An Egyptian minister said historic rights to Nile waters are a matter of life and death and his country would not compromise on them.
Five Nile upstream countries √ɬê Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda √ɬê this month signed a new agreement on Nile waters sharing to substitute colonial-era arrangements that allowed them to use only six per cent of the river’s flow.The new framework was rejected by Egypt and Sudan.
Burundi and DR Congo are expected to back the new deal too while Eritrea defends Sudan and Egypt’s claims.
With support from seven of the 10 Nile states the new deal could be ratified and backed by the African Union.
Although Moufid Shehab, the Egyptian Minister of Legal Affairs, spoke of death sentences and lifeblood, most observers believe that the current crisis will be resolved by political means.