Ethiopian Multicultural Action for Human Rights (EMAHR) is an advocacy organisation that promotes human rights in the diaspora and Ethiopia to ensure everyone’s right is respected, and everyone is treated with dignity. EMAHR is based in Sydney- Australia.
We were pleased with resumption of talks and negotiations in June between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan regarding equitable usage of the Nile River and issues around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
However, we were regretted by the position and intention of Egyptian government of withdrawing from the talk and taking the GERD issues to the Arab League and the United Nations Security Council for intervention and lasting solution that will influence and force Ethiopia to accept and respect the so called ‘prior rights to natural and historic rights to the Nile waters’ which Egypt asserted.
This approach of Egyptian government is not the best strategy to negotiate and come to a common ground on issues in the dispute because it does not only undermine the role of the African Union but it is also a prove how Egyptian government is disrespectful to the African Union and Ethiopian national economic development right and sovereignty. This is approach very danger to the African continent.
The EMAHR believes that the 1929 Nile Waters Agreement which gave Egypt’s ‘natural and historic rights in the waters of the Nile’ and the 1959 Agreement which also guaranteed ‘full utilisation of the Nile Waters between Egypt and Sudan’ cannot be used as a precedent in any talk regarding equitable use of the Nile water in the 21st century. These Agreements do not take into consideration the interest and strategic priorities of Ethiopia where 85% of the Nile water originates.
We request Egypt not to rely on and put one leg on those outdated colonial Agreements and Treaties in which Ethiopia was not consulted and involved in drafting and ratifying of those documents.
In addition, those colonial Agreements and Treaties denied not only Ethiopia but also all the Upper- basin states’ rights to utilise the Nile water for social and economic development. Therefore, those colonial Agreements and Treaties have nothing to do and cannot be used as a ground with any talk and negotiation regarding equitable use of the Nile waters in the 21st Century.
We believe, the most reasonable utilisation and equitable use of the Nile waters is an African solution base on dialogue, constructive discussion, negotiation and cooperation between the three countries: Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to resolve outstanding issues such as filling and operation of the GERD.
We would like to thank in advance those who were involved as observers in the recent failed talk due to Egyptian withdrawal from the negotiation.
Egypt’s claims of hegemony to the Nile waters, which were outlined in the series of Treaties brokered by the British are outdated and unacceptable in 21ST century. Egypt must edge toward equitable arrangements on trans-boundary Nile water sharing, a huge step that will become politically feasible and less economically painful if it adopts improved water management measures and stops water waste in the Sahara Desert.
We all know that Ethiopia is ideally positioned as a hydro-power generator: its high altitude, ample annual rainfall and relatively low average temperatures mean that it loses less water stored in dams to evaporation. Ethiopia will therefore serve as a hydro-power production hub and export cheap power to neighbours. This helps to build strong and reliable economy not only in Ethiopian but for the all-region including African continent.
The EMAHR sees the growing tension between Ethiopia and Egypt regarding approach to an equitable use of the Nile water through Human right peaceful negation perspective. War will not resolve any problem between the two nations except destruction and loss of lives. Both countries have strong historical relationship dating back to the ancient time.
War will not resolve any problem between the two nations except destruction and loss of lives.
We maintain equitable use of the Nile water and cooperation framework as the best approach and way forward because it does not post any significant harm on both Egypt and Ethiopia including Sudan. We have confidence on the African Union to facilitate the outstanding issues. We believe an African problem is resolved by Africans through African Union under the principles of the Pan Africans.
We believe an African problem is resolved by Africans through African Union under the principles of the Pan Africans.
EMAHR would like to thank the African Union for taking an African initiative to play a key, pivotal and significant role to bring three countries on a roundtable to resume discussion and negotiations on the outstanding issues surrounding equitable use of the Nile Water. For example, drought mitigation protocols and a dispute resolution mechanism under equitable and fair use of the Nile water between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
Kind Regards,
Abulla Agwa
Chairperson
Ethiopian Multicultural Action for Human Rights
Emahr.org@gmail.com
CC
European Union in Brussel- Belgium
Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra, Australia
Embassy of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Canberra, Australia
Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Sydney, Australia-
Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Canberra, Australia
Embassy of United State, Canberra
SBS Amharic Radio Program- Melbourne, Australia
