7.3.4

Conflict Over Water

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International Conflict over Water

Limited water supply can lead to the conflict of water users and players. The River Nile and the River Mekong flow through multiple countries and so conflicts arise internationally.

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River Nile background

  • The Nile is 6,700km long and is shared between 11 nations including; Uganda, Burundi, Sudan, Kenya and Egypt. There is a history of conflict between these nations over the river that is a vital resource.
  • Egypt has even threatened any country upstream of them that tries to dam the Nile River with War.
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River Nile controversy

  • In 1929, a Nile agreement between Egypt and the UK (Sudan was a British Colony at the time), gave Egypt complete anonymity over developments on the Nile. This agreement did not include any other countries that border the Nile.
  • In 2011, Ethiopia began the construction of a Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam, which Egypt contested.
  • In March 2015, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan signed an agreement over the Dam. This has still not resolved the problems surrounding other Nations rights to water.
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River Mekong

  • The Mekong River provides water for Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China.
  • Chinese dams at the headwaters threaten the water availability to nations that are further downstream.
  • These nations are also damming the river and taking in more water from the river.

National Conflict over Water

Limited water supply can lead to the conflict of water users and players. Ethiopia is an example of where limited water supply has caused conflicts within a country.

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Background

  • In Ethiopia, internal controversy has happened over the Gilgel Gibe III Dam on the Omo River, which began in 2008.
  • The cost of the dam was US$1.8 billion and it started generating electricity in late 2015.
  • 200,000 people (largely indigenous residents) downstream of the Dam rely on the seasonal floodwaters to replenish the dry soils for their subsistence farming.
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Concerns

  • Many ethnic groups (i.e. Mursi and Nyangatom) are already threatened by poor crop yield and the Gilgel Gibe III Dam threatens their livelihood and survival.
  • Tribal conflict is a concern because of the minimal water supplies.
  • The Dam’s potential impact on Lake Turkana (a World Heritage Site) did lead to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee calling for the construction to be halted in 2011.
  • Lake Turkana's water levels could drop 10 metres, increasing the salinity of the water and threatening 300,000 people and local wildlife.
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Controversy

  • Those in favour of the Gilgel Gibe III Dam say artificial floods could continue supporting the indigenous population and establishing large plantations of cotton and sugar cane could economically benefit these populations.
  • The Ethiopian army has been accused of human rights violations against those opposing the Dam and plantations.

Jump to other topics

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

4Globalisation

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

9Superpowers (A2 only)

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

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