The Nile and the Dream of Co-operation
By:Nabil Osman.
Chairman
State Information Service
The Nile is Egypt's lifeline; it stands indeed an inseverable link between Egyptians and other African peoples, particularly in the so-called indigo countries through which it runs. With the fact in mind that the Nile brings us a lot of good, and that we should protect it like it has long protected us, we have devoted considerable space in this our Spring Issue of African Perspective to discuss Nile-specific problems.
Although past predictions for Africa put it at the top of potential world cereal suppliers, the continent's situation now seems very depressing. Draught and desertification have sucked it dry; food shortages are as common an appearance as water crisis are expected to be in the near future. For water conflicts in 21st century are likely to replace oil conflicts in the 20th century. It is important, therefore, since the water interests in one African country may conflict with those of anther, that co-operation be prioritised in order to achieve the greatest benefit.
In the present issue of our quarterly magazine, we include two studies analysing Nile water problems. In the first study, we expound the legal framework governing Egypt's relations with the Nile. Here a review of all Nile-relevant agreements is given. The oft-raised question of quota is also addressed. The fact that, of all the quotas of Nile-basin countries, Egypt has the largest should be considered within the context of the May 1997 UN agreement on the common use of international waterways which provides that fair shares do not by necessity mean equal shares. A country's economic and social needs; its population; and the availability of other water sources it can resort to should be taken in account in the process of quota-setting. In the second study, Nile water relations between Egypt and the Sudan are dealt with and special attention is given to the two countries' differences over quotas.
Egypt seeks not only to establish co-operation but also to achieve some sort of integration with African countries. Cairo's African policies are not one-track. Nor is it concerned only with a single issue, namely that of the Nile. There are other problems that equally require its attention. The dumping of nuclear and chemical waste in Africa is on the top of Egypt's list of priority issues. Egypt perceives it both unreasonable and unfair that while the West should enjoy the fruit of an industrial and technology progress, the poor and developing nations should taste only the bitterness of these advances. Nor does it stand to reason, that Egypt having addressed such major issues as the elimination of nuclear weapons and mines in Africa, it should fail to deal with an issue of grave consequences, namely Western attempts at turning Africa into a nuclear waste dump for the advanced world.
Africa's dream, then, must be to achieve co-operation not only as regards the question of Nile waters but also in respect of all other issues. Our dream should be for the advancement of the entire continent not just individual states, which once advanced would stand like isolated islands unable to communicate with their neighbours.
The Spring Issue also features other studies by numerous African writers. A review of the book The Government and the Policy by Okwudiba Nouli is also included deals Africa's one-party, and military regimes and the struggle for a new political order.
