Nile Basin countries sign water-sharing accord despite objections from Egypt and Sudan

A group representing ten countries along the Nile River basin has formalized an agreement to share the Nile’s water resources, even as Egypt and Sudan stand in opposition, according to the Associated Press.

“This agreement reflects our collective commitment to harnessing the Nile for the common good, ensuring its fair and sustainable use for future generations,” the Nile Basin Initiative said in a statement.

The legal standing of the agreement was reportedly affirmed by the African Union (AU) following South Sudan’s accession to the treaty.

Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania have ratified the accord. Egypt and Sudan have declined to sign. Congo abstained. Kenya has yet to submit its ratification documents to the AU.

Egypt, a former British colony, has long claimed preferential rights to the Nile's waters based on a 1929 treaty with Britain. That agreement favored Egypt and Sudan while excluding other nations along the river. Many of these countries have since demanded a more equitable distribution of the Nile's resources.

Tensions over water access have been simmering between Egypt and Ethiopia for years, particularly after Ethiopia built a $4 billion hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile, a critical tributary of the world’s longest river. Ethiopia insists the dam is crucial for generating electricity, while Egypt views it as an existential threat, fearing it will jeopardize the downstream water needed for irrigation and drinking.

As climate change accelerates desertification across Africa, the regional struggle over water resources is expected to intensify.