Revise archaic Nile Treaty to benefit all humanity

Truly, the past has come to haunt the future as East African countries fight to secure more River Nile water from their northern cousins, Egypt and Sudan.

A 1929 colonial-era pact overseen by Britain gave Egypt rights to turn down upstream projects that would affect its water share. And in 1959, another deal between Egypt and Sudan granted Egypt 55.5 billion cubic metres of water, representing 87 per cent of the Nile’s flow, every year and the remaining 13 per cent to Sudan.

Independent East Africa comprising Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi and Eritrea facing burgeoning populations, agricultural, industrial and commercial appetite, have demanded setting the covenants aside.

They prefer a new and equitable deal.

It is the source of the Blue Nile which contributes 85 per cent of the water mass but is unable to make intensive use of it.

Unease is setting in over Egypt and Sudan’s intransigence over a matter so emotive, but can be easily resolved for the benefit of the entire region.

That DR Congo, Burundi and Kenya’s ministers were not at the signing of the Entebbe Accord last week is not an indicator of a split with Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. The latter merely signed to open a window for experts to determine how much water each country would be entitled to.

The Nile matter is a potential hot rod but has been unresolved for over a decade despite the Nile Basin Initiative. Egypt and Sudan must see sense and accommodate their neighbours’ concerns for peace to triumph. There is undoubtedly sufficient water to go around.