight. It just wanted the Nile water flow 100% to its large scale cotton and sugar cane farms in Egypt and Sudan which has been expanded during its colonization of Egypt and Sudan. The outputs of these farms were very crucial for their industries in Europe. So, here is the point where Egyptian and Sudanese people, as well as all other concerned international and regional bodies and stakeholders need to consult the Sudanese and Egyptian people and their governments in particular.
Why should Ethiopia comply with the treaty for which it was not invited to attend at all?
After signing the colonial treaties with Sudan Gamal Abdel Nasser said “Ethiopia is irrelevant to the Nile” How such treaties be a base to negotiate about Nile water with Ethiopia. I think no one should force the other to accept colonial treaties, and the colonizers should not intervene in the affairs of those who were not colonized.
Sooner or later, such illegal and biased burdens including colonial border issues will be questioned again and again. The international community particularly the UN has to be ready to answer such questions clearly and without bias in the future. It has to think about the equitable share of resources between the colonized and not colonized.
My country Ethiopia has lost its brotherly Eritrean people together with its strategic gate to the red sea (> 1,000km long coastal line) first because of the Italian illegal occupation of Asab, later Bahre Negash (today’s Eritrea), secondly by Egyptian and Sudanese intervention in the internal affairs of Ethiopia and their support to antiEthiopian separatist guerrilla fighters such as ELF, TPLF, and ONLF, thirdly because of the biased UN decision. Imagine today Ethiopia with over110 million population is the last largest landlocked country in the world, whereas Eritrea with 4.5 million populations have a 1,000 km long coastline and at least two well-organized seaports.
Who is responsible for such interventions and inequalities? Who projected, compiled, and produced/published the colonial time map which is used as a means to solve conflicts along borders?
The international community should reconsider such biased decisions against the will of concerned nations in the future. Truly speaking, the separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia brought nothing good, except tensions because of ethnic clashes to Ethiopia and mass emigration because of the inconceivable unemployment problem for Eritrea. I think this is the right time for all concerned to think thoroughly and review the relations between these one people with two flags. The most crucial stakeholders in this regard should be the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea. I boldly insist to reconstruct their former con-federal relation on a more democratic platform.
That is the only option for these nations to live in peace without suspicion and tension. Moreover, that’s the only means which may lead the two nations to development and prosperity. Since Ethiopia is Africa’s most mountainous country, every drop of its rainwater rushes outside Ethiopia. Furthermore, Ethiopia is a landlocked country sharing boundary with six independent states and has no gateway to the nearby Sea and Ocean.
Egypt is a country using Nile water alone and more than 60% of its territory is bounded with Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Suez Canal waters. Moreover, it is known for its abundant underground water, too many manmade and natural lakes as well as oasis such as Siwa, Farafra, and Dakhia.
How do you see Ethiopia’s move today to be triumphant over its natural resource?
Today Ethiopia is determined to solve the problems of lack of electricity and similar national challenges radically so that no one can draw it back. We are also determined to justify that GERD never causes significant harm to Egypt and Sudan. Some 65-70% of our people particularly women (our mothers, daughters, sisters), and whatnot lose their energy for unproductive work.
Since we have no option we never give up and return. We are determined to continue constructing such similar dams until we secure our food, electricity, and other national interests in the future. To be honest, Egypt wants to continue the use of the Nile water. Otherwise, there is nothing to discuss the so-called “historic right” and “colonialera agreements.”
What should be done to get the problem related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dried?
To begin with, all Nile Basin States must identify and prioritize their need first, be ready for win-win dialogue, prepare and propose possible options, sit together around a table, discuss upon their plans and options exhaustively and agree upon principles and give equal attention to people in all countries because they are all humans, nothing else. They should never involve mediators, find an African solution to an African problem, and try not to harm each other.
The most important solution is to devise a permanent plan and take irreversible actions about transforming the Nile Basin at least as it was 50 years before aiming at increasing the amount of Nile water than bargaining for the existing one alone. What is more, Ethiopia’s afforestation strategy launched by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed is one of the most appropriate methods for others to follow suit.
Unfortunately, while Ethiopia is exerting its utmost effort to bring positive environmental changes and increase the amount of water in the Nile Basin, Egypt supports anti-Ethiopian separatist extremist groups.
