(Giles Muhame)
President Yoweri Museveni has sternly warned the Egyptian “government and other groups” against making “chauvinist and irrational statements” in the wake of Ethiopia’s decision to construct a multi-billion dollar electricity dam, Chimp Corps report.
“I have seen in the print media statements coming out of Egypt regarding the commendable work of the Government of Ethiopia of building dams for electricity in that country,” said Museveni.
“This is what the whole of Africa needs to do. That is one reason the economy of Ethiopia has been growing in double digits. It is, therefore, advisable that the new Government of Egypt and some chauvinistic groups inside Egypt should not repeat the mistakes of the past Egyptian Governments,” he added.
Museveni said Africa will not allow Egypt to continue hurting Black Africans, warning “Egypt should not repeat mistakes of past leaders.”
The President was speaking shortly after the reading of the 2013/14 national budget at Kampala Serena Hotel on Thursday evening.
Analysts say Museveni’s statement blew the cover off the simmering tensions between Uganda and Ethiopia on one hand and Egypt on the other.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam, is an under-construction gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia.
It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 40 km (25 mi) east of the border with Sudan. At 6,000 MW and 63 billion cubic meters, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the 13th or 14th largest in the world sharing the spot with Krasnoyarskaya.
The potential impacts of the dam have been the source of regional controversy.
The Government of Egypt, a country which relies heavily on the waters of the Nile, protests the dam and its political leaders have discussed methods to sabotage it, including arming Ethiopian rebels.
“I confirm that all options are open to deal with this subject,” Egypt President Mohammed Morsi told hundreds of his supporters late on Monday.
“If a single drop of the Nile is lost, our blood will be the alternative. We are not warmongers, but we will never allow anyone to threaten our security.”
On June 3, while discussing the International Panel of Experts report with President Mohammad Morsi, Egyptian political leaders suggested methods to destroy the dam, including support for anti-government rebels.
The discussion was televised live without those present at meeting aware.
Ethiopia requested that the Egyptian Ambassador to explain the meeting.
Morsi’s top aide apologized for the “unintended embarrassment” and his cabinet released a statement promoting “good neighborliness, mutual respect and the pursuit of joint interests without either party harming the other.”
An aide to the Ethiopian Prime Minister stated that Egypt is “…entitled to day dreaming” and cited Egypt’s past of trying to destabilize Ethiopia.
Morsi reportedly believes that is better to engage Ethiopia rather than attempt to force them.
However, on 10 June 2013, Morsi said that “all options are open” because “Egypt’s water security cannot be violated at all,” clarifying that he was “not calling for war,” but that he would not allow Egypt’s water supply to be endangered
Egypt and Sudan fear a temporary reduction of water availability due to the filling of the dam and a permanent reduction because of evaporation from the reservoir.
The reservoir volume is about equivalent to the annual flow of the Nile at the Sudanese-Egyptian border (65.5 billion cubic meter). This loss to downstream countries would most likely be spread over several years.
The dam will retain silt. It will thus increase the useful lifetime of dams in Sudan – such as the Roseires Dam, the Sennar Dam and the Merowe Dam – and of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. The beneficial and harmful effects of flood control would affect the Sudanese portion of the Blue Nile, just as it would affect the Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile valley downstream of the dam.
Museveni speaks out
Museveni said leaders of Egypt should not be victims of the “misguided policies of past leaders.”
He further stressed that threat of the Nile is not the construction of dams but the “lack of electricity and underdevelopment in the tropics.”
“The biggest threat to the Nile is continued under-development in the tropics i.e. lack of electricity and lack of industrialization. On account of these two, peasants cut the bio-mass for fuel (firewood – enku) and invade the forests to expand primitive agriculture. Here in Uganda, the peasants destroy 40 billion cubic metres of wood per annum for firewood. They also invade the wetlands (ebisaalu, ebitoogo, entobazi, ebifuunjo, ebisharara) to grow rice,” he noted.
“This interferes with the transpiration that is crucial for rain formation. Our experts have told me that 40 percent of our rain comes from local moisture – meaning from our lakes and wetlands,” said Museveni, adding, “That is why, for instance, West Nile and West Acholi have got more rain than Karamoja being on the same latitude notwithstanding. It is, apparently, on account of the huge wetlands in South Sudan, the forest in Congo and the wetlands in Uganda.”
Ironically, said Museveni, the Egyptians wanted to drain the wetlands in South Sudan through the Jonglei canal.
“It was one of the causes for the people of South Sudan to wage war against Khartoum, which was collaborating with the Egyptian Government’s misguided and dangerous policies of that time,” he added.
