A.3.4X Internationally shared water resource (River Nile)

Question 1

Background of the River NIle

Answer 1

Longest river in the world, 6650 km long

2 main tributaries: White Nile and Blue Nile

Confluence is in Khartoum

Question 2

Importance of River Nile

Answer 2

Tourism - rapids in Uganda

Transport - promote trade

Drinking water

HEP

Question 3

Conflicts of River Nile

Answer 3

In 2010, 6 of 9 upstream countries signed a Cooperative Framework Agreement seeking more water shares from the Nile

Sudan and Egypt rejected agreement because it challenged their historic water allocations

Dispute between Egypt and Sudan over the dam construction has reignited a 60-year old dispute

UN has said it will intervene if there is conflict

Question 4

Ethiopia conflicts on River Nile

Answer 4

Conflicts have arisen since Ethiopia began building dams

Dam will generate electricity (6000 megawatts), provide water source

Dam is self-funded, pressure to get returns

Ethiopia denies that the dam would damage Egypt’s water supplies

Question 5

Egypt conflicts on River Nile

Answer 5

Egypt, draws much of its drinking water, natural resources, and energy from the Nile, has protested the GERD’s construction (will syphon resources away)

Production capacity further reduced as Egypt as Aswan Dam on Nile as well

Egypt now hope to pull the Europeans to its side and to pressure Ethiopia before protesting before the security council

Threat to national security: will use force if necessary

Question 6

Sudan conflicts on River Nile

Answer 6

Dam will prevent flooding

Will receive dome electricity from dam

Promised water supply for irrigation to foreign investors