South Sudan seeks membership of the Nile Basin Initiative
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September 24, 2011 (JUBA) – The newly independent Republic of South
Sudan has sought full membership of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI)
two months after it became independent on 9 July.
The decision was made on Friday per presentation by the minister of
Water Resources and Irrigation, Paul Mayom Akech, in the Council of
Ministers meeting chaired by the Vice President, Riek Machar.
According to the acting minister of Information, Madut Biar Yel, South
Sudan has already been enjoying an observer status in the organisation
as a semi-autonomous region before independence, under the umbrella of
the then national government in Khartoum.
NBI is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to equitable and
sustainable management and development of the shared water resources
of the Nile Basin. Its member states include Burundi, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and
Uganda with Eritrea also as an observer.
It was established on February 22, 1999 in Dar es Salaam, by Ministers
responsible for water affairs of each of the nine member states.
Its objectives include developing the Nile Basin’s water resources in
a sustainable and equitable way to ensure prosperity, security, and
peace for all its peoples.
NBI also thrives to ensure efficient water management and the optimal
use of the resources as well as ensure cooperation and joint action
between the riparian countries, seeking mutual benefits.
The regional body also targets poverty eradication and promotes
economic integration and to ensure that the program results in a move
from planning to action.
Member States provide technical guidance to NBI, through their
representation on the board, the Nile Technical Advisory Committee
(Nile-TAC). The latter comprises of senior water officials (two per
Member State).
The Nile-TAC also provides technical advice to their respective water
Ministers and the Nile-COM in general; it acts as an interface between
the Nile-COM and NBI on one hand as well as Development Partners on
the other.
If granted full membership, South Sudan will be required to pay
230,000 US dollars of membership fee.
The new nation will also have to develop its position policy as member
of the organization, which is yet to settle the equitable share of
water resources from the River Nile among the member states.
The Council of Ministers directed all the relevant ministries to study
the nature of the NBI before the government could resolve on the
policy.
The White Nile River runs through South Sudan, which shares its
borders with; Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Central Africa Republic and the Republic of Sudan from where it
seceded in July 2011.
The leadership of the new nation in the process of applying to join
various regional bodies such as the East Africa community. The United
Nations made South Sudan its 193rd member on July 14th. The African
Union followed shortly, bring the total of African countries to 54.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, General Madut Biar Yel,
Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services, said the government
during its weekly cabinet meeting had submitted an official
application seeking approval membership in order to become of one of
the Nile Basin countries.
“The council of ministers listened and thoroughly deliberated on the
memo submitted by the minister of Irrigation and Water Resources on
the need to obtain official membership on the Nile. It was after these
deliberations that the council resolved to submit official request
seeking membership from the Nile basin countries”, General Yel told
journalists shortly after holding the weekly meeting.
Yel, said that as the White Nile passes through the country - from
South to North - South Sudan should be considered for automatic
qualification. He pledged South Sudan would cooperate with other
member states and would respect their right to use water in a manner
that would not affect the economic development of any of the other
member states.
South Sudan depends largely on rain fed agriculture and receives
reliable rains in most part of Greater Equatoria. Rains begin in March
in some places in Central, Eastern and Western Equatoria states and
stop in November.
Whereas in Greater Bahr el Ghazal and some part of Greater Upper Nile
rains begin in May and stops in late October. Most of the rural
population in South Sudan depends on subsistence farming often
dominated by the use of simple farming implements on small scale
family owned land.
South Sudan’s application comes during a ongoing dispute over Nile
water usage between Ethiopia and Egypt. Member countries hope that NBI
will eventually replaced a colonial era agreement that gave Egypt the
lions share of the Nile’s resources.
As well as Egypt Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi have
already signed the treaty, hoping to increasing their share of water
from the Nile River for irrigation and hydro-power projects.
South Sudan’s minister said the nascent country was not ready to
comment on the issue of the Egypt-Ethiopia dispute but said his
government will use its contacts with member states to reach a
compromise over the treaty.
“We believe it is the right of any member of the Nile Basin Countries
to use the Nile Water for the benefit of the citizens of any member
state, especially development projects dependent on irrigation, but it
is wise to resolve any dispute amicably”, Yel said.
(ST)
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