HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University
HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University
HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University
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To sum up, Ethiopia and Kenya established common border development commission and<br />
they met regularly whenever urgent issues arise. Trans-boundary conflicts are seen<br />
occasionally in the common borders of the two countries. They are working hand-in-hand<br />
with the local communities in collaboration with IGAD to solve sporadic conflicts in their<br />
common borders in particular and the region at large.<br />
5.5. Issue of Trans-boundary Resources<br />
Ethiopia shares cross border resources with its neighboring countries. One of which is water<br />
resource. Ethiopia has many cross border rivers flowing in many directions to its neighboring<br />
states such as River Nile, which is the longest river in the world flowing to Sudan and Egypt;<br />
River Tekeze flows to Sudan and Omo to Turkana. Ethiopian history has showed us that it<br />
has passed through several wars. Accordingly, it devoted resources to execute wars<br />
maintaining its sovereignty. The country was not able to utilize its untapped large water<br />
resources for many years. As Ethiopia recovered from lingering civil wars, it turns its face to<br />
development in many sectors. It is currently hoped that its rivers will play a pivotal role in its<br />
endeavors of bringing sustainable development in the country. One of the Rivers that<br />
Ethiopia is using for Hydro electric power generation is the OMO/Gibe River on which<br />
Ethiopia has already built Gilgel Gibe I, II and Gilgel Gibe III is under construction. Gilgel<br />
Gibe I and II are generating power and reducing the shortage of electric power in the country.<br />
The Ethiopian government also envisaged six sugar factories in the south Omo area by using<br />
the Omo River (Mutia, 2009:27-28). 19<br />
Ethiopia and Kenya have not endorsed binding legal framework concerning their trans-<br />
boundary resources, River Omo. However, the 1970 treaty between the imperial government<br />
of Ethiopia and Kenyan government in the Namornputh area allowed Ethiopia to use the<br />
Omo River in its territory, though Kenyans deserved a right to use the same river in a<br />
condition that they respect the rules of the land (Abebe, 2010: 53-54). The military regime,<br />
Derg, also signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenya government in 1979, which<br />
stated that the two countries jointly study the development of their cross-border water<br />
19 Interview with Teshome Shumbe an officer in MoFA,Neighbouring countries Department on<br />
December,2010.<br />
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