The nations of North-East Africa continue to vie for the right to use the waters of the Nile. Colonial treaties signed in 1929 and 1959 granted Egypt and Sudan control over the river, leaving the interests of other basin countries overlooked. The situation grew more tense as African nations gained independence and began asserting their claims to this vital artery of the continent.
In 2011, construction began on Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam. Egypt viewed the project as a direct threat to its security. Negotiations among the concerned states helped to prevent escalation, yet tensions remain high. The question now is whether Africa’s nations will ever be able to share the Nile’s waters fairly.
