Egypt - Ethiopia Tensions Rise Over River Nile Treaty

Ethiopia Ratifies River Nile Treaty Amid Egypt Tension -- BBC

Ethiopia's parliament has ratified a treaty intended to replace colonial-era agreements that gave Egypt and Sudan the biggest share of the Nile's water.

The move comes amid growing tensions with Egypt over Ethiopia's plans for a hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said on Monday he did not want war but would not allow Egypt's water supply to be endangered.

He said that he was keeping "all options open".

Cairo is worried that the dam will reduce the water supply vital for its 84 million people.

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More News On Rising tensions between Egypt And Ethiopia Over Nile River Dam Developments

Ethiopia ratifies Nile treaty in snub to Egypt -- Reuters
Ethiopia endorses Nile share deal, amid Egypt row -- AFP
Ethiopia Ratifies Controversial Nile Accord -- Voice of America
Egypt’s PM under fire over Ethiopian Dam -- Gulf News
Egypt says dam dispute with Ethiopia not yet a military one -- Ahram Online/Reuters
Egyptian army says ‘too early’ to intervene in dam crisis -- Al Arabiya
Egyptian anger grows over Suez Canal development plan -- Reuters
How Egypt Might Try To Stop Ethiopia's Dam Project -- Forbes/Stratfor

Egypt Warns Ethiopia That All Options Are On the Table Over Blue Nile Dam Project

Egyptians Furious About Planned Ethiopia Dam -- Voice of America

CAIRO — Egyptians are becoming increasingly concerned about Ethiopia's plans to build a massive dam that would mean less water in the Nile river for several years.

Cairo boat captain Adel Gamal ferries goods and people across the Nile. On a run from the banks of the nation's capital to a small island in the middle, he described what the waters mean to him. He called the Nile the source of life. But he, like many Egyptians recently, worry this life source is under threat.

Far upstream, on the main tributary, the Blue Nile, Ethiopia has begun diverting waters to build the massive Grand Renaissance dam. As the reservoir fills in the next few years, water levels downstream will drop.

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More News On Egyptian Protests Against Ethiopia's Blue Nile Dam Project

Egypt’s PM says Ethiopian Nile dam “act of defiance,” vows Egypt will not cede a drop of water -- Washington Post/AP
Egypt "war" talk raises Ethiopia Nile dam stakes -- Reuters
Egyptian warning over Ethiopia Nile dam -- BBC
Egypt Warns All Options Open for Ethiopia Nile Dam -- AP
Egypt Warns Ethiopia Over Blue Nile Dam Project -- RTT
Egypt's PM underscores Nile water supply as national security -- Xinhuanet
Egypt's Nile crisis and the Dam Busters -- UPI
Mursi’s Ethiopia Dam Stance Draws Fire From Egypt’s Opposition -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Egypt And Sudan Are Concerned That Ethiopia's Dam Projects Will Affect The Nile River's Water Flow

Ethiopia Diverts Blue Nile For Controversial Dam Build -- BBC

Ethiopia has started diverting a stretch of the Blue Nile to make way for a $4.7bn (£3.1bn) hydroelectric dam that has caused a dispute with countries downstream, state media say.

The Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is currently under construction, is part of a $12bn (£8bn) investment project to boost power exports.

The Blue Nile is one of two major tributaries of the Nile - one of the world's longest rivers.

Egypt and Sudan object to the dam.

They say it violates a colonial-era agreement, which gives them rights to 90% of the Nile's water.

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More News On Egyptian And Sudanese Concerns On Ethiopia's Dam Projects

Ethiopia diverts flow of Blue Nile -- Al Jazeera
Ethiopia diverts flow of Blue Nile to build dam; Nile-dependent Egypt says it’s not impacted -- Washington Post/AP
Ethiopia Begins Diverting Flow of Blue Nile For Dam Construction -- Voice of America
Egypt summons Ethiopian ambassador over Blue Nile move -- Ahram Online
Egypt Fears Diversion of Nile Waters for a New Dam -- Voice of America
Cairo and Khartoum in talks on Ethiopia Nile diversion -- Al Arabiya
Sudan denies calling for Arab League intervention in Nile dam crisis -- Ahram Online
Ethiopia to Accommodate Nations Concerned by Dam on Nile -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Officials, experts differ on impact of Ethiopia dam move on Egypt -- Ahram Online

My Comment: If the Nile is impacted (contrary to Ethiopian promises) .... expect Egypt (and Sudan) to raise the stakes in what could become an environmental disaster and the potential for war.

Egypt Is Prepared To Go To War Against Ethiopia Over The Nile

STRATFOR: Egypt Is Prepared To Bomb All Of Ethiopia's Nile Dams -- Buisness Insider

In 2010 Egypt discussed taking military action in cooperation with Sudan against Ethiopia to protect their stake in Nile River, according to internal emails from the U.S. private-security firm Stratfor.

Egypt and Sudan currently receive 90 percent of the river’s water under colonial-era accords while upstream countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia have been clamoring for a new deal during more than a decade of talks.

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My Comment: Water has always been the life blood of empires and nations. But while Ethiopia's water projects can change the country for the good .... unfortunately ... Egypt and the Sudan will wage war over these resources.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Warns Of War Over Control Of The River Nile

Image from Elias Kifle

Ethiopia PM Warns Of Nile War -- Al Jazeera

Meles Zenawi said Egypt could not win a war over the Nile river, and accuses Cairo of supporting his country's rebels.

Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian prime minister, has told Reuters that Egypt could not win a war with Ethiopia over the Nile river.

In an interview on Tuesday, Meles also accused Egypt of trying to destabilise his country by supporting several small rebel groups, but said it was a tactic that would no longer work.

"If we address the issues around which the rebel groups are mobilised then we can neutralise them and therefore make it impossible for the Egyptians to fish in troubled waters because there won't be any," he said.

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More News On Concerns of A War Over The River Nile

INTERVIEW-Ethiopian PM warns Egypt off Nile war -- Reuters
Egypt says "amazed" by Ethiopia's Nile remarks -- Reuters
No war on the Nile just yet -- Bikyamasr
Egypt says war is not option for Nile waters -- Tsehainy
FACTBOX-Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi -- Reuters

My Comment: With population growth surpassing what the present Nile water treaty can provide .... Ethiopia is positioning itself to get a greater allotment of water from the Nile in future discussions..