The Stream – Oromos seek justice in Ethiopia (guests – Fido Ebba, Mohammed Ademo and Jawar Mohammed)
June 25, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
S. Sudan to utilise Nile River for development projects
Email
Print
Save
June 24, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan says it will use the Nile river’s water for development projects, stressing its need to produce green hydroelectricity to reduce reliance on generators.
The minister said that agricultural demand for water is also increasing.
"Hydro power is the most advanced and economically viable resource of renewable energy for South Sudan", he said, further disclosing the country’s plan to build a dam on the White Nile river.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Monday, Akec said the government hopes to finance the dam project through foreign investment.
The dam, according to Akec, will be built in the Fulla-Nimule area of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state and will help create jobs for the local population.
The power generated from the dam, he said, will equally be available to the local people, with additional water to be used for irrigation. The idea, the minister told Sudan Tribune, has been embraced by inhabitants in the area.
Akec, however, stated that the project will not affect the share of the Nile’s water received by Sudan and Egypt, the two downstream countries.
Members of the Nile Basin Initiative recently agreed at a conference held in South Sudan’s capital Juba to work towards the “optimal use of the Nile Water Resources for development projects”.
“It is the right of any country which depends on the Nile’s Water to use it for development projects provided that it does not affect the rights of other users", he said, adding that efforts were underway to reduce poverty and sustainable socio-economic development of the users.
The minister, who currently chairs the Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) further noted that his country “sees no negative impact” by the construction of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, only 30kms from the border with Sudan.
Sudan has accepted the findings of an international panel of experts and so has Egypt but only after senior politicians had encouraged the government to take a hostile stance to the dam project.
Addis Ababa has, however, argued that the dam will not effect the flow of the Blue Nile and will benefit neighbouring countries through exported electricity.
“Ethiopia is a member state of the Nile Basin Initiative. It was one of the members which accepted and seriously stressed on the need to respect the right of the other member states which depend or require the use of Nile Water provided that the usage does not affect the other members. We all agreed to an equitable and reasonable share of water resources”, he said.
Last week, South Sudan was the host of this year’s Nile-COM conference; an annual event held on a rotational basis among Nile Basin Initiative countries.
The conference, Akec said, underlined the importance of cooperation as “equal member states” with equal right to the use of Nile’s water resources for sustainable socioeconomic development. He however said no discussions were made on claims that make other member states feel they have the ultimate right to decide on a share the other member states should get from water.
“There was no resolution which gives another member a veto right to a certain share of water resources. There were only six resolutions from the conference. One of the first resolutions was the cooperation between the member states to achieve the shared vision of sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilisation of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources", the minister told Sudan Tribune.
Other issues deliberated upon, he further stressed, were the institutional strength of the Nile Basin Initiative as a strong regional institution offering its member states a platform for dialogue, leadership and technical capacity for basin knowledge and planning, and leadership and technical capacity for the identification and preparation for cooperative water resources management and development.
(ST)
>sudantribune
- Minister of water resources and irrigation, Paul Mayom Akec (ST)
The minister said that agricultural demand for water is also increasing.
"Hydro power is the most advanced and economically viable resource of renewable energy for South Sudan", he said, further disclosing the country’s plan to build a dam on the White Nile river.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Monday, Akec said the government hopes to finance the dam project through foreign investment.
The dam, according to Akec, will be built in the Fulla-Nimule area of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state and will help create jobs for the local population.
The power generated from the dam, he said, will equally be available to the local people, with additional water to be used for irrigation. The idea, the minister told Sudan Tribune, has been embraced by inhabitants in the area.
Akec, however, stated that the project will not affect the share of the Nile’s water received by Sudan and Egypt, the two downstream countries.
Members of the Nile Basin Initiative recently agreed at a conference held in South Sudan’s capital Juba to work towards the “optimal use of the Nile Water Resources for development projects”.
“It is the right of any country which depends on the Nile’s Water to use it for development projects provided that it does not affect the rights of other users", he said, adding that efforts were underway to reduce poverty and sustainable socio-economic development of the users.
The minister, who currently chairs the Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) further noted that his country “sees no negative impact” by the construction of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, only 30kms from the border with Sudan.
Sudan has accepted the findings of an international panel of experts and so has Egypt but only after senior politicians had encouraged the government to take a hostile stance to the dam project.
Addis Ababa has, however, argued that the dam will not effect the flow of the Blue Nile and will benefit neighbouring countries through exported electricity.
“Ethiopia is a member state of the Nile Basin Initiative. It was one of the members which accepted and seriously stressed on the need to respect the right of the other member states which depend or require the use of Nile Water provided that the usage does not affect the other members. We all agreed to an equitable and reasonable share of water resources”, he said.
Last week, South Sudan was the host of this year’s Nile-COM conference; an annual event held on a rotational basis among Nile Basin Initiative countries.
