Managing the Nile Politics: Issues and Perspectives

Abstract

The study is about managing the Nile politics: issues and perspectives that are encompassed in five chapters which include the research proposal, an overview of issues and perspectives in managing the Nile politics, a critical analysis of these issues and perspectives, emerging issues and lastly the conclusion. The overall objective of the study is to critically analyze the issues and perspectives arising from the management of the Nile politics. The study is informed by a conceptual framework whose tenets are based on the realism theory as well as the game theory which seek to explain the hydro hegemony that has been exploited, the state that perceives it has full control of the resource and the thinking behind the need to maintain hegemonic powers on natural resources. For instance Egypt asserts that the Nile River is a national heritage and should be protected ultimately, whereas Ethiopia and other upstream countries keep exerting pressure that the Nile River should be shared equitably. The research methodology employed is largely qualitative and a small portion of the study is based quantitative. Data collection was done through oral interviews pegged on the research questions designed to draw more information on the Nile politics. The study argues that the power struggles in the Nile politics centre on the exclusive agreements that include the 1929 and 1959 agreements; past attempts at multilateral cooperation failed because countries such as Ethiopia or Kenya had observer status, due mostly to the perception that the scene was dominated by Egypt, and the unseen players such as South Sudan. An effective basin organization can be established when there is strong and continued country commitment, both politically and financially.