(2 minutes read)
· While Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are trying to entangle the
complex issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River
and the US is acting as a mediator, it is instructive to see why
African Union (AU), which should have taken upon itself the lead role,
is playing a marginal one or conspicuous by its silence
· In the meantime, many are wondering why the initiative to
patch up is left with the US, World Bank and Russia, when African
Union should have seized up with the matter
While Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are trying to entangle the complex
issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River and the
US is acting as a mediator, it is instructive to see why African Union
(AU), which should have taken upon itself the lead role, is playing a
marginal one or conspicuous by its silence.
Under the watchful eyes of the United States (US) and World Bank, the
stakeholders have had over eight rounds of negotiations in less than
two months. Yet, a conclusive agreement is evading for one reason or
the other, leading to blame games among the involved parties.
The complex issue is nothing new. River Nile is shared by 11 African
countries including Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. However, on water
sharing among the 11 countries, there is no tacit understanding among
the involved countries. The mostly affected parties-Egypt, Ethiopia
and Egypt – almost reached an agreement negotiation in 2010 after
several rounds of negotiations. But Egypt and Sudan refrained from
signing an agreement due to concerns of ‘water insecurity’ which may
affect their agriculture, industry and hydroelectric power generation.
In 2011, Ethiopia unilaterally started building a dam on the plea that
the dam has wider significance for the regional integration.
There were efforts from Russia also to bring the dispute between Egypt
and Ethiopia to an amicable solution. But it did not progress well due
to variety of reasons. In the meantime, many are wondering why the
initiative to patch up is left with the US, the World Bank and Russia,
when African Union should have seized up with the matter. Many feel AU
does not have the wherewithal to deal with the matter when the dispute
is between the two countries in its membership. Should that mean that
it should keep quiet all along? Even now, there are lauded questions
being asked about the critical role that AU is playing to find lasting
solutions for disputes among its members, whether it is trade,
territorial or any other issues.