The conference, Akec said, underlined the importance of cooperation as “equal member states” with equal right to the use of Nile’s water resources for sustainable socioeconomic development. He however said no discussions were made on claims that make other member states feel they have the ultimate right to decide on a share the other member states should get from water.
“There was no resolution which gives another member a veto right to a certain share of water resources. There were only six resolutions from the conference. One of the first resolutions was the cooperation between the member states to achieve the shared vision of sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilisation of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources", the minister told Sudan Tribune.
Other issues deliberated upon, he further stressed, were the institutional strength of the Nile Basin Initiative as a strong regional institution offering its member states a platform for dialogue, leadership and technical capacity for basin knowledge and planning, and leadership and technical capacity for the identification and preparation for cooperative water resources management and development.
(ST)
>sudantribune
Oromos seek justice in Ethiopia
Ethiopians belonging to the Oromia ethnic pray for the souls of 63 young Oromo men who died at sea while trying to cross illegally from Libya to Italian Lampedusa island the week before, at the UAE (United Arab Emirates) Red Crescent refugee camp near the border crossing with Libya at Ras Jdir, Tunisia, 15 April 2011. EPA/AMEL PAIN
On Tuesday, June 25 at 19:30GMT:
The Oromo people make up about 40 per cent of Ethiopia’s population, yet face widespread discrimination and have long been targeted by the government. So what should be done to stop the marginalisation of the Oromos and end Ethiopia’s internal ethnic divide?
Read more:
The Oromo and the Ethiopian State: Identity, marginalization and diaspora blues - This Is Africa
Oromo political prisoners - OPride
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below or record a 30-second videoresponse.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Sudan & South Sudan diplomats voice support to Ethiopia dam
June 23, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – Diplomats from Sudan and South Sudan have expressed their support for Ethiopia’s controversial Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile river just 30km from the Sudanese border.
The diplomats made the remarks after a group of Ambassadors from member states of the Nile Basin Initiative over the weekend paid a visit to the construction site of the controversial Ethiopian power plant.
After Ethiopia diverted the flow of the Blue Nile as part of a procedure to build the massive $4.8 billion hydro-electric dam, serious concerns have been raised from Egypt, who has veto rights over all upstream projects under a colonial era treaty.
In recent weeks Cairo and Addis Ababa have engaged in a fierce verbal confrontation.
However the foreign ministers of the two countries earlier this week met in Addis Ababa to cool tensions, with the two sides agreeing to start further negotiations and consultations, along with Sudan, at political and technical levels.
After Saturday’s visit to the construction site, the Sudanese ambassador reiterated his country’s full support to the project, emphasising that countries in the region will benefit from the electricity produced by the dam.
Sudan has accepted the final findings by the international panel of experts which has studied the impact of the dam for downstream countries and has affirmed to send experts and technicians to help the construction.
South Sudanese Ambassador, Arop Kuol Deng, commended the dam, saying it was as well a regional project that has the potential to change the lives of Africans.
“This is a victory for our region, Ethiopia and all of Africa. I want to appreciate those people who conceived and implemented the project” he said.
Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Idris, echoed the foreign minister’s remarks made in a meeting Tuesday with his Ethiopian counterpart.
“I want to tell my Ethiopian brothers and sisters that we Egyptians are beside the development of Ethiopia” Idris said, adding: “We Egyptians will support every project that is based on common benefit.”
Kenyan and Ugandan Ambassadors were also among those who visited the site with Ethiopian officials.
Speaking to local media, the diplomats said they have witnessed that the diversion of the Blue Nile River has had no impact on the flow of the water to lower riparian countries.
(ST)
>sudantribune
The diplomats made the remarks after a group of Ambassadors from member states of the Nile Basin Initiative over the weekend paid a visit to the construction site of the controversial Ethiopian power plant.
After Ethiopia diverted the flow of the Blue Nile as part of a procedure to build the massive $4.8 billion hydro-electric dam, serious concerns have been raised from Egypt, who has veto rights over all upstream projects under a colonial era treaty.
In recent weeks Cairo and Addis Ababa have engaged in a fierce verbal confrontation.
However the foreign ministers of the two countries earlier this week met in Addis Ababa to cool tensions, with the two sides agreeing to start further negotiations and consultations, along with Sudan, at political and technical levels.
After Saturday’s visit to the construction site, the Sudanese ambassador reiterated his country’s full support to the project, emphasising that countries in the region will benefit from the electricity produced by the dam.
Sudan has accepted the final findings by the international panel of experts which has studied the impact of the dam for downstream countries and has affirmed to send experts and technicians to help the construction.
South Sudanese Ambassador, Arop Kuol Deng, commended the dam, saying it was as well a regional project that has the potential to change the lives of Africans.
“This is a victory for our region, Ethiopia and all of Africa. I want to appreciate those people who conceived and implemented the project” he said.
Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Idris, echoed the foreign minister’s remarks made in a meeting Tuesday with his Ethiopian counterpart.
