The River Nile Basin

The Nile Basin Initiative is a governmental partnership of consisting of countries: Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan and Tanzania. According to their website, the NBI's objective is to "ensure efficient water management and the optimal use of resources, ensure cooperation and joint action between riparian countries, and to provide results from planning to action." It also concentrates on a forum for consultation and coordination among the Basin States for the sustainable management and development of the shared Nile water and related resources for win-win benefits.

Egypt's relationship with the NBI has fallen into rocky times. In 2010, the country froze its participation with the NBI. Last July after careful consideration, it made a partial return to the partnership. Recently, Egypt has disagreed with some of the NBI's agreements. Most notably, the country declined to sign an agreement that requires members “not to significantly affect the water security of any other Nile Basin States.” Egypt argued that they had "historic rights to use the Nile River and those rights where not taken into consideration by the NBI's Cooperative Framework Agreement treaty. Because 95% of Egypt's population lives along the banks and the Nile accounts for nearly all of Egypt's drinking an irrigation water, it is important that Egypt is still a participating member in the NBI and the NBI listen to the concerns of this country. In 2015, Egypt signed a declaration to address and resolve their concerns with the CPA treaty and to the sharing of the Nile water, giving priority to downstream countries for electricity generated by the counties dams while providing compensation for any damages.

Unfortunately, the Nile River Basin has been facing multiple natural hazards in the form of floods and droughts as a result of climate and weather changes. The wetlands in these areas are supposed to supply water for both domestic and commercial use and provide food including fish and wild plants.  Because of human activity they have been fragmented and degraded. The continued destruction of these wetlands compromises the health of those who live in these surrounding areas. The NBI has stated that they are committed to working for the maintenance of healthy wetlands and the restoration of degraded wetlands. 

The Nile Basin Initiative clearly has many steps that it must take in order to improve these wetlands and prevent the degradation of the basin. Questions still arise, because of the NBI's failed attempt to get other nations involved. What will the NBI do in the future to prevent other countries like Egypt from leaving the initiative? How will they prevent future degradation of the wetlands? Will there be regulations put into place by member countries to hold each other accountable for the degradation of these wetlands?