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May 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan has announced today that it will not sign the framework agreement aimed at reallocating shares from the river Nile, a longstanding demand by several up-stream countries.
- Children fish in the river Nile near the capital Khartoum May 04, 2010 (Reuters)
Egypt joined by Sudan has refused any alteration to the pre-existing accords of 1929 & 1959 which gave it veto power over upstream projects.
Some of the Nile Basin countries, which include Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, say past treaties are unfair and they want an equitable water-sharing agreement that would allow for more irrigation and power projects.
The Nile Basin Initiative, the World Bank funded umbrella group of Nile basin countries, has put off signing a water sharing pact over objections from Egypt and Sudan.
The Sudanese Legal Counsel to the initiative of the Nile Basin countries Ahmed Al-Mufti said in a press conference today that "the official position of the Sudanese government is not to sign during the period of the year set by the seven countries of the basin from the 14th of May unless all nine basin states reach solutions to the disputed issues.
Al-Mufti said that Sudan believes that the Nile Basin countries should issue a presidential statement announcing the establishment of the Office of the Nile River Basin while continuing to negotiate in order to arrive at a comprehensive agreement on the remaining points of disagreement.
He further said that the expiration of the signature period for the Convention, does not mean that it has automatically entered into force because it has to be followed by a lengthy and complex process, stressing that this "does not increase or decrease the rights of the Sudan in the Nile basin or the Nile Waters Agreement."
Al-Mufti also ruled out the possibility of an outbreak of war in the Nile Basin over water, stressing that the differences between Egypt and Sudan on the one hand and the rest of the basin countries on the one hand can be overcome.
Last month, Egypt stressed that the Nile water issue is one of national security.
"Egypt’s share of the Nile’s water is a historic right that Egypt has defended throughout its history," Mohammed Allam, minister of water resources and irrigation, told parliament.
"Egypt reserves the right to take whatever course it sees suitable to safeguard its share," he said.
"If the Nile basin countries unilaterally signed the agreement it would be considered the announcement of the Nile Basin Initiative’s death," Allam added.
Many observers in Sudan have questioned the government’s keen interest in siding with Egypt on the matter despite needing more
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