The war about water in the Nile

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Event have taken place, as Ethiopia's prime minister and nobel peace prize winner in 2019, Abiy Ahmed, was in Cairo two years ago, and met the egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Abiy went - as we understand - far beyond the protocol. But the outbreak tells all about the excitement that the dam in ethiopian territory, as in these days begin to be filled with water, creates. For Ethiopia, is it about life or death, it will say power can modernize the country and to facilitate industry and development. But for Egypt, it is about life or death, since Ethiopia now while the dam fills "steals" the water in the Nile. It is the water in the Nile has been Egypt's reason for being from the pharaoh's time to today, a full 90 percent of the egyptians live by the Nile river shores. The nile is Egypt. But who owns the water?

Turn On the LydErrorAllerede plus customer? Log into herError REFUSED TO ANSWER: When the nobel peace prize winner Abiy Ahmed arrived in Oslo on Monday evening, he refused to answer Dagbladet questions about his government is responsible for torture and murder in southern Ethiopia. Reporter: Hegelstad Eiendomsselskap Arvid B. Hegelstad Mogen. Video: Madeleine Liereng / Dagbladet Show more

There is, of course, a philosophical, but in the highest degree a practical, questions. Both Ethiopia and Egypt and also Sudan, which is affected by the dam and vannførselen in the Nile - has wanted to have an agreement about the regulation of the water, before the dam begins to fill. But while 90 per cent of the agreement shall be ready, as nothing is clear before everything is ready. And it is not. The dam in the Blue Nile, one of two main veins that provide the Nile water, will be just as high as the two frihetsgudinner placed on top of each other, and as wide as the Brooklyn bridge in New York city. Done filled up the covers as big an area as London. It is Africa's largest dam,

the Name of the dam is "The great ethiopian renaissance dam". It is as epic as the dam itself, and reminds us that it is not just a national project. It is a nation-building project in a country characterized by explosive ethnic conflicts. The dam is therefore a project one does not climb down from without major political costs.

But this is still only one aspect of demningens political side, speaking from the ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. For The great ethiopian renaissance dam is the people's property. Not on an abstract view in that it is state property, for it is not. But on a completely concrete view that the dam is largely funded by ordinary people has bought shares in it. The dam became an obsession for the maoistisk inspired dictator Meles Zenavi, who died in 2012, but is now a problem for the prime minister, Abiy, who received last year's peace prize for his attempts to create peace and build democracy in the country.

the Dam is a problem because while some have purchased shares on a voluntary basis, as was the government forced to buy shares for a full year. Almost all citizens have a share in the project. The pond is thus nothing less than a giant patriotic mobilization, and practically the only thing that will mobilize people across ethnic differences. The realization of the dam means that the people have ownership of the future. And if it is not realised - so the propaganda for many years has promised - then it means that the people lose ownership in the future. The difference is political himmelropende.

the Project was brilliant to finance the dam, and use it as a mobiliserende nasjonsbyggings project. But it involves the now clear political limitations. It is virtually impossible for the prime minister, Abiy compromise that might be seen to climb down from the two full frihetsgudinner. That dam is so political takes from Abyi political room for manoeuvre. And perhaps that's why the prime minister resorted to his god, when he gave his promise to the Egyptian president al-Sisi? For he had nothing else to give away than a promise.

But it is not only Abyi who are bound by domestic political expectations. Also el-Sisi is bound. Nationalist forces in the military have wanted that general al-Sisi should send planes to bomb the dam. And the crucial capital water is already basically in short supply. Egypt has only half of the amount of water per. capita as the united nations believes is prudent, and uses 80 percent of water for agriculture. Much more than just dry neighboring countries like Jordan and Israel.

But war's a almost impossible for al-Sisi, among other things, because Egypt is deeply involved in the civil war in neighbouring Libya, which is about something completely different, among other things, Turkish (read ottoman) presence in their respective regions. And as general as know al-Sisi what a tofronts-war costs. For the cost - says the military history - more than it tastes. So as long as the war on the water in the Nile only a diplomatic war.

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