![South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit (left) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed [Photos via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-design-1-1.png?quality=80&ssl=1)
JUBA – The Ethiopian government is appealing to the government of South Sudan to sign the 2010 Nile Basin agreement that is opposed by Egypt and neighboring Sudan in order for the world’s youngest country to secure its equitable share of the Nile water and to guarantee its future developmental needs of the river.
What began as Nile basin initiative in 1999 was signed in 2010 by Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda with exception of Egypt and Sudan who immediately registered their opposition.
Also known as Entebbe agreement, the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) aims to enhance cooperation on the use of the “common Nile Basin water resources.”
Speaking in an interview with the Juba-based Eye Radio on Thursday, Ethiopia’s deputy head of mission to South Sudan, Zelalem Birhan Alemu, said South Sudan needs to sign the agreement for it to ensure that its share of the Nile river are protected.
“We are calling South Sudanese and the officials here to ratify that agreement so that future problem will be averted, and South Sudan needs to have it equitable share within it,” the Ethiopian diplomat said.
“Now economically we are disadvantaged; we don’t have the possibility to build a mega project but when time and opportunity permit, every country would want to use its natural resources,” Birhan stated.
Really does South Sudan have experts in such sensitive field to negotiate for their rights over Nile water shares? I doubt. But Ethiopia have reminded South Sudan politicians to negotiate for their rights in order not to fall into the same scenario Ethiopia had when Nile water agreement was signed in 1929 without them. Now the whole world has witnessed what is going on between the three countries over Nile waters shares.
May God help our us heed this wisdom and claim our God-given right. It’s so sad someone has to come and remind us of our duty! Look, how many years ago is 1999 when Burundi all the way to Ethiopia did their homework and we are still in default? Oh yes, someone may say, all the water in your country is mine and therefore you can’t touch it or else … the real issue is that making development using the Nile isn’t a priority anyway, making violence and corruption is? Sad! God, please come help South Sudan in Jesus’ name!