Review Article

‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect

Volume: 1 Number: 7 February 4, 2024
EN

‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect

Abstract

The Nile river is the origin of African civilization. Egypt was considered for many years as hegemon for the Abbay/Nile River utilization by the international community. Hence, Egypt act as if it is until Ethiopia starts building a dam that will be the largest hydroelectric project in the continent, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD). But, the construction of the dam was not smooth. It was full of controversy and war-probing acts which led to the need for negotiation and then to the intervention of third party as ‘mediator’. Thus, this study explored the main achievements gained after the tripartite negotiation started being ‘mediated’, challenges faced for not reaching on agreements still, and the future prospects on the negotiation ahead. The study employed exploratory research design and used content analysis as a method of analysis by using neo-liberal institutionalism as a theoretical approach perspective to analyze the situation on backing up by regime theory analysis. The main findings of the study showed that even if many scholars gave Egypt the status of hydro-hegemon on Nile river, most experts and authorities related to the issue that Egypt was not hegemon at all rather the upper riparians lacked the ability to develop hydro-projects until few years back. The main challenges, according to the study, for not reaching an agreement till now even with third party ‘mediation’ is due to lack of political will, impartial act of ‘mediation’ and using the negotiation as a tool of winning a leverage for domestic political gain. Finally, it is concluded that the so called ‘mediation’ is not mediation but a facilitation and has bring nothing apart from the progress attained with the tripartite negotiation. Therefore, it is recommended that the disputant states to show political willingness, to consider compensation and to show decency in respecting international law.

Keywords

Thanks

To my beloved wife Mekdes Hagos & to my advisor Instructor Endale Nigussie

References

  1. References 1959 Nile Treaty, 1959. Agreement for the Full Utilization of the Nile Waters, Egypt-Sudan. Cairo, Egypt: United Nations.
  2. Aal, M., 2013. Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of International Rivers in the UN Convention with a Particular Reference to the River Nile. African Perspectives, 11(39), pp. 22-28. Abdelaziz, K., 2016. As economy crumbles, Sudan ditches Iran for Saudi patronage. [Online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/sudan-saudi-diplomacy-idAFL8N14V2WV20160112 [Accessed 20 May 2021].
  3. Abdelaziz, K. & Mourad, M., 2019. Egypt says talks over Ethiopia's Nile dam deadlocked, calls for mediation. [Online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-dam-egypt-idUSKCN1WK0IE [Accessed 27 January 2021].
  4. Abdelaziz, K. & Mourad, M., 2019. Egypt says talks over Ethiopia's Nile dam deadlocked, calls for mediation. [Online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-dam-egypt-idUSKCN1WK0IE [Accessed 20 May 2021].
  5. Abdo, M., 2004. The Nile Question: The Accords on the Water of the Nile and Their Implications on Cooperative Schemes in the Basin. Perceptions Journal of International Affairs, Volume 9, pp. 47-48. Abulwafa, A., 2013. Commitment of International Conventions on the River Nile. African Perspectives, 11(39), pp. 7-13.
  6. Addisu, L., 2020. The United States Must Not Pick Sides in the Nile River Dispute. [Online] Available at: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/14/ethiopia-egypt-gerd-united-states-must-not-pick-sides-in-the-nile-river-dispute/ [Accessed 18 April 2021].
  7. AFP, 2020. Nile dam mediator S. Africa urges talks to continue. [Online] Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/20200806-nile-dam-mediator-s-africa-urges-talks-to-continue [Accessed 18 April 2021].
  8. Africanews, 2020. Ethiopia 'disappointed' with US mediation in Nile dam dispute. [Online] Available at: https://www.africanews.com/2020/03/01/ethiopia-disappointed-with-us-mediation-in-nile-dam-dispute [Accessed 27 January 2021].

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

International Security

Journal Section

Review Article

Authors

Publication Date

February 4, 2024

Submission Date

September 6, 2023

Acceptance Date

December 8, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Volume: 1 Number: 7

APA
Zergaw, T. (2024). ‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect. International Journal of Water Management and Diplomacy, 1(7), 5-35. https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK
AMA
1.Zergaw T. ‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect. IJWMD. 2024;1(7):5-35. https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK
Chicago
Zergaw, Tsegaye. 2024. “‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect”. International Journal of Water Management and Diplomacy 1 (7): 5-35. https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK.
EndNote
Zergaw T (February 1, 2024) ‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect. International Journal of Water Management and Diplomacy 1 7 5–35.
IEEE
[1]T. Zergaw, “‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect”, IJWMD, vol. 1, no. 7, pp. 5–35, Feb. 2024, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK
ISNAD
Zergaw, Tsegaye. “‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect”. International Journal of Water Management and Diplomacy 1/7 (February 1, 2024): 5-35. https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK.
JAMA
1.Zergaw T. ‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect. IJWMD. 2024;1:5–35.
MLA
Zergaw, Tsegaye. “‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect”. International Journal of Water Management and Diplomacy, vol. 1, no. 7, Feb. 2024, pp. 5-35, https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK.
Vancouver
1.Tsegaye Zergaw. ‘‘Mediated’’ Negotiation over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Achievement, Challenges and Prospect. IJWMD [Internet]. 2024 Feb. 1;1(7):5-35. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA52CK54WK


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