Following up the previous blog on transboundary water cooperation, this blog will delve into the dual nature of water as a source of both conflict and cooperation and quantifying it. As transboundary water politics present a complex tapestry of relationships among nations that share these vital waterways.
Quantifying Water Tensions
Conflict, in this sense, is not always marked by the thunder of guns but by the silent undercurrents of diplomatic strain. Cooperation, conversely, is not just about signing treaties but in the daily give-and-take between nations sharing a lifeline.
The Basins-at-risk (BAR) scale, with its range from deep conflict (-7) to profound cooperation (+7), sheds light on the interaction of nations over water. From 1948 to 2008, it has captured the ebb and flow of these relations, painting a picture that, contrary to popular belief, tilts more towards cooperation than conflict. The median values of BAR has been above 0 for most of the time during the investigation period. Yet, it's essential to zoom in from these broad strokes to understand the nuances of each river basin's story. Ask yourself questions like, Why certain basin experience more cooperation than conflict, or Why conflict remains prevalent in some areas?
(Bernauer and Böhmelt, 2020)
The GERD Dispute and Transboundary Water Laws
The GERD dispute exemplifies the broader challenges of managing shared water resources in a time of increasing demand and climate change. This situation underlines the need for solutions that consider the rights and needs of all Nile Basin countries, including the principles of equitable and sustainable utilisation, which are essential in transboundary water management (The African Spectator, 2023).
Contemporary legal frameworks, like the 1966 Helsinki Rules, the 1997 UN Water Courses Convention, and the 2009 Law of Transboundary Aquifers, emphasise equitable rights to shared water resources and limited territorial sovereignty. While the Nile Basin Initiative is a critical regional partnership that seeks cooperative development of the Nile.
Navigating Challenges in Transboundary Aquifer Management
Navigating the complex waters of African politics, we see the pivotal role of local management in addressing issues like over-extraction and pollution. Take, for example, the North-West Sahara Aquifer System, a vital water source for Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Here, excessive use threatens irreversible environmental damage, exemplifying the delicate balance needed in shared water resource management. Further east, the Lake Chad Basin Aquifer System reveals a tapestry of riparian complexities. Shared among multiple countries, this system faces the brunt of climatic change, underscoring the urgency for cooperative approaches to water governance (Scheumann and Alker, 2009).
These cases weave together a narrative of African water politics, where the intersection of conflict and cooperation forms a dynamic continuum. They call for innovative, collaborative strategies to navigate the water resource management across this vast and varied continent. International Cooperation beyond Africa will be discussed in the next blog.
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