The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge ‘Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink’ is the byword to explain Ethiopia’s current water status. Albeit surrounded by small and big water bodies, the country is wallowing in contradiction when it comes to its water potential and utilization.
In what could be said a glide path to headways, from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to the recently signed sea access deal with Somaliland, Ethiopia is pulling all the stops to reverse the paradox surrounding its water resources and utilization. The water-abundant nation has still a considerable number of people clamoring for potable water to quench their thirst. Also, a sizable segment of the nation is still off the grid living in darkness. Even worse, situated just in touching distance from the strategic Red Sea, the country has no reliable ports or sea outlets to conduct its burgeoning commercial activities. With the nation’s population and economy growing at an alarming rate, it is going back to the drawing board to redress the contradiction.
Albeit little headways, the resource-rich country has had no strategies that align with the national demand and regional hydro-political dynamism. Water indeed is a precious yet untapped resource in the country. The same is true in terms of its utilization of big water bodies like the Red Sea. Setting 60 KM away from the sea, the country remains a bystander forfeiting the benefits it has to gain from the strategic location. This has even posed security and economic threats to the country. The contradiction has begun receiving attention at the top becoming a public matter as well. The dynamism in the nation and beyond is forcing the nation to reckon with the ugly reality and redefine its water utilization.
In an attempt to strike a delicate balance, the nation has been working on expanding its water usage for the past few years. Ethiopia, with its rapidly increasing population and growing need for basic amenities, has been exploring and making use of its natural resources.
Despite the contradiction, Ethiopia’s water diplomacy has been among the best. The country has been at the forefront of efforts to guarantee just and equitable use of the world’s longest river, providing a practical example. Ethiopia began building the Abbay dam in 2011, which will help the region greatly. The nation extended an invitation to downstream nations to engage in dialogue to resolve any disputed issues. There have been advancements over the years that qualify as breakthroughs. Two astute examples are the signing of the Memorandum of Understandings and the Declarations of Principles. Though the Abbay dam is a national and sovereign project solely funded and constructed by Ethiopians, the country has been doing its level best not only to bring the downstream countries on board but also to find a common ground where the three countries would be able to benefit from the colossal dam.
The primary goal of unlocking its water resources is to meet the urgent need for energy required by its developing industry. The nation is heavily investing in energy initiatives as a result of the sustained economic expansion that is driving up energy consumption. Furthermore, the nation’s foreign policy places a strong emphasis on the idea of doing no harm.
Appropriate policies and strategies are required to convert the resources into benefits. There should be a successful implementation process in place in addition to the tools. It is accurate to say that the nation’s water diplomacy and policy are built on a win-win strategy and positively encourage regional collaboration.
Recently, the country has been exploring ways to carve out a path that would enable it to ensure socioeconomic security and political interest in the Red Sea which is only 60 KM away from the country. Finding reliable and alternative ports or sea outlets has also become the major priority of the country entering a deal with Somaliland recently. Again, the country’s quest for sea access harms no other parties; it rather cements regional integration and fosters collective growth.
Over the years, the country has been exploring ways to carve out a path that would enable it to ensure socioeconomic security and political interest in the Red Sea which is only 60 KM away from the country. Finding reliable and alternative ports or sea outlets has also become the major priority of the country entering a deal with Somaliland recently. Again, the country’s quest for sea access harms no other parties; it rather cements regional integration and fosters collective growth. Yesterday, the country launched its first water strategy on the Abbay Rivers and the Red Sea. The six-chapter document mainly highlights Ethiopia’s journey to get sovereign access to the sea. It would be an important input for scholars who wish to conduct research and studies on historical and political issues. The strategy will guide the country’s stance on water bodies. The new policy document reflects the country’s stand on the Abbay River and the Red Sea. The country should in place the required policies and strategies to realize its mega ambitions in the Abbay Rivers and the Red Sea. In this regard, the launching of the strategy is a mammoth step that requires additional work.
Lately, the country launched a book entitled Grand Strategy of Two Waters. Speaking in the unveiling of the strategies, MoWE Minister Habtamu Itefa (PhD-Eng.) launched the historical and unique book titled The Grand Strategy of Two Waters, which reflects Ethiopia’s position on the Abay River and the Red Sea. The book was prepared by the Institute of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with Walta Media and Communication Corporation and Abrhot Library.
Habtamu also stated that Ethiopia should utilize its synergy and stakeholders’ integration and establish various strategies to realize proper utilization of water and ensure sustainable development. “Fostering regional integration with the Horn of Africa countries has a paramount importance in this regard.”
“If the current generation expected to repeat the victory of Adwa in poverty, several strategies are expected to encourage unity, sovereignty, national interest, and prosperity. In this regard, the MoWE is partnering with various universities to address several constraints related to water bodies through research and a scientific-based approach.”
The minister advised the media to use proper expression about the country’s water potential and be cautious when using the usual ‘Ethiopia is the water tower of Africa’ phrase when the reality is far from this. “We are called a water tower because we are in a high place, not because we have enough water.”
“We are not called water tower because we have water. Ethiopia’s historical enemies take this word and make it a water tower. They have attempted to attack by saying that Ethiopia has rain and rivers. But this is far from reality.”
The IFA’s Executive Director Jafar Bedru on his part said that the book would be supplementing the holistic development of Ethiopia in particular and the East African region in general due to its focus on cooperative development, give-and-take approaches, regional integration, and sustainable peace. The director added, “The book focuses in detail on the Abbay-Nile basin and the Red Sea as strategic arenas for Ethiopia’s national security to help the country’s effort to return the Red Sea access and get the ownership of sea outlet. Besides, Abay and the Red Sea are determinant issues on geopolitics, social, and strategic approaches of Ethiopia.”
The six-chapter document mainly highlights Ethiopia’s journey to get sovereign access to the sea. It would be an important input for scholars who wish to conduct research and studies on historical and political issues. The strategy will guide the country’s stance on water bodies. The new policy document reflects the country’s stand on the Abbay River and the Red Sea. The country should in place the required policies and strategies to realize its mega ambitions in the Abbay Rivers and the Red Sea. In this regard, the launching of the strategy is a mammoth step that requires additional work.
BY DESTA GEBREHWIOT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 7 MARCH 2024
