Monday, November 18, 2019

Water War between Egypt and Ethiopia?

Foreign Policy published on 15 November 2019 a commentary titled "River of the Dammed" by Imad K. Harb, Arab Center in Washington.

The author argues there is a possibility of war between Egypt and Ethiopia over allocation of water as Ethiopia fills the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. His principal solution for avoiding war is for Ethiopia to capitulate to Egypt's position on the main point of contention. In other words, Ethiopia should guarantee irrespective of annual rainfall that 40 billion cubic meters of water flows down the Blue Nile each year. Not much of a compromise here!