South Sudan is set to ratify an agreement for the equitable use of the Nile waters that substitutes the old colonial arrangement.
National Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Paul Mayom Akec made the announcement on Tuesday, two days before he assumes the leadership of the Nile Council of Ministers within the Nile Basin Initiative or NBI for one year.He said South Sudan is going to sign and ratify the Cooperative Framework Agreement or CFA also known as the Entebbe Agreement and the process has already started.
Mr Mayom appealed to Egypt and Sudan to be full NBI members to have a stronger influence within the Nile riparian states.
He said dialogue is the way forward to solve differences, not absenteeism.
Mr Mayom said Ethiopia was entitled to build the Grand Renaissance Dam, in the Blue Nile.
He called the dam a “legitimate development opportunity” if it does not reduce the volume of water Egypt needs.
Juba hosts on Thursday the regular annual meeting for the Nile Council of Ministers in charge of water affairs in NBI countries known as Nile-COM.
Mr Mayom said the ministers have the status of the Nile cooperation in their agenda. They will review progress made in the NBI and approve the work plan and budget for the new fiscal year and a number of strategy and policy documents.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit will open the Nile-COM meeting.
NBI countries include Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea was invited as observer.