Recently Ethiopia has reached out to Egypt and Sudan, offering them data on their new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam located on the Blue Nile. Ethiopia hopes the energy from this hydropower dam will create economic development for their country. Egypt and Sudan both fear this dam will result in loss of water flows and income from the Nile. The offer was that in return for Dam Operators from each country, they would receive data from Ethiopia on the dam. Both countries refused this deal, Egypt saying the wording of the written agreement was suspicious, making them think they were only going to be given certain information.
Since the Nile runs through so many African countries, it seems unfair to other countries for one to make a decision pertaining to the river that could negatively affect the others. Many countries rely on the Nile for certain resources, so for another country to hinder those for their own personal gain doesn’t feel right to me. Although the country technically owns that section of the Nile, I think there should be rules and regulations on what you can construct or do to the river, since so many people depend on it.
The talks about this dam and its conditions are going to continue between African countries, with reports of the US and UN mediating the talks. The mediation of these talks by an IGO and hegemon are largely supported by liberal theory. Since there is conflict that is not being resolved, it’s important for powerful democratic leaders such as the United Nations and the United States to intervene to prevent any further conflict or instability in less powerful regions of the world.