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THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE CURRENT “GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM (GERD)”: WILL IT BE A SOURCE OF COOPERATION OR DISPUTE? [Abstract ID: 1211-10]
Who owns the Nile’s water? Egypt and Sudan claim to have the law on their side by going back to colonial times' treaties. On the other side, the nine riparian countries including Ethiopia in the Nile Basin (established in 1999), have been negotiating for a decade on how best to share and protect the River Nile without Egypt’s agreement. Ethiopia claims 86% of the water reaching Egypt comes from the Blue Nile which originates in Ethiopia. On the Blue Nile, Ethiopia is using its sovereignty and mobilizing its domestic resources, and has started constructing The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD) since May 2013 G. C., located in its territory about 40 kilometers from the border with Sudan. This mega dam and multi billion Euro project will create a reservoir of 65 billion cubic meters and generate 6450 megawatts of hydro electricity. So far 60% of the project is completed. However, Egypt has feared the GERD would decrease its water supply and is raising concerns with Ethiopia over this. This paper will explore and try to answer questions like what does the UN International Water Courses Convention say? Is there any grey area to negotiate through diplomacy and international relations to avoid any conflict; or will Egypt go to a military confrontation with Ethiopia?