Therefore, said Museveni, the threat to the Nile is lack of electricity in the tropics and lack of industrialization thereof.
“Electrification so that people stop using wood fuel and industrialization so that people shift from agriculture to industry and services is the correct way.”
Museveni also pointed to unknown diplomatic efforts aimed at persuading Egypt not to pursue the path of war.
“I have given these views to the past Egyptian Governments and to the present one. Therefore, it is advisable that those chauvinistic statements coming out of Egypt are restrained and through the Nile Valley Organization rational (not emotional and informed statements) discussions take place.”
“No African wants to hurt Egypt; however, Egypt cannot continue to hurt black Africa and the countries of the tropics of Africa,” he concluded his speech.
Ethiopia boasts one of the most advanced and deadliest armies on the continent.
The battle-hardened army derives its unwavering determination to protect its strategic interests right from the late 1980s when it resisted the wave of colonialism that swept Africa.
Responding to Morsi’s threats recently, Ethiopia’s premier, Hailemariam Desalegn, the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam would was “unstoppable.”
“All options include a war. I don’t think they will take that option unless they go mad,” warned Hailemariam, adding, “I urge them to abandon such an unhelpful approach and return to dialogue and discussion.”
Observers say Morsi is fanning anti-Ethiopia sentiments to divert attention from the resistance facing his unpopular domestic policies.
On Thursday evening, news came in that the Ethiopian Parliament had voted unanimously to repeal 1929 Nile water treaty that had granted Egypt the lion’s share of the Nile waters.
East Africa had criticized the treaty as a colonial relic considering that Egypt is guaranteed access to 55.5bn cubic metres of water, out of a total of 84bn cubic metres.
Nile War
Interestingly, a Nile treaty signed by the upper riparian states in 2010, the Cooperative Framework Agreement, has not been signed by either Egypt or Sudan, as they claim it violates the 1959 treaty which gives Sudan and Egypt exclusive rights to the Nile’s waters.
The Nile Basin Initiative provides a framework for dialogue among all Nile riparian countries.
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan established an International Panel of Experts to review and assess the study reports of the dam. The panel consists of 10 members; 6 from the three countries and 4 international in the fields of water resources and hydrologic modelling, dam engineering, socioeconomic, and environmental.
The panel held its fourth meeting in Addis Ababa in November 2012. It reviewed documents about the environmental impact of the dam and visited the dam site.
The panel submitted its preliminary report to the respective governments at the end of May 2013. Although the full report has not been made public, and will not be until it is reviewed by the governments, Egypt and Ethiopia both released details.
The Ethiopian government stated that, according to the report, the dam meets international standards and will be beneficial to Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. According to Egyptian government, the report found that the dimensions and size of the dam should be changed.
At 4,132 miles from its source in Lake Victoria, the Nile is the world’s longest river with its main two tributaries – the White Nile and Blue Nile, flowing from Ethiopia before joining at Sudan’s Capital, Khartoum.
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* Originally published on ChimpReports (Uganda), on June 13, 2013, titled “Museveni Warns Egypt As Nile War Looms“, authored by Giles Muhame.
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please understand the mutual benefit nile water by win win aproach rather than creating evil speech like the un successful presidant mursi
what about ather repair cautrys
what a dynamic leader ,this man is not only speak such talks now but in the 50th yearnversary of africa.he is Mandela type but more heroic and open minded . u were one of the thinking big and u will be. long live Mr president.tell the arrogant leaders of Egypt what a mutual benefit means before they sink their dam by a bunker buster hellfire missile .
sound,and responsible speech!actually the issue is not whom to support it’s rather of food security,electrification,development……
i thought all former colonial treaties on Nile were closed on the 50th anniversary of OAU-AU in Addis last month. otherwise Egyptians seem to be 50 years back than the rest of panafricanist nations .
intelligent president 1000000times president Morsi. African need this kind of leaders. please Learn Morsi from this Golden descrption. Thank you President Yoweri Museveni
”In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silences of our friends” the saying goes. H. E Musseveni has boldly shown his stance against unfairness and mistreatment of his black African brothers- what a friend indeed!!! I hope other countries will also do the same.
Egyptina leaders should also know that dilogue and discussion are the only wayout to sustain Egypts national interests. We are saturated and well adapted with its centurly long tactics of distabilizing Ethiopia. Now, we have the antidote for all their moves. When the whole Africa is talking about continental unity and integration, Egyptian leaders are a way back to clonial era treaties.
