Egypt courts South Sudan over Nile waters deals

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Egypt courts South Sudan over Nile waters deals

By MACHEL AMOS in Juba | Thursday, March 14 2013 at 14:29

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A section of the Nile River. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

An Egyptian delegation headed by Prime Minister Hisham Qandil arrived in Juba Thursday to meet South Sudan officials about the Nile waters agreements.

 

Egypt and Sudan are opposed to a Cooperative Framework agreement which Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania signed in 2010, and later Burundi in 2011, to replace a colonial era pact of 1929.

 

South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs spokesman Mawien Makol said that the one-day visit will also discuss other issues, but that the Nile waters deal was top on the agenda.

 

“The Prime Minister is willing to know the position of South Sudan on water agreements before he goes for the Nile regional countries' talks that are coming up," Mr Mawien said, referring to a Nile Water conference that he said was slated for next month in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

 

“The Egyptian delegation will also be willing to know the details of the agreements that have been reached last week between the government of Sudan and South Sudan on security arrangements and the flow of oil,” he added.

 

Egypt, which is favoured by the 1929 Nile Water Agreement, is opposed to a new deal that would reduce its share of the waters and considers it a national security issue.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Egypt wants to continue to live in the past and its trying to legitimize the 1929 Nile water agreement it needs to understand the Nile Basin countries put that treaty as null and void. Because the Nile basin countries agreed to renegotiate the Nile waters agreements signed during the colonial era. The Ethiopian dam is under construction and Egypt needs to keep up with the new political realities on the ground.

[Tallaabo]

^ Indeed Xaaji. I think the Ethiopian government also wants to dam the Jubba and Shabele rivers and use the water for irrigating their own side of the border. Somalia is in trouble indeed.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ I have never heard that they dont need the rivers from Somalia that goes through Ethiopia. Ethiopia is more concern about Arab pressure on the damn on the blue Nile Somalia sheekada shaqo kuma laha saaxib

[Tallaabo]

It is the other way round Xaaji. The Shebelle and Jubba rivers originate in Ethiopia and go through Somalia. As you may be aware there is a serious land grab going on in Africa where foreign governments and large multinational investment firms buy or lease huge tracts of land from the corrupt African regimes to cultivate and ship the produce to their home markets. Ethiopia already evicted tens of thousands of people from their lands and it is these giant commercial farms that are going to be irrigated with the Jubba and Shabelle river water. These vital rivers for Koonfuria, their own Niles will be reduced to mere streams.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

i am aware of the land grab especially southern nationalities and oromo territories have been sold to indian and Pakistani merchants beautiful fertile land. But i dont think the TPLF really cares about the rivers shabelle and jubba nor do they have any plans to construct a damn there. They are more concerned to have the big dam on the blue nile. which will benefit entire Ethiopia.

[xabad]

Tallaabo;927741 wrote:

These vital rivers for Koonfuria, their own Niles will be reduced to mere streams.

you seem gleeful and happily looking forward to that.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^He is a Somalilander with no affection to Somalia

[xabad]

He can talk for himself XX, so let him answer.

[Tallaabo]

xabad;927749 wrote:

you seem gleeful and happily looking forward to that.

How do you know that I am "gleeful" and "happily looking forward.."??

[xabad]

your words betrayed you and you have no cover. why do wish your brothers lifelines to be cut off ?

[Tallaabo]

Your semantics make no sense. You will have no further comment from me.

[OdaySomali]

Ethiopia already has a dam on the Shabelle river... albeit a realtively small one.

[xabad]

you had your little honeymoon period here, presenting yourself as goody two shoes. but you could not suppress your real self you eh.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Why are we talking about Somalia? when the topic is about South Sudan and Egypt?