Field and river

20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

"Regional and Global Ethiopia - Interconnections and Identities"
1-5 October, 2018

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ETHIO-EGYPT RELATIONS OVER THE HYDRO-POLITICS OF NILE: ASSESSING THE CHALLENGES TO OPTIMAL COOPERATION [Abstract ID: 0602-19]

ENDALCACHEW Bayeh, Ambo University, Ethiopia

The central objective of this study is to examine new developments in the Ethio-Egypt relations over the hydro-politics of Nile and assess the existing challenges to optimal cooperation. To this end, the researcher employed a qualitative methodology and relied on secondary sources of data. Based on the data analyzed, the findings of the study show the starting of a relatively better relation between Ethiopia and Egypt, following the coming into power of president El-Sisi in Egypt. However, the study also outlined the following challenges for optimal cooperation: the still persisting mistrust among Egyptians, the existence of anti-Ethiopia forces and Egypt’s failure to stop the acts of destabilizing Ethiopia, the steadily increasing water demand in the basin states and absolute dependence of Egypt on the Nile, the possibility of using visits by Egyptians for spying purpose, the possibility of buying a time, Egypt’s inherent worry on the development of Ethiopia, Egypt’s unwillingness to adhere to the principles of CFA, unchanged legal frameworks in Egypt, Egypt’s refusal to cooperate in Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), Egypt’s presence in the Horn of Africa, and lack of consistency as to the capacity of the GERD. Thus, this paper concludes that the new friendly approach of El-Sisi may be a new tactic to pursue the old objective. Following this conclusion, the study suggests that there is a need to work hard on the aforementioned core strategic areas by basin states.