South Sudan backs Ethiopia’s Nile dam
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By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
June 14, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Governments of South Sudan has
voiced support to a Ethiopia’s controversial Nile Dam project which
the country is building along the Nile river, while Addis Ababa
minimised Egyptian statements about war against Ethiopia.
South Sudanese chief negotiator expressed Thursday his country’s
position on the construction of the Giant power plant being built some
30-40 Kilometers from Sudan border.
Speaking to Reporters in Addis Ababa, Pagan Amum, said Ethiopia dam
project will benefit not only to Ethiopia but also to the current and
future generations of Sudan and Egypt.
Ethiopia is currently exporting hydropower processes cheap Electricity
to Djibouti and Sudan.
"Ethiopia has the right to use the Nile water in terms of generation
of electricity, in terms of irrigation, and the way we see this
development is that it is not affecting the interest of Sudan or
Egypt", Amum said.
Newly independent South Sudan which recently became a new member to
Nile basin countries has called on Egypt and Ethiopia to cooperate and
engage in a dialogue to resolve Nile water Dispute.
After Ethiopia recently diverted the course of the Nile River,
Egyptian politicians are suggesting sabotage including military action
and supporting local rebels to destroy the Dam project.
Ethiopia’s communication Minister, Bereket Simon, said Friday that the
threats from Egypt are only psychological feud that aimed to divert
the Egyptians away from their internal political instability.
Simon Down played a potential of war with Egypt over Nile.
“Egypt doesn’t have firm and justified reason to go to war with
Ethiopia” he said adding “even if they have the willing the question
is do they have the capacity?’’
Bereket further stressed that military action will never solve
disputes over Nile.
Last Wednesday Ugandan President Museveni in a national address at the
parliament backed the construction of the Dam saying that African
nations need such a hydro power plant to spur their economies and to
generate clean energy as well as to curb deforestation practices aimed
for fuel.
Museveni further warned Egypt to restrain from what he said was “the
chauvinistic statements” coming out of Cairo in connection with
Ethiopia’s $ 4.8 billion mega hydropower project which the north
African nation fears could diminish its annual water share from Nile
River.
"I have seen statements in the media coming out of the government of
Egypt about the commendable work of Ethiopia. What Ethiopia is doing
is what governments in Africa should do," he said.
Khartoum dissociated itself from Egypt and supported the Dam
construction saying the three countries should work together to
resolve minors problems mentioned in a report prepared by
international experts including Egypt and Sudan.
ETHIOPIA RATIFIES NILE PACT
Ethiopia’s 547-member parliament on Thursday unanimously endorsed the
new Nile River Cooperative Framework Agreement, making the horn of
Africa’s nation the first country to ratify the agreement reached in
Uganda in 2010.
The move comes after days of fierce verbal exchanges between Cairo and
Addis Ababa that escalated tensions rising fears to a possible
military confrontation.
The Entebbe agreement which was signed by four Nile basins aims to
reverse a colonial-era agreement that has granted Sudan and Egypt
lions share to the Rivers water resources of which over 85 % of it
originate in Ethiopia.
Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi are also signatories to
the Framework Agreement legislatures of the countries are similarly
expected to endorse the cooperative agreement.
At least six riparian countries have to ratify the agreement to
overthrow the colonial era treaty Ethiopia-led other riparian
countries argue that it has abandoned their right to equitable
utilization of the water resources.
South Sudan has in the past announced plans to sign the cooperative
framework agreement.
(ST)
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