Ethiopia have full right to use nile river without affecting neghibour countries.Because Nile is the big resource of Africa specially for Ethiopia.because more than 60% of Nile river is from Ethiopia.Thank you president Museveni,You are really African great leader.
I really appreciate Museveni for his great idea. We Ethiopians are not saying, will will use the water at the expense of Egyptian_ But we believe that we can use it together fairly and equally. But if they choose to go far war, as far as we stand together, nothing can stop us- Thanks to our government, Ethiopia boasts one of the most advanced and deadliest armies on the continent. We can win both the war and the peace. I just advice the Egyptians to think twice before things get worst and regret. They should learn from the mistakes of their forefathers_ they had tried to invade Ethiopia repeatedly but successfully failed. It is impossible for the Egyptians to use naked force so as to address the issue of water_ They should not use Nile so as to divert their internal problems_ totally failed government. Ethiopia Forever_
The government of Egypt and other opposition members should think twice to come back to their mentality. They have to understand what fair and equitable use of natural resources is all about. Well Done Mr. President Museveni. They must be told like that. Other African leaders should also follow your footstep to speak boldly about our common interests. Ethiopia has always full right to use its natural resources without affecting others.
I would like to gratitude and thank President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. He is one of the heroes of black African seen recently in Eastern Africa. He is the man of the the year. I heard his speech two times regarding the African continent development.He stress that Africa should united both politically and economically to tackle the challenges of development and prosperity. Africa would cooperate, prosper and grow together. Majority of the African peoples are still in absolute poverty, illiterate and don’t access to health and sanitation. African should harness and exploit her natural resources for development and pullout millions from poverty. Africa should strength intercontinental trade based on comparative advantage.
The recent hot unnecessary issues provoked by outdated and dictatorial Egyptian president and some Islamist part leaders towards the Nile water development which opt for common goal African development should be condemned by all African leaders to stop evil Egyptian leaders from war intimidation to destabilizing the east African countries.
African Unite………….Viva Museveni!!!!
Well said Mr. President!! Africa should stand together against the stupid Egyptians!!
This is the mark of the beginning of the END for Egyptians unless they pay respect for the African people. Thanks Mr. President. You are a leader with true African spirit.
ኢትዮ – አፖሎጂስት http://www.answeringethiomuslims.wordpress.com
Some reminder to some Ethiopian opposition parties such as Andinet.Opposition parties are good for the devleopment of any country including Ethiopia.Many people respect you but some times you cross the boundaries ethical issues.How on earth you can criticize the Ethiopian govenrment with equal footing with that of Egypt by saying enough diplomatic work was not done regarding the dam.The dam is a PIDA project of the African Union.You people seem to be intellectuals but you are really decaying.If you get the power in Ethiopia by some miracle how are you going to lead it,with such ignornance and opportunistic behaviour.What you should have said is the Dam is good for Ethiopia and Egypt and that both countries should cooperate.Pleae come to your sense and be constructive oppositions.If your target is only the Power ,you will never get and evne if you get by some accident,you can not retain it.You could only contribute in dismantling the country through your wrong and anticonstitutional policies.Do not forget Ethiopia is a country where democracy should be exericised as a must not as some thing because it is good.
Thank you H.E.Mr.Museveni for the correct and timely message to some officials in Cairo who are sprearheaded to harm not only black Africa but also the great people of Egypt.How can Mr.Mursi oppose a regional dam that is agreed by African Union as one of the 13 energy projects under PIDA(Program of Infrastructure Development for Africa) .The AU Infrastructure and Energy is led by a an Egyptian Commissioner.The Egyptian president also knows the report from the IPoE that also included two Egyptian experts.Why try to change the attention of Egyptians to false threat of Nile,where there is only good news for Egypt from the Renaissance Dam.Yes,Mr.Mursi has a political problem .He could not be a president of all people of Egypt.Egyptian people are civilizd people and for sure will not accept outdated fanatic religours leader.Egyptians are belivers of Allah /God,but it does not mean they will be tools of outdated principles.Ethiopia has now ratified the CFA giving the final blow to colonial treaty of 1929 and its subsequent unfair treaty.This will be new era for Egyptian and Ethiopian people where they will cooperate and prosper together.Congratulations the 180 million of Egypt and Ethiopia and congratulations Nile Basin countries.All Nile basin countries need now to ratify the CFA and quickly establish Nile Basin Commision and engage World Bank and others come to play a positive role. For sure,Sudan might join soon .Even Egypt has now option but join at later stage.
We Africans Love you Mr President. You are a true son of Africa.
