Nile issue cannot derail Ethiopia’s quest for democracy

| April 8, 2011

EPRD’s ‘declaration’ to build 5,200 MW dam on the Nile will not divert attention from freedom, the only and most important issue on top of our agenda! Ethiopians knows their natural and sovereign right!! However this shall in no way be confused with the clear and the most important quest for freedom and justice in Ethiopia!!

The Egyptians were not deceived by Mubarak when he tried to cover the injustice within by embarking on the Nile issue and now they are gaining their freedom and starting to establish their new constitution. The same is true for us the Ethiopians. We need to make use of our Nile resource as we are the source and the lion share contributor to it. but this in no way can be a point of confusion or blindness in deceiving Ethiopian people to ignore the most important quest for freedom, justice; and equality among all citizens. It is in vibrant democracy and rigorous judicial system that long term stability can be achieved; there by leading to development in which the beneficiaries of the development will be the public at large. So for us, the Ethiopians, the most important agenda is freedom and democracy in which political power will be taken only by the will of the people and whereby power will be at the hand of Ethiopian people!! it is clear from the experience of the international community that a people out of fear can make best use of their skill, natural resources and all the necessary tools for development – to be competent in today’s globalized world.

infact the Egyptian coalition government is now trying to make deal on the Nile showing Ethiopians also do not need EPRDF to make use of Nile. this is another experience we need to learn from Egypt. EPRDF’s propaganda in an effort to make itself appear the only one to play the role is futile and is an inherent nature of dictatorial regimes, as Mubarak has been doing it; before he is ousted by poplar revolution. For us we can make it after the departure of the authoritarian regime of Melse zenawi, emphasizing the need to focus on the major issue of democracy and justice!

The dam could be a start in making fair use of the Nile river among the Nile basin countries. A concern is there also on the location selected as it is only 25 km from the Sudan border which surfaces the issue of security. Sudan has been opposing any project on the river along with Egypt, hiding behind 1929 and 1959 treaties. The Sudan’s themselves are finalizing a very huge dam on the Nile named “merawe dam” with a generation capacity of 1,250 MW. Ethiopians has been disadvantaged by the treaties that excluded them and the international Medias are reluctant to put that on the spotlight. This current project could be taken as part of an agreed framework of cooperation by 6 countries of basin (Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, Burundi) while DRC, Egypt and Sudan are further compelled to look for areas of cooperation – even after the one year window period. Once we make sure fair use of the Nile we also have to make sure that the downstream countries has to make payment for environmental services in various forms directly to the local residents leaving in areas of the major sources of the Nile and its tributaries – for it is win win and sustainable scenario. Unlikely to influence global climate change negotiations much, keeping the water level steady requires averting local causes of reduction like deforestation and siltation where comes the issue of livelihood of residents in upstream countries and the need of payment for environmental services.

The point is to make clear that we freedom fighters have clear stand on the Nile and no confusion can be implanted on us. we need fair use of the water but we can do it without EPRDF!! We the freedom seekers have the knowledge, the moral high ground and the support of our citizens to change the reality on the ground. Currently our only and most important agenda is to fight for freedom, justice, unity and democracy that can in no way be sidelined or derailed by efforts to divert attention outward!!

In summary, Ethiopia has to make use of the water! Let there be no ambiguity on it. But the propaganda by EPRDF to make political meal out of it- to appear as the only agent to make it happen is futile and deceiving. We Ethiopian people are not willing to trade our quest for freedom and justice by issues of any type. We need to gain our freedom; and from there on Ethiopian people, standing on solid rock of unity and democracy, can move swiftly on issues of national interest. We need dams on the Nile but change towards democracy is inevitable and can’t be arrested any more. Ethiopian’s are saying enough is enough for Melse and call him to immediately step down!!