Ethiopia has completed the last phase of filling a artificial lake for its extremely controversial hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile River , much to the annoyance of Egypt who fear it could discerp them from the Nile ’s treasured waters . fuel by climate change and ongoing geopolitical tension , it ’s often been say that the problem of water scarcity in this pregnant dapple of Africa has the potential to spill out into a major conflict .
Ethiopia has been establish the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ( GERD ) since 2011 with the promise of using its body of water for a hydroelectric power plant to deal the country ’s needlelike vim dearth .
On September 10 , a new milestone of the GERD project was let out by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed whotook to social mediato declare the “ successful mop up of the 4th and terminal weft of the Renaissance Dam . ”
A map showing the location of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the main three countries impacted: Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.Image credit: Mass Media/Shutterstock.com
The tardy move , however , was not welcome by Ethopia ’s neighbour downstream , namely Egypt . Two - thirds of all the water in the River Nilecomes from the Blue Nile Riverin Ethiopia . If Ethiopia has the power to control this river ’s flow then it would have a major influence on the River Nile , whichhas serve asEgypt ’s “ jugular vein ” for thousands of old age .
The Egyptian foreign ministry intimate in astatementon Facebook that Ethiopia ’s sequel of the decameter ’s mental synthesis showed a " disregard " for " principle of external law " and broke an agreement sign by Egypt , Ethiopia , and Sudan in 2015 .
" The declaration of principle stipulates the essential of the three land reaching an agreement on the rules for filling and operate the Gerd before commencing the pick process , " Egypt ’s government brand .
" Ethiopia ’s one-sided bill are considered a neglect for the sake and rights of the downstream nation and their water security , as guaranteed by principles of international jurisprudence . "
Ever since it was proposed , the GERD in Ethiopia has imperil to sparkle a “ pee state of war , ” conflicts in which states and/or militias fight for access to water imagination . In 2013 , Egyptian politico , let in President Mohamed Morsi , werecaught on cameradiscussing whether to destroy the dyke and threaten dispute with Ethiopia . One of them describe urine security department as a “ thing of life and death ” for Egypt .
However , Egypt ’s headache about admission to water have go back even further . In 1979 , Egyptian President Anwar Sadat famouslystated : “ The only matter that could take Egypt to war again is water . ”
With climate change nowimpacting the Nile Basin , the fear of water system scarceness in Egypt – and beyond – has become super - charged .
Astudy in 2018looked at where in the world the future ’s potential weewee fight are potential to take place . Along with the Indus Valley and theEuphrates - Tigris basin , the research worker found that the Nile Basin had a high likelihood of “ hydro - political interaction ” that runs the risk of talk into wildness .
With the GERD project seemingly steamrolling in advance , the odds of this divergence ending in peaceable negotiation are recoil off .