That is what rational African leaders should speak!!!
Hatts-off to his excellency, President Yoweri Museveni!! If Africa has got 2 or 3 leaders like President Museveni, our continent would have been by far at the top level of development. His message is a timely medicine for Egyptian war mongers who still live in the 18th century mentality. God bless you, honorable President. If Egypt still attempts to make a sucide mission to attack the Ethiopian dam, it will be the beginning of the end and the end of the beginning for the coward but chauvinist Egyptians.
We need to kick bloody arabs from AU! they never thought development of Africa
YOU ARE THE TRUE SON OF AFRICA!!
Real African spirit !!!
Thank you, Mr. President!!!
In old days, Europeans used to say they need African resources and labor for their life-hood. Nowadays in place of old European mentality, Egypt is saying without Africans water their is no life.
Can any one tell me the difference between Colonial power and Egypt demand?
I, for one, think that when we start talking like the leaders of the Egyptians, we become like them. We have to be friendly as well as cautious to the matter and we will continue what is in our heart and mind that is-to take our share of the water which milked our mountains for the best soil in the first place and continue with our work of building the dam. We fear Allah/God only.
Mr. President, Thank you. You are a great African.
Big respect to the great east African leader prezo M7,and if morsi is wise enough he shld listen ur advice, other wise he will be as stupid as his preside, and he will be fucked whn he least expected.no Ethiopians or any other east African nation will swallow this bullshit.
Africa must be free from ,the countries like Egypt who have such evil agenda and who have long and strong range to hurting black African people and countries and OAU.
I am so grateful to this great man of Africa who openly spoke against Egypt’s recent talk of war to maintain its so called ‘historical entitlement’ of river Nile. Truly we are being bullied by them. They tell us to live by agreements that Ethiopia was not part of as she was deliberately dropped from negotiations, especially from the 1929 and 1959 agreements. It is a great sign that entire Africa will join us as we are trying to be heard.
What the hell is wrong wiz Egypt? it seems they js want war thats why we understand
Great speech by H. E. Museveni. It is a wake up call to think as an African and equitable use of resources among African sister countries.
I hope Egypt is not still working on its fraction based Afro-Asian Unity, which Egypt was insisting to establish an Organization consisting of North Aafrican Arab countries with Asia than a member with the remaining black African countries during the establishment of OAU times.
O Egypt Please think being African & have African spirit for heavens sake. So you may have at least one point in African history as a contribution to African. Did you have one yet?
What did give in return for the upper riparian countries for allowing you to use their own resource for such long time. Do you know Ethiopia permits its irigable land to so many Egyptian and other middle east countries for investment with much less cost & great support than Egypt offer?
It is better not trying to break the door while someone is on his way to open it. You are shouting to do evil rather. What a curse!
If you, Egypt, do not stop hurting black African countries as Pres. Museveni said, it is better to think to collective measures upon Egypt such as closing Embassies of Egypt from their respective countries, some sort of diplomatic & armament sanctions as it might use for such evil agenda, and the likes.
Great speech by H. E. Museveni. It is a wake up call to think as an African and equitable use of resources among African sister countries.
I hope Egypt is not still working on its fraction based Afro-Asian Unity, which Egypt was insisting to establish an Organization consisting of North Aafrican Arab countries with Asia than a member with the remaining black African countries during the establishment of OAU times.
O Egypt Please think being African & have African spirit for heavens sake. So you may have at least one point in African history as contribution to African. Did you have one yet?
What did give in return for the upper riparian countries for allowing you to use their own resource for such long time. Do you know Ethiopia permits its irigable land to how many Egyptian and other middle east countries for investment with much less cost & support than Egypt offer?
It is better not trying to the break the door while someone is on his way to open it. You are shouting to do evil rather. What a curse!
If you, Egypt, do not stop hurting black African countries as Pres. Museveni said, it is better to think to collective measures upon Egypt such as closing Embassies of Egypt from their respective countries, some sort of diplomatic & armament sanctions as it might use for such evil agenda, and the likes.
Ilike it P/ Musevin
A Mind of the century, Indeed you are the hero of the Blacks
Hydro – solidarity is much needed now, and hope – Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi … Will follow.
That is what I call spirit of solidarity! Time for Egyptian politicians to wake up from their anti-black African mindset and embrace the new reality.
I thank indeed Mr. President. All riparian countries should speak the same voice and should send a right message to Egypt on the equitable use of River Nile. I hope we will hear more strong messages from other brothers/sisters too. Let’s stand together and defend our common interest.