HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University

with other upper riparian states of the Nile namely Burundi, Congo democratic republic,
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda by participating in Nile Basin Initiative. However, the
hydro political tension in the Nile Basin has tremendous sources “1. Down stream insecurity
versus up stream actions, 2. Lack of legal institutional framework, 3. Unilateral development
of water resources, 4. Latent military threats and 5. The Afro-Arab divide.” Standing among
such complicated issues, Ethiopia is trying to be part of legal institutional framework that can
provide a win- win solution for all stakeholders (Yacob, 2007: 69-220). Ethiopia’s active role
in Nile Basin initiative seems to bring beneficial outcomes; its patience for a decade gathered
the other up stream states around its objective in establishing legal framework on equitable
use of the Nile waters. The Cooperatives Framework of Agreement (CFA) of May 14 th 2010
is great achievement for the entire up stream states that and they could use the badly needed
fresh water for reversing poverty in their respective countries (Solomon, 2010).
The CFA which is signed by Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda is
opened to a signature for year duration seems to bring the like minded states of the East and
Horn of Africa to the same position. Here the contribution of the Kenya government is
crucial. Kenya is member of EAC (East African Community) and its influence on the East
African states is considerable. Further more, the Ethio-Kenyan smooth relations have used as
an input for holding the same position on the issue. Kenya is also playing a constructive role
to convince Egypt and Sudan to sign the CFA. After the signing of CFA by majority of the
up stream countries, Egypt and Sudan call for another alternative. However, the rest of
member states hold firm position (reject the demand of down stream states). So Kenyan
government officials went to Egypt and Sudan and pushing the Egyptian and Sudanese
political elites, to sign the agreement and cooperate with the rest of the countries in jointly
developing, protecting the Nile Basin (Solomon, 2010).
In the eyes of many Ethiopians, the Nile waters have been source of enemies like Egypt and
Sudan and the proxy wars of Somalia and Eritrea is in one way or another intimately
interconnected, reaching agreement in the use of the Nile waters is a dual benefit for
Ethiopia. Firstly, Ethiopia contributes 85% of the Nile; hence, whatever sort of logical
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