The Waters of the Nile

SOYMB returns to capitalism's struggle for the control of natural resources and the possibility of imminent water wars . We reported previously on India and Pakistan and now we read that in Africa , the waters of the Nile are being competed for by the different nations along its course. Under colonial-era accords, Egypt and Sudan get 90% of the river's water.Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia say it is unfair and want a new deal but nothing has been agreed in 13 years of talks and have now have signed an agreement in Entebbe to seek more water from the River Nile - a move strongly opposed by Egypt and Sudan.Kenya, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo were represented at the meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, and may sign up later.
For Egypt, water is a matter of national security. Egypt has dismissed the Entebbe agreement, saying it "is in no way binding on Egypt from a legal perspective...Egypt will not join or sign any agreement that affects its share," ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki.

With populations soaring, demand for water increasing and climate change having an impact, there are warnings that wrangling over the world's longest river could be a trigger for conflict.

"If we don't have an agreed co-operative framework, there will be no peace," Kenya's director of water resources John Nyaro told the BBC before the meeting. "Where there is no rule of law, the rule of the jungle does not provide peace."

In 2005 the then Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his government, along with those of Kenya, Uganda Tanzania - who share the White Nile with Egypt - will no longer be intimidated by past threats, principally by the late President Anwar Sadat, to use force to maintain its grip on the Nile.

"I think it is an open secret that the Egyptians have troops that are specialised in jungle warfare. Egypt is not known for its jungles. So if these troops are trained in jungle warfare, they are probably trained to fight in the jungles of the East African countries," Mr Meles said. "And from time to time Egyptian presidents have threatened countries with military action if they move. While I cannot completely discount the sabre-rattling I do not think it is a feasible option. If Egypt were to plan to stop Ethiopia from utilising the Nile waters it would have to occupy Ethiopia and no country on earth has done that in the past."

A socialist society unhampered by national vested interests could use the existing framework of the Nile Basin Initiative to its full potential and develop co-operation on hydro-electric power and irrigation schemes.