SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources - Africa's largest power dam stokes regional tensions

6/11/19: Multiple sources - Africa's largest power dam stokes regional tensions

AFP

Bloomberg, by Nizar Manek

 AFP and Bloomberg’s Nizar Manek provide context on the tensions behind the Nile Dam dispute involving Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt.

 Ethiopia's planned construction of the Grand Renaissance power dam on the Blue Nile is raising tensions with Egypt, which depends on the river for 90% of its water supply.

 Egypt is urging parties to respect a 1959 pact on water allowances, which boosted Egypt’s allocation of Nile flow to 66%, with 22% for Sudan. However, Ethiopia says the pact should be reworked as it belongs to the colonial era.

 In 2010, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement, that allows projects on the river without Cairo's agreement. Egypt and Sudan strongly opposed the move.

 AFP notes that the International Crisis Group warned that the issue raises the risk of violent conflict, although Manek points to Egypt and Ethiopia both dismissing the prospect.