Case study 18 - A trans-boundary water issue

A map of the area - North-east Africa

Why is there an issue over water?

The issue is between many of the countries in north-east Africa. The main focus of the conflict is over the use and control of the river Nile.

The river Nile flows through Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.

For a decade, the countries in the Nile Basin have been negotiating about how to share - and protect - the river at a time of changing climate and a rising population. The talks eventually broke down in 2010. On one side are Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on the Nile's water because of their dry climates. On the other side are the remaining countries, which actually supply most of the Nile's water.

Uganda

The Ugandan population is expected to triple by 2050, to 97 million - raising demand for food and water.
The government's priority is to build dams to produce electricity, which will restrict the flow of water to the downstream countries of Sudan and Egypt.

Sudan

The Blue Nile and White Nile meet in Sudan.
Southern Sudan has swamps and rainforests, but a large part of the north is the Nubian Desert.
Sudan is facing the problems of desertification and a falling water table.
The Sudanese government wants to expand the use of irrigation to increase the food supply, which will mean taking more water from the Nile.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia's population was 85 million in 2010, but a high population growth rate of 3.2% means that the population is expected to reach 150 million by 2050 - leading to greater demands for both food and water.

With the pressure of its growing population, Ethiopia wants to keep more if the Nile's water for its own needs. This is likely to lead to serious disputes with Sudan and Egypt if they receive less water as a result.

The Ethiopian government wants to build big dams to create hydroelectric power, which can be exported to neighbouring countries to generate much-needed income.

Egypt

Egypt's population was 79 million in 2010, but is expected to rise to 122 million by 2050 - leading to a massive increase in demand for water and food.7

The country relies on the Nile for 90% of it water supply.

The Nile's water is used to irrigate farmland on either side of the river - allowing crops to be grown for domestic use and for export (to meet the growing global demand).

How is the issue being resolved?

Pan African Conference - the Governments were invited to a conference to discuss their views on how the River Nile should be managed. It was decided to carefully regulated the flow of the Aswan Dam so not to affect people living in Egypt. Egypt give money to the Government in Sudan so that communities could develop wells to help save water and allow them to have a better quality of life. The UN has been working with communities in Sudan to reduce desertification by placing stones in lines to trap sand and water.