Water war is brewing in Africa
In a number of African states, war for water will soon become a reality. Water is that unique resource without which neither the separate person, nor the state as a whole can exist.
Future military alliances, which are to fight with each other, are already taking shape. The first coalition is the North: Egypt, North Sudan and possibly Eritrea, the second is the South: Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Previously, relations between Egypt and Sudan were quite tense, Khartoum reproached Cairo for seizing part of Sudan - the so-called Halaib triangle in the northeast of the country. Cairo criticized Khartoum for supporting radical Islamist groups. For example: in Cairo, they were convinced that Sudanese special services were behind the attempt on Mubarak in 1995.
Exacerbated the relationship and the water issue - under the contract 1959 year, Sudan got it only a quarter of the flow of the Nile, the rest belonged to Egypt. Recently, countries have tried to revise relations: what is interesting, both countries insisted on renegotiating the terms of the contract in their favor.
Now, North Sudan (a referendum was held in Sudan, which recognized the division of the country into the Christian-pagan South and the Islamic North) and Egypt, will have to unite in front of a common threat - the countries of tropical Africa.
In early March, Sudanese President Al-Bashir, Cairo, came to Cairo, although the Hague Tribunal was “looking for” him (for crimes against humanity), not only didn’t betray him to The Hague, but he was warmly received. Soon, with a return visit, Khartoum was visited by the Egyptian Prime Minister Isam Sharaf with as many 7 ministers. President of Khartoum, as a sign of reconciliation. Made a "gift" to Egypt in 5 thous. Of cattle.
Cairo and Khartoum are looking for support from each other in the water issue. The countries of tropical Africa "remembered" that the Nile was carrying the source from their territory and decided to resolve the issue with water in their favor. None of these countries recognizes the 1959 treaty of the year, when in fact Cairo and Khartoum decided the Nile water issue in their favor.
Currently, all the countries of the Nile Basin have created their own plans for using the waters of the Nile and its tributaries. For example: Ethiopia, which gives up to the 86% runoff to the Big Nile, at the expense of the Blue Nile and other tributaries, rightly indicates that it uses only about 1% of this volume. And, the country is growing rapidly, Addis Ababa simply has no way out, how to develop intensive irrigation to develop its agriculture. At present, Ethiopia has more than 85 of millions of population and it is increasing at a rate of 3% per year and by the year of 2025 will be more than 100 million people.
About the same will be in Egypt. Almost 97% of Egyptians live on 4% territory - near the Nile. The rest of the territory is almost lifeless desert, if the flow of the Nile falls, the Egyptians will be asked whether to die or fight for water with their neighbors.
How not to recall Gaddafi, who solved the problem of water in his country and invited the Egyptians to Libya, to develop agriculture. But, now these plans are ruined.
Another problem is the development of hydropower.
Ethiopia and Burundi, have already begun to build a series of hydraulic structures and dams, which caused discontent Cairo and Khartoum.
In May, 2010, Egypt warned Ethiopia that Egypt’s national priority was the water of the Nile and threatened the most serious consequences. Previously, before Mubarak, Anwar Sadat, even threatened Ethiopia with war, if she would encroach on the water of the Nile.
But now Addis Ababa has allies, an anti-Egyptian alliance was created in 2010, which included Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. It is quite possible that Burundi will also enter it, which can cut off the White Nile runoff. It is very likely the entry into this coalition of South Sudan, which is on the verge of a new war with Northern Sudan. In addition, South Sudan, with the support of Israel, began to prepare the construction of large structures on the Nile.
This threat has forced North Sudan and Egypt to forget about the old feuds, to remember that they are Muslims and Arabs. For them, any change in the flow of the Nile, in the direction of reduction, is a matter of life and death. But, while preserving the existing situation, the vital interests of about a dozen states, which are deprived of full access to water in their own territory, suffer.
This question is practically not resolved peacefully - it would be possible only if the plan of the same Gaddafi, the creation of a single African Federation, is implemented, then the problem would be solved.
