Context: The long-standing dispute has been a cause of concern for international observers who fear that it may increase conflict between the two nations and spill out into other countries in the Horn of Africa.

What is the dispute about?

• The Nile, Africa’s longest river, has been at the center of a decade-long complex dispute involving several countries that are dependent on the river’s waters.
• At the forefront of this dispute is Ethiopia and Egypt, with Sudan having found itself dragged into the issues.
• Spearheaded by Ethiopia, the 145-meter-tall (475-foot-tall) Grand Renaissance Dam hydropower project, when completed, will be Africa’s largest.
• The main waterways of the Nile run through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt, and its drainage basin runs through several countries in East Africa, including Ethiopia, the portion where this dam is being constructed.
• The construction of the dam was initiated in 2011 on the Blue Nile tributary of the river that runs across one part of Ethiopia.
• The Nile is a necessary water source in the region and Egypt has consistently objected to the dam’s construction, saying it will impacts water flow.

Why can the dam cause conflict?

• Given the dam’s location on the Blue Nile tributary, it would potentially allow Ethiopia to gain control of the flow of the river’s waters.
• Egypt lies further downstream and is concerned that Ethiopia’s control over the water could result in lower water levels within its own borders.
• When Ethiopia had announced in 2019 that it planned on generating power using two turbines, Egypt had strongly objected.
• In addition, Egypt proposed a longer timeline for the project over concerns that the water level of the Nile could dramatically drop as the reservoir fills with water in the initial stages.
• Sudan’s location between Egypt up north and Ethiopia down south has caused it to become an inadvertent party to this dispute.
• But that isn’t all; Sudan too is concerned that if Ethiopia were to gain control over the river, it would affect the water levels Sudan receives.

Why does Ethiopia want this dam?

• Ethiopia’s goal is to secure electricity for its population and to sustain and develop its growing manufacturing industry.
• Addis Ababa anticipates that this dam will generate approximately 6,000 megawatts of electricity when it is completed, that can be distributed for the needs of its population and industries.
• Researchers believe that in addition to its domestic requirements, Ethiopia may be hoping to sell surplus electricity to neighbouring nations like Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea and South Sudan, that also suffer from electricity shortages, to generate some revenue.

The Nile river:

• It is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa, and is the longest river in Africa and the disputed longest river in the world.
• Its drainage basin covers eleven countries: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Republic of the Sudan, and Egypt.
• In particular, the Nile is the primary water source of Egypt and Sudan.
• The Nile has two major tributaries – the White Nile and the Blue Nile.

Horn of Africa

• Horn of Africa is the easternmost extension of African land and includes the region that is home to the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, whose cultures have been linked throughout their long history.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ethiopias-dam-on-river-nile-is-triggering-water-conflict-in-east-africa-7133441/

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