“I want to tell my Ethiopian brothers and sisters that we Egyptians are beside the development of Ethiopia” Idris said, adding: “We Egyptians will support every project that is based on common benefit.”
Kenyan and Ugandan Ambassadors were also among those who visited the site with Ethiopian officials.
Speaking to local media, the diplomats said they have witnessed that the diversion of the Blue Nile River has had no impact on the flow of the water to lower riparian countries.
(ST)
>sudantribune
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Nile Basin nations call for stronger relations
Email
Print
Save
June 22, 2013 (JUBA) – Members of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) have been urged to deepen cooperation among them to enable inhabitants of the River Nile basin enjoy its tangible benefits.
The meeting, among others, addressed strategic issues to advance the Nile cooperation as well as operational business issues within NBI countries.
The conference, Nile-COM chairperson in a statement, resolved that cooperation is the only way forward to achieve the shared vision of sustainable socio-economic development, through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources.
“The Nile is one of the world’s great assets and its sustainable management and development is essential if the countries of the Nile Basin are to continue to reduce poverty and to gain economic prosperity”, Paul Mayom Akec said in a statement.
Nile-COM, Akec further noted, applauded Sudan’s resumption in the full participation of NBI activities, after its suspended last year over differences with other countries on the Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA).
“Nile-COM members call upon the Arab Republic of Egypt to follow the example of Sudan and return to the cooperation platform for Nile issues, the Nile Basin Initiative that it has contributed to building”, the statement reads in part.
Akec, also South Sudan’s minister for water and irrigation, pledged to strengthen the Nile cooperation and work towards member states’ continued support to NBI, which he described as the only viable mechanism for equitable resource utilisation.
The one-day conference, among others, discussed institutional strengths of NBI countries, investment financing, transboundary water resources analysis, donor partnerships and NBI business activities.
Meanwhile, Sudan has been earmarked as host of the next Nile-COM meeting, expected to place, mid-next year.
Established in 1999, NBI serves as a forum through which member states seek to develop the River Nile in a cooperative manner, share substantial socio-economic benefits and promote regional peace and security.
(ST)
>sudantribune
- Minister of water resources and irrigation, Paul Mayom Akec (ST)
The meeting, among others, addressed strategic issues to advance the Nile cooperation as well as operational business issues within NBI countries.
The conference, Nile-COM chairperson in a statement, resolved that cooperation is the only way forward to achieve the shared vision of sustainable socio-economic development, through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources.
“The Nile is one of the world’s great assets and its sustainable management and development is essential if the countries of the Nile Basin are to continue to reduce poverty and to gain economic prosperity”, Paul Mayom Akec said in a statement.
Nile-COM, Akec further noted, applauded Sudan’s resumption in the full participation of NBI activities, after its suspended last year over differences with other countries on the Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA).
“Nile-COM members call upon the Arab Republic of Egypt to follow the example of Sudan and return to the cooperation platform for Nile issues, the Nile Basin Initiative that it has contributed to building”, the statement reads in part.
Akec, also South Sudan’s minister for water and irrigation, pledged to strengthen the Nile cooperation and work towards member states’ continued support to NBI, which he described as the only viable mechanism for equitable resource utilisation.
The one-day conference, among others, discussed institutional strengths of NBI countries, investment financing, transboundary water resources analysis, donor partnerships and NBI business activities.
Meanwhile, Sudan has been earmarked as host of the next Nile-COM meeting, expected to place, mid-next year.
Established in 1999, NBI serves as a forum through which member states seek to develop the River Nile in a cooperative manner, share substantial socio-economic benefits and promote regional peace and security.
(ST)
>sudantribune
Possible collapse of Ethiopia dam may threaten cities along Nile – expert
A woman rows her boat on the Egyptian Nile River in Cairo June 13, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
June 22, 2013, Cairo (Aswat Masriya) – Ethiopia’s dam is completely made of concrete, which decreases its safety factors and raises the potential for its collapse, a water resources expert has said.
The Nile River is an international river and is registered at the World Bank, therefore Ethiopia has no right to build dams on the river with Egypt’s and Sudan’s consent, a water resources professor at Cairo University said.
Ethiopia wants to assert its right to build dams along the Blue Nile without referring to Egypt and Sudan, professor Nader Nour al-Din told the Kuwait News Agency.
Unlike Egypt’s earth-rock dam, Ethiopia’s concrete dam will annihilate the Sudanese city of Khartoum in case of its collapse.
A collapse will bury all cities north of Khartoum under nine metres of water, Nour al-Din said.
The collapse of the Ethipian dam may cause Egypt’s dam to collapse as well if water levels the lake behind the dam are high.
If our dam collapses, all Egyptian governorates north of it until the Giza governorate will be submerged.
This dam must not be built, Nour al-Din said.
Nour al-Din warned against the outcome of Ethiopia’s dam in case it collapses, adding that Ethiopia will not be affected but that the results will be catastrophic for Egypt and Sudan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)