A War on the Nile Pushes Sudan Toward the Abyss
A War on the Nile Pushes Sudan Toward the Abyss
Sudanese soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in the capital, Khartoum, on June 16, 2021. Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters
A War on the Nile Pushes Sudan Toward the Abyss
The Nile River is the lifeline of Sudan. But a war over its waters could destroy the country.
By Jeremiah Jacques • July 1, 2021
The Nile River is the lifeline of Sudan. It provides the country with 90 percent of its water, and its fertile banks support 80 percent of the population. But a war over the Nile could destroy Sudan.
The conflict began in 2019 when Ethiopia began building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (gerd) on the Blue Nile, a tributary of the Nile River. Egypt and Sudan have long been concerned that the dam would reduce the flow of water to their countries.
In March 2020, Ethiopia began filling the dam’s reservoir. Egypt and Sudan objected, and the three countries failed to reach an agreement. In April, Ethiopia announced that it would continue filling the dam, and Egypt and Sudan threatened to use military force to stop it.
On June 13, Ethiopia announced that it had completed filling the dam’s reservoir. Egypt