ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia’s Minister of Water and Energy, Engineer Habtamu Itefa, announced significant changes in the management and utilization of the Nile River’s water resources, emphasizing the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) as a pivotal development. The CFA, which establishes the Nile River Basin Commission, officially came into effect last Sunday.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Engineer Habtamu lauded this development as a historic achievement for Ethiopia and the Nile Basin countries. He expressed his congratulations to all stakeholders involved, highlighting the CFA as a response to long-standing demands for equitable water rights. “This is a wonderful and fruitful achievement for all of us who were demanding justice and equal rights in utilizing our water resources,” he stated during a media briefing.

Previously, Nile water laws were criticized for favoring downstream countries and neglecting upstream nations like Ethiopia. The CFA aims to rectify this imbalance by ensuring fair and reasonable utilization of water resources across all Nile Basin countries. Engineer Habtamu emphasized the inclusive nature of the CFA, reassuring that it would not harm any party and would consider both downstream and upstream needs.

Furthermore, the minister urged all member states of the Nile Basin, including Egypt and Sudan, to engage in dialogue and cooperation under the new framework. He emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to collaborative efforts, ensuring that all nations can benefit without disadvantaging any party. The establishment of the Nile River Basin Commission as an independent entity is expected to support sustainable development across the basin, from upstream to downstream nations.

The CFA encompasses about 15 principles divided into three main categories: water utilization for development, stewardship of water resources for sustainability, and data sharing among basin countries. Engineer Habtamu’s announcement comes shortly after South Sudan ratified the CFA, joining other members including Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi.