Negotiation and Conciliation as Methods of Resolving Disputes Over International Watercourses; the Case of the Nile Basin

Abstract

"Internationally shared bodies of water create political, social and economic tensions and disputes concerning the distribution and use of resource management. Furthermore, when a resource base extends across a political border, misunderstanding or lack of agreements about allocation is more LIkely, in recent times the demands put on natural resources to sustain and improve development, have produced unprecedented problems for the human race. The growing competition for fresh water is one of the pressing problems. Water has never respected the political frontiers drawn by man, and the mobility of water indicates the problems connected with the use, administration and conservation of water resources. Where water is shared by two or more states, conflicts are inevitable and cannot be evaded . Water is the most important shared natural resource, which has caused and is likely to cause conflicts unless properly utilized. The distribution of fresh water resources is bad, yet the demand for water is increasing rapidly, thus the need for international cooperation, 2 This study examines the disputes or conflicts in the Nile River Basin with a view of establishing whether the issues can be dealt with by application of negotiation and conciliation which are some of the methods provided, for settlement of international disputes and conflicts by Article 33 of the United Nations Charter Internationally shared waters create political, social, and economic tensions and Disputes. Such conflicts cannot be satisfied, unless the rules governing the conduct of states in relation to international watercourses are identified.