Egyptian water policy towards the Renaissance Dam crisis

Abstract

    The Ethiopian Renaissance Dam represents a dangerous turning point in the history of Egyptian-Ethiopian relations, as it poses a serious challenge to the downstream countries, especially Egypt because the Nile River represents the essence of its existence, continuity, and economic development and political and social stability. Ethiopia took advantage of the turmoil in Egypt that ensued the January 2011 revolution and embarked on building a dam on the Blue Nile without prior agreement with the downstream countries and without consideration for the historical treaties that regulate relations between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.  That organized the relations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Egypt has adopted several diplomatic and technical options to face up the crisis of the Renaissance Dam. Egypt has tried, through its water policy, to minimize the effects of water shortage in the Nile River resulting from the construction of the Renaissance Dam.