Al Nahda Dam and Its Impact on Egypt

There is a saying by Herodotus known to Egyptians that the Nile is the gift to Egypt.

Without the Nile, Egypt cannot survive.

Dr. Noor el Din, an Egyptian water expert pointed out that Egypt need at least 93,000 cu.m  of water per year. The water available to Egypt presently is 62,000 cu.m. to use per year ( Sada el Watan, 11/14/2017).

During the past three years, the water ministers of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt met to discuss issues related to the constructions of the Al Nahd Dam in Ethiopia and its impact on Sudan and Egypt.

They discussed the technicality of such project and its impact on the countries involved. Actually, the French company that is conducting a research on the impact of the Dam on the different countries, asked for clarification about the 1959 International Agreement that guarantee Egypt 55,000 cu.m. of water per year, and if it should continue to conduct such research or stop it.

Both Ethiopia and the Sudan water ministers said it should not include the International Agreement in their research! While Egypt’s minister insisted such research should be maintained and the International Agreement should be included.

There was no consensus and the meeting ended with no decision taken.

The policy among the three countries involved has been influenced by an outside force and secret polical agreements.

For example, the Ethiopian government offered free electrical power generated by the Dam to the Sudanese government in return for their support for the construction of the Dam.

It is known that the Sudanese president is member of the Muslim Brotherhood and does not support the Egyptian government.

Qatari government has been playing a negative role towards Egypt, along with Sudan and Ethiopia.

Furthermore, prince Tamim’s mother Sheikha Moza visited Sudan to support its president granted him one billion dollars to promote tourism in Sudan. She publicly stated that there are more historical antiquities in Sudan than in Egypt!!!

The Ethiopian prime minister was in Qatar recently to request a financial loan to continue the construction of the Dam. The loan was granted.

The technical and political consequences of the Dam’s construction is getting to be quite complicated.

The Egyptian government is in a strong legal position based on international law.

The issue should be taken to the International Court of Justice. Meanwhile, Ethiopia continues the building of the Al Nahda Dam and may be Egypt will have to face reality and  accept what the Ethiopian government proposes.