The three Basin countries have finally signed a Deceleration of Principles concerning the water sharing arrangement for the Nile.
For a number of years now, the Nile and the distribution of its water among Basin countries has been a source of contention amongst several of them, causing a constant stream of bickering among the nations, particularly in light of Egypt’s worry that Ethiopia’s $4.2 billion Grand Renaissance Dam, currently under construction, would negatively impact our share of Nile water. However, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have just signed a Declaration of Principles concerning the water sharing arrangement for the Nile, a crucial move towards resolving the ongoing dispute. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegan said: “We covered a big step forward by reaching this declaration.” Hundreds of delegates were present in Khartoum for the announcement of the deal, the details of which have yet to be announced.
Speaking of the tripartite agreement, Sisi told the audience, “For thousands of years, the Nile water has been flowing with God's order. We could cooperate and accomplish great things or disagree and hurt each other…we have chosen to cooperate.”
Sisi said that the agreement will involve a deep understanding of the dam’s storage capacity and will maintain the interests of all three countries. Ethiopia’s Desalegan emphasised that the Renaissance Dam is being created to generate electricity for economic development projects and would not harm the Egyptian people. The three countries have agreed to commission an international firm to conduct studies on how the Ethiopian dam will impact water levels in downstream countries. According to Sisi, the final agreement will be signed once these studies are complete, and Egyptian Irrigation Minister Hossam Moghazy has stressed that if studies reveal that the dam could cause harm to downstream countries, the agreement would have to be amended to ensure it would not. Sisi is leaving Khartoum and heading to Adis Ababa to speak to the Ethiopian Parliament about issuing a formal recognition of Egypt’s rights to its share of the Nile water in exchange for Egypt backing Ethiopia’s economic development project.
Any final deal reached with regards to allocating Nile waters and operating the controversy-causing dam would be binding on all three signatory states. Look at them getting along. Next thing you know they're gonna hold hands and Kumbaya...