A coalition of 10 Nile Basin countries has announced the implementation of a water-sharing agreement, despite opposition from Egypt. The “cooperative framework” was confirmed by the African Union after South Sudan ratified the treaty, according to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). So far, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania have ratified the accord. However, Egypt refuses to sign, as does Sudan, with both countries fearing a reduction in their water share. Meanwhile, Congo abstained from the signing, while Kenya has yet to submit its ratification documents to the African Union. According to the NBI, the agreement is designed to ensure equitable use of Nile waters for the benefit of all Nile riparian countries. Besides the agreement, tensions in the region have increased over Ethiopia’s construction of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Egypt claims could severely impact its water supply.
SOURCE: AP NEWS