Future military alliances, which are to fight with each other, are already taking shape. The first coalition is the North: Egypt, North Sudan and possibly Eritrea, the second is the South: Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Previously, relations between Egypt and Sudan were quite tense, Khartoum reproached Cairo for seizing part of Sudan - the so-called Halaib triangle in the northeast of the country. Cairo criticized Khartoum for supporting radical Islamist groups. For example: in Cairo, they were convinced that Sudanese special services were behind the attempt on Mubarak in 1995.
Exacerbated the relationship and the water issue - under the contract 1959 year, Sudan got it only a quarter of the flow of the Nile, the rest belonged to Egypt. Recently, countries have tried to revise relations: what is interesting, both countries insisted on renegotiating the terms of the contract in their favor.
Now, North Sudan (a referendum was held in Sudan, which recognized the division of the country into the Christian-pagan South and the Islamic North) and Egypt, will have to unite in front of a common threat - the countries of tropical Africa.
In early March, Sudanese President Al-Bashir, Cairo, came to Cairo, although the Hague Tribunal was “looking for” him (for crimes against humanity), not only didn’t betray him to The Hague, but he was warmly received. Soon, with a return visit, Khartoum was visited by the Egyptian Prime Minister Isam Sharaf with as many 7 ministers. President of Khartoum, as a sign of reconciliation. Made a "gift" to Egypt in 5 thous. Of cattle.
Cairo and Khartoum are looking for support from each other in the water issue. The countries of tropical Africa "remembered" that the Nile was carrying the source from their territory and decided to resolve the issue with water in their favor. None of these countries recognizes the 1959 treaty of the year, when in fact Cairo and Khartoum decided the Nile water issue in their favor.
Currently, all the countries of the Nile Basin have created their own plans for using the waters of the Nile and its tributaries. For example: Ethiopia, which gives up to the 86% runoff to the Big Nile, at the expense of the Blue Nile and other tributaries, rightly indicates that it uses only about 1% of this volume. And, the country is growing rapidly, Addis Ababa simply has no way out, how to develop intensive irrigation to develop its agriculture. At present, Ethiopia has more than 85 of millions of population and it is increasing at a rate of 3% per year and by the year of 2025 will be more than 100 million people.
About the same will be in Egypt. Almost 97% of Egyptians live on 4% territory - near the Nile. The rest of the territory is almost lifeless desert, if the flow of the Nile falls, the Egyptians will be asked whether to die or fight for water with their neighbors.
How not to recall Gaddafi, who solved the problem of water in his country and invited the Egyptians to Libya, to develop agriculture. But, now these plans are ruined.
Another problem is the development of hydropower.
Ethiopia and Burundi, have already begun to build a series of hydraulic structures and dams, which caused discontent Cairo and Khartoum.
In May, 2010, Egypt warned Ethiopia that Egypt’s national priority was the water of the Nile and threatened the most serious consequences. Previously, before Mubarak, Anwar Sadat, even threatened Ethiopia with war, if she would encroach on the water of the Nile.
But now Addis Ababa has allies, an anti-Egyptian alliance was created in 2010, which included Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. It is quite possible that Burundi will also enter it, which can cut off the White Nile runoff. It is very likely the entry into this coalition of South Sudan, which is on the verge of a new war with Northern Sudan. In addition, South Sudan, with the support of Israel, began to prepare the construction of large structures on the Nile.
This threat has forced North Sudan and Egypt to forget about the old feuds, to remember that they are Muslims and Arabs. For them, any change in the flow of the Nile, in the direction of reduction, is a matter of life and death. But, while preserving the existing situation, the vital interests of about a dozen states, which are deprived of full access to water in their own territory, suffer.
This question is practically not resolved peacefully - it would be possible only if the plan of the same Gaddafi, the creation of a single African Federation, is implemented, then the problem would be solved.
Information