Agreement on use of Nile waters a win-win for all Basin countries

The Kenya Maritime Authority officials during a crackdown in Lake Victoria on December 8, 2022. [James Omoro, Standard]

Countries in the Nile Basin that have hitherto been unable to use the Nile waters could start doing so soon. This follows an agreement signed by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda. Burundi is yet to sign the agreement. The Nile basin is made up of 11 countries; Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea and DR Congo.

An agreement signed by colonial powers in 1929 gave Egypt the sole right to use the waters of the Nile, whose twin origin is in Lake Victoria (White Nile) in East Africa and Lake Tana (Blue Nile) in Ethiopia.