Ethiopia has officially announced that the Nile River Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) took effect on October 13, 2024, just days before the upcoming Nile Basin summit in Uganda on October 17.
The CFA, which has been in the making for several years, sets the groundwork for the creation of the Nile River Basin Commission, tasked with overseeing the sustainable management and equitable sharing of the Nile’s waters among the riparian states.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the CFA’s implementation as a “landmark achievement” for the region’s collaborative efforts toward water management.
“This agreement solidifies our unity as a Nile family and ensures that the use of this shared resource benefits all nations involved,” Abiy said.
Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy, Dr. Habtamu Itefa, described the agreement as a “significant step toward ensuring fairness” in the distribution of the Nile’s waters. He emphasized that it corrects “historic imbalances” and promotes sustainable water usage in the region.
Ethiopia has championed the CFA as a replacement for outdated colonial-era treaties from 1929 and 1959 that granted Egypt and Sudan extensive control over the Nile. These agreements have been widely criticized by upstream countries, including Ethiopia, for favoring the downstream nations.
The CFA’s implementation followed South Sudan’s ratification in July 2024, joining Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi as the agreement’s signatories.
However, Egypt and Sudan have maintained their opposition to the CFA. In a joint statement last week, the two nations argued that the CFA “violates international law” and “lacks legal validity” for their interests. They reaffirmed their commitment to the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement, which continues to govern their current water-sharing arrangement.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Nile Basin summit, Ethiopian Ambassador Taye has expressed optimism, noting that the summit is likely to pass a “historic resolution” that will accelerate the CFA’s full implementation and set up mechanisms for equitable water management in the region.
With the CFA now in force, preparations are underway to launch the Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC). This entity will serve as the central body for ensuring sustainable use of the river’s waters and will focus on preserving the Nile’s ecosystems while guaranteeing fair access for all basin nations.
The CFA not only addresses long-standing inequities in water distribution but also serves as a framework for fostering cooperation and collective action to protect the vital resource for generations to come.
“This is more than just a legal agreement,” said Minister Habtamu. “It’s a promise to future generations, ensuring that the Nile remains a source of life and prosperity for all.” He called on all Nile Basin countries to honor the CFA’s principles with dedication and integrity, while also expressing gratitude for the international community’s support during the negotiation process.