Navigating the Nile: Water Security, War, and Diplomacy in Northeast Africa
The Nile River is a source of water, electricity, food and livelihoods for millions of people across north-eastern Africa. Yet the countries that depend on it disagree over how its waters should be shared and managed. Ethiopia wants to use the river to generate electricity and support economic development. Egypt considers the Nile critical to its water security, while Sudan needs reliable water management to sustain agriculture, protect infrastructure and serve its population. These disagreements are unfolding alongside two major conflicts: Sudan’s and Ethiopia’s devastating wars. Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, competition over access to the Red Sea, and the involvement of outside powers add further complexity. These issues are connected through diplomacy, security interests and regional alliances, but they are not interchangeable. The Nile dispute did not cause the wars in Ethiopia or Sudan, and those wars did not create the dispute over water. Understanding their connecti...
