An Appraisal of the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The utilization of transboundary water resources among the basin states hasn’t always been an
easy task. The presence of large number of states sharing the river and absence of an agreement
determining its use further complicates the already complicated issue of utilization among the
basin states. Shared by eleven states, the Nile Basin is one among the basins without any legal
and binding agreement determining the utilization of the waters of Nile. Until the establishment
of the NBI in 1999 with the objective of ensuring equitable use among the basin states via its
future institution of the NRBC, the contribution of the previous bilateral and/or coloniallyinduced
Nile agreements and several other sub-basin institutions toward solving the age old
problem of the basin had been very limited. Thus, the main objectives of this study are to
evaluate the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), one among the major trucks
of the activities of the NBI which is currently waiting the ratification of three more states to have
a legal status and to proclaim the establishment of the permanent NRBC. In order to achieve
these objectives, the researcher selected Qualitative Research methodology. Information related
to the study was gathered from both: primary sources- by interviewing experts, academicians,
diplomats and government representatives in the field; and secondary sources- by analyzing
books, articles, journals etc. The selection of sample was made based on purposive sampling
technique.
The findings of this study revealed that the major problem in the Nile Basin lies not in the
scarcity of the available water rather it is the dominance of artificially created hurdles blocking
cooperation. The presence of different Nile water agreements in favor of the downstream states
is one among the major hurdles that create a privileged downstream group in one hand and
unprivileged upstream block on the other. The age old upstream-downstream disagreement has
been between aimed at changing and preserving the status quo established by these Nile waters
agreements. The findings of this thesis consolidated this argument since it is the rigid position of
the downstream states especially Egypt in recognizing the rights of upstream states from a share
to the resources of the Nile. In the eyes of the researcher, the unified position and ratification of
the remaining signatory states of the CFA will offer strength to challenge the position of
downstream states. Thus, unless cooperation mechanism is realized in the Nile Basin, the
prevailing situation in the region will pose a threat to the utilization of the waters of the Nile in
the future. Though the optimistic beginnings of the NBI in facilitating the implementation of
water projects of basin wide importance and the conclusion of the negotiation of the CFA are
considered as a big success, the opposition of the downstream states to the CFA is still a big
challenge. Once again, the attempt of establishing a basin wide institution with the consent of all
member states remained in question if the opposition of the downstream states to the CFA is
going continue in the future
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Keywords
Cooperative Framework Agreement, Nile Basin, Watercourse Agreements