Since the past few months, Egypt has been constructing the longest of its kind artificial river on the Abay [Nile] River without consulting or notifying upper riparian countries that supply the entire amount of the water.
Ironically, the cornerstone of the project was laid last July while the country is strongly opposing the construction of the Abay Hydroelectric Dam by Ethiopia, claiming a binding agreement on the utilization of the river, and in a situation it was asserting about the inevitability of advanced notification regarding water projects; which is an empty rhetoric and contradictory to its own action.
In fact, since colonial time and even after independence, Egypt has been enjoying the Nile Waters independently as if it has a special right to the waters. By discouraging any attempts by the riparian countries to build a dam and threatening to incite war if the Nile River is ever blocked, it has been making a unilateral decision that affects the interests of the riparian states.
Since recent time, going far away from opposing the construction of the Abay Hydroelectric Dam by Ethiopia saying it will affect its own interest, Egypt has made all it can to politicize the case, put pressures on Ethiopia and cripple its drive for development. By conspiring with some countries and blocking Ethiopia’s opportunity to get aid and loans from international financial institutions, it applied all diplomatic means to keep Ethiopia in a cash-strapped situation; though all was in vain.
Currently, ignoring the rights and concerns of upper riparian countries, including Ethiopia which is the major water supplier, it is building an artificial dam which is a matter that puts the political and diplomatic integrity of Egypt in question.
Unarguably, transboundary water bodies that cross the borders of two or more countries have the potential to cause inconveniences and disagreements among countries when it comes to the management of shared water resources.
For this reason, Ethiopia has made every effort and gone the extra mile to make known its determination to develop its water resources, generate power, provide access to electricity to more than 60 million of its citizens who are living in darkness and lift Ethiopians out of poverty.
At the core of this, the country has been signifying that the Abay Hydroelectric Dam which is under construction on Abay River to be a source of cooperation and mutual benefits for countries of the Nile Basin and beyond; instead of being a case for contention and disagreements.
On top of this, by sharing the required research documents, exchanging information, holding consultation meetings with riparian countries and any of the other involved parties, it tried to make clear that the Dam will not cause significant harm to riparian countries; but brings about considerable benefits to the peoples of the region and beyond.
Not only that, in all of the tripartite discussions carried out to reach consensus on ways to utilize the Abay Waters, Ethiopia has been strongly reflecting its stand and commitment to utilize the waters in a more fair and equitable manner with the principles of cooperation. This and other endeavors clearly show Ethiopia’s commitment for cooperation and mutual development; instead of making unilateral decisions.
On the other hand, Egypt has continued constructing dams without consulting riparian countries ignoring the rights the upper riparian states and violating the principle of international water law. However, whatever it is, Ethiopia will continue developing its water resources in a manner respecting international water laws, promoting cooperation and pursuing mutual development.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2024
