Egypt's share of Nile waters will not be threatened by a breakup between northern and southern Sudan, said Egypt's Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Mohamed Nasr Eddin Allam. At a conference on Monday, Allam said the real issue is about the distribution of Sudan's share of water between north and south, a issue separate to the one concerning Egypt's water share. Allam urged Egyptian and Sudanese governments to coordinate a suitable response to the results of the Sudanese referendum and the likely independence of South Sudan. Egypt had previously expressed fears that southern secession would affect its current share of 51 billion cubic meters of water annually. Under a 1959 Nile Water Agreement with Sudan, Egypt receives the lion's share of Nile waters. Sudan, the next largest recipient, claims 18 billion cubic meters. Egypt says all Nile basin countries must approve any initiatives involving the Nile to ensure that its shares remain unaffected in accordance with 1929 and 1959 international agreements.
