South Sudan has become the sixth country to ratify the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) in Parliament.
The 11 member countries of the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement drafted and signed the agreement in Entebbe, Uganda, by the Nile Basin riparian countries to ensure the equitable use of the Nile River.
The agreement stipulates that if six of the 11 Nile Basin countries ratify it in their parliaments, the Permanent Commission of the Nile Basin States can become fully operational.
According to Nabil Mahdi, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to South Sudan, the framework of the Nile Agreement has already been ratified by five countries in their parliaments. South Sudan’s ratification now makes it the sixth.
The ambassador emphasized the significance of this milestone, noting that the establishment of the Nile River Basin Commission hinged on the approval by the sixth country’s parliament.
On July 8, 2024, South Sudan officially became this crucial sixth country to ratify the agreement.
Ambassador Nabil described the ratification process as challenging. He highlighted that the Ethiopian Embassy in South Sudan has been diligently working towards this goal for the past three years.
Although the Council of Ministers of South Sudan had approved the agreement five years ago, various delays had prevented its ratification until now.
The ambassador credited the successful ratification to extensive consultations with relevant parties in the Parliament, emphasizing the importance of engaging all signatories of the peace agreement due to South Sudan’s transitional government.
He underscored the critical importance of South Sudan’s ratification for the country and the broader region.
With South Sudan’s ratification, the next step involves the president of South Sudan signing the document, which will then be sent to the African Union for legal verification.
The ambassador also noted that Burundi’s president had signed the agreement before South Sudan, but South Sudan’s ratification is particularly significant as it marks the sixth country’s approval. He acknowledged the Ethiopian government’s close monitoring and support as key factors in this success.
South Sudan’s ratification of the Nile Agreement Framework signifies a strengthened partnership with Ethiopia and the other Nile Basin countries.
Ethiopia has historically supported South Sudan, notably contributing to its independence. The ambassador emphasized that South Sudan’s ratification confirms its commitment to cooperation with the entire Nile Basin, especially the upper basin countries.
The countries that have ratified the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) include Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.
The Nile Cooperation Framework Agreement, drafted in 2006, outlines the conditions for the cooperative development and management of the Nile Basin’s water resources.
Egypt and Sudan loudly objected to this agreement, arguing that the CFA would harm their water security, and tried to influence other countries to follow their steps.
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) was established as a transitional framework by the nine founding member states, intended to operate until the permanent Nile River Basin Commission is formed.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia hailed South Sudan’s ratification of the Nile Basin Cooperation Framework Agreement as historic for Ethiopia.
In his message, he expressed that “South Sudan’s acceptance and ratification of the agreement would create momentum for ensuring mutual benefits for the people by establishing the Nile Basin Commission.”
Ethiopia has been providing various forms of support to South Sudan since its independence via a referendum.
Three months ago, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan visited Addis Ababa, during which Ethiopia signed a $738 million loan agreement with South Sudan.
This agreement includes the construction of a 220-kilometer road connecting Ethiopia with South Sudan, which has already been approved by South Sudan’s legislative council.
