Cairo is continuing with its scheme of engaging Nile Basin countries which could soon increase in number. Dina Ezzat reports As the 9 January countdown for the scheduled referendum over the separation of south Sudan into an independent country nears, Egypt is becoming more determined to attend to the dispute over Nile water resources ahead of the expected emergence of yet another Nile Basin country. "Once south Sudan becomes independent we will be talking about 10, not nine Nile Basin states and we will have to address the issue of water shares from a new perspective," commented an Egyptian official who asked that his name be withheld. Egypt and Sudan are the two lower stream Nile Basin countries. The upstream countries are Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia -- the major provider of Egypt's share -- Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. With the exception of Burundi and the DRC, the other five upstream states signed a new agreement in May last year to redistribute the Nile water resources in a way that would significantly undermine Egypt's annual share. Egypt and Sudan rejected the agreement and have called on all Nile Basin states to work on a consensual arrangement that would accommodate the previous legally binding agreements on water distribution and the growing demands for development of upstream states. A crucial part of this Egyptian engagement campaign is the high-level and continuous meetings that President Hosni Mubarak is holding with officials of the Nile Basin states. On two consecutive days, Sunday and Monday, Mubarak received the President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete and Second Vice-President of Burundi Gervais Fufyikiri. With both visiting officials, Mubarak examined future cooperation, including the Nile water issue. Egypt has augmented its investments in Nile Basin countries and is working to provide these countries with the know-how on better management of water resources, electricity generation and management and modern irrigation techniques. "We are not ignoring the fact that these countries are pursuing faster track development and we want to help them secure this development, but we are convinced that this could be done without harming Egypt's share of the Nile water." This week, Minister of Electricity Hassan Younis was in Uganda for the launch of a new electricity generation company. Also this week, the prime minister of Ethiopia, who recently threatened a war against Egypt to settle the water dispute, gave the go-ahead to new Egyptian investments in Ethiopia. Meanwhile, Cairo is already discussing future water, electricity and irrigation cooperation with the government of southern Sudan. An official delegation was in Juba this week to try to secure the support of the government of south Sudan to accept a fair share of the original Sudan share without undermining Egypt's rights. The division of Sudan into two countries is likely to bring to the surface many unresolved issues but for Egypt the Nile's water is perhaps the most serious, say Egyptian officials. In a parallel effort, Egypt is working with the donor countries and organisations to support mega projects designed to reduce waste in Nile water resources. "We have a few projects in mind and we are discussing them with the states concerned around the Nile and donor bodies," said an Egyptian official. According to the same official, these projects "which require time, effort and major financing" could increase the share of upstream countries without undermining the share of the lower stream states. Meanwhile, Minister of Water Resources Mohamed Nasreddin is expected to take part in a meeting of Nile Basin countries scheduled to convene on 25 January in Kenya. The meeting is to discuss the implications of the May agreement signed by five upstream states. Present at the meeting will be representatives of the donor countries that will be presented with ideas by the Egyptian delegation on how to maximise the use of Nile water in the interest of all countries.
