Entebbe Agreement: A New Era for Nile Basin Cooperation
The Entebbe Agreement, which officially entered into force on October 13, 2024, marks a significant development in the management of the Nile River's resources. Ratified by Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and South Sudan, the agreement aims to enhance cooperation among Nile Basin countries. However, the absence of Egypt and Sudan, who have expressed strong opposition, raises questions about the agreement's effectiveness and future. The agreement was designed to create a legal framework for the equitable utilization of Nile waters, inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of Watercourses.
The Controversy Surrounding Water Security
The core of the dispute lies in Article 14(b) of the Entebbe Agreement, which pertains to water security. Egypt and Sudan argue that this article undermines their historical water rights established by previous agreements in 1929 and 1959, which allocated significant water shares to them. International law expert Faisal Abdul Rahman Ali Taha suggests that the disagreement reflects deeper issues regarding the legal standing of these historical agreements. The opposition from Egypt and Sudan stems from fears that upstream countries, particularly Ethiopia, will undertake projects that could diminish their water shares, leading to potential conflicts in the future.
