HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University

a cease-fire between the Sudan government and the SPLM/A. South Sudan held referendum
and decided to establish a new state. This achievement is partly the role of Ethiopian and
Kenyan government as well as IGAD. Sudan is the largest country in the continent, and
whatever happen in Sudan, it will affect the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Kenya.
After the 1995 Sudanese government involvement in exporting Islamic ideology to the
region, the relations of neighboring countries with Khartoum strained. When Eritrea and
Ethiopia fought in 1998, the Sudanese government approached Ethiopia and this re-
established peaceful relation of the two countries. Subsequently, Ethiopia played a role in the
Sudanese peace process.
The other opportunity in the security relations of the two countries is their position in the use
of trans- boundary resources. Ethiopia and Kenya share trans-boundary resources and have
agreements on the use of these resources. The River Omo is the largest River that flows to
Lake Turkana. Ethiopia has built Gilgel Gibe I and II and is building Gilgel Gibe III. Despite
oppositions from some Kenyan parliamentarians and NGOS, Ethiopia and Kenya agreed the
building of Gigel Gibe III. When this project is finalized, Ethiopia will export 500MW
electric power to Kenya. This has economic benefit for the peoples of the two countries. The
position of Ethiopia and Kenya in the use of the Nile Waters is the same. They have
denounced the 1959 Agreement between Egypt and Sudan. This position is supported by
other NBI (Nile Basin Initiative) member states. These countries signed CFA (Cooperative
Framework Agreement) in May 14, 2010. They have opened the signature for a year time.
Recently, Ethiopia has started the Grand Millenium Dam that is believed to generate
5,250MW, and the cost of the project is estimated at 80Billion Birr. The Ethiopian
government vowed to finance this project solely by local sources. This success is the result of
the cooperation of Kenya and other NBI member states.
Ethiopia is a landlocked country whose international trade relies on the ports of neighboring
countries. The Djibouti port is the main access for Ethiopia to the international seas. The
dependence of Ethiopia on a single country for its port service has been challenged the
Ethiopian government. Hence, Ethiopia is looking for alternative ports in the rest of
neighboring countries. Port Sudan, Berbera, Moyale ports are considered by the Ethiopian
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