Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement Takes Effect, Paving the Way for Equitable Water Management
The Nile River Basin Agreement, also known as the Agreement on the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework (CFA), is a treaty that establishes the Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC) and outlines principles for managing the Nile River Basin. The agreement is set to enter into force on October 13, 2024. The agreement’s main goals are to: Promote sustainable development, Conserve and protect the Nile River Basin, Ensure equitable and reasonable use of the Nile River’s water resources, Share socioeconomic benefits, and Promote regional peace and security.
The agreement includes the following provisions:
- The NRBC will take over all the rights, obligations, and assets of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI)
- Each Nile Basin State will designate a National Nile Focal Point Institution
- The agreement includes dispute settlement provisions
- Nile Basin States can adopt additional instruments that supplement the agreement, but they must apply the agreement’s principles
- The agreement’s principles include:
- Taking into account the interests of the Basin States
- Protecting the water resources
- Using the water resources in a sustainable manner
As of today, October 13, 2024, the much-awaited Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) comes into effect that would allow the formation of Nile Basin Commission.
Following the historic decision Habtamu Itefa, Minister of Water and Energy (MoWE), said that this is indeed a testament to the basin countries collective resolve to cooperate.
In s statement MoWE sent to Capital it disclosed that the entry into force of the CFA will establish the Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC).
“This commission will manage and safeguard the Nile River for the benefit of all, and will be the cornerstone of our cooperative efforts,” he said.
The CFA rectifies the historical imbalances in accessing the water of the Nile and ensures that all Nile Basin countries can benefit from this shared resource.
Habtamu said the Agreement recognizes the legitimate needs of all Nile Basin states and commits basin states to the equitable sharing of these waters in a manner that promotes sustainable development, cooperation and regional integration.
“We must use the resources of the Nile not just for today, but for the generations that will come after us. The CFA ensures that we protect the Nile and its ecosystems, utilizing its waters in ways that do not jeopardize the future,” he added by calling all Nile Basin states to fully embrace the CFA and uphold its principles with the utmost integrity.
Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda are the nations that make up the Nile River Basin.
The CFA has been ratified by Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and most recently, South Sudan. It took a long time for the CFA to make this momentous decision.
Credit: Capital Ethiopia, nilebasin.org