By the same token, Egypt and Sudan should understand that Ethiopia is constructing a hydroelectric dam, not a huge irrigation project which may cause significant harm to them and know that Ethiopia has no option other than constructing such dams to conserve the environment and reduce the magnitude of drought; consequently, feed its fast-growing population by generating income from hydro-electricity.
Moreover, Egypt must work hard to reduce wastage of water by evaporation from the dams, artificial lakes, and canals, and what have you built in the extreme desert aiming at sustaining vague “historic right”, than scientific methods and appropriate water management principles. Now it is time to think about the reuse of water resources extracted from different sources, which is effective in many countries in the world today. Both countries must think about the use of their abundant underground water resources efficiently than complaining on Ethiopia, plan B is required.
Is there any other option?
Egypt and Sudan should be able to replace gradually high water-consuming crops such as sugarcane, rice, cotton, and other related aspects with low water consuming ones. Since Egypt is a coastal country, about 60% of its territory is bounded by Mediterranean and Red Sea waters and Suez Canal, so it is time to think about desalination and use of water from these abundant sources than becoming an obstacle against Ethiopia’s development plan. It is time to respect and credit African Ethiopia more than Asian Arabs for the reason that it gives life to Sudan and Egypt, and that it never interfered in the internal affairs of Egypt.
What is expected of the Nile basin states, Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan in focus, to address the problem?
Ethiopia must understand that the issue of successful completion of GERD and the like on the Nile Basin is crucial not only for sustaining its development, but it is more of the issue of nourishing its peace, serenity and sovereignty. Ethiopia must construct such dams on the Nile and justify that the Nile water continues to flow in its basin as usual and reach Egypt.
Otherwise, Egypt and Sudan together with their long-handed supporters will continue their Tom and Jerry proxy war against Ethiopia as usual by organizing and supporting anti-Ethiopian separatist groups and radical extremists as they did with EPLF, TPLF, and ONLF. Constructing all possible hydro-electric dams on the Nile Basin with no significant harm to Egypt and Sudan is a matter of life and death for Ethiopia to exist as a sovereign country.
Be that as it may, the upper basin countries must understand that Egypt’s stand regarding GERD is not only against the interests of Ethiopia but also against the securities of upper basin countries. Because Herodotus’s too narrow quote and the treaties of the colonial period that Egypt underline each time concern every country in the basin.
It should be clear for them that if Ethiopia misses any right, (hope it can’t miss) all Nile Basin states may miss too. Because any separate agreement with Ethiopia could be absolutely applicable to other upper basin states by default. That is what you can observe from Egypt’s proposal. Therefore, I think the upper basin countries must work together with Ethiopia so seriously.
What is expected of lenders, donors, international organizations and concerned governments?
Lenders, Donors, Concerned Governments and International Organizations The USA, IMF, EU, The Arab League Member States, and the like should help the Nile Basin governments without bias, political inclination, strategic alliance or any other interest as a human being so that they reach a peaceful solution to the problem and achieve the above tasks.
More to the point, they should admit that the sources of most of the problems are one way or another related to some of them or someone more relevant to them. Therefore, they should be part of the solution now rather than being part of the complications of the Nile issue.
Would you like to convey a final message, please?
Finally, once again I underline that Egypt is not the gift of Nile, rather all other Nile Basin countries including Egypt are the gifts of God who must use the Nile water based on the principles of common understanding and mutual benefit.
I wish the people of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and other Upper Nile Basin nations under the notion of the “Unity of the Nile Family” get rid of biased colonial period treaties, unfounded tensions and live in harmony and prosperity. Hope GERD will be a source of peace, harmony, mutual benefit, and trust for all.
While on the subject, regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a wide range of questions come into mind over and over again. Why do not we work for a common country with different flags? Why do we suspect and distrust each other forever? Why do not we work for building a bridge which will connect the generation to come than a metal wall which divides both nations and leads to destruction? For how long do these nations live in mistrust for an unfounded reason? How could we fail to come up with scientific answers to such important questions in the 21st century and instigate war for water? Why do Egypt and Sudan raise the treaties of colonial times for negotiation with Ethiopia? Is it not immoral?
Have Egypt and Sudan ever thought about the fact that Ethiopia’s poverty is because of its inability to use its water resources? Why not the government heads of Egypt listen to scholars like Professor Boutros BoutrosGhali? Is it not better to sleep well than being sleepless due to unfounded suspicion forever? Why Egypt and Sudan don’t want to negotiate in Africa than in the USA and at the Arab League meeting?
The Ethiopian herald June 12,2020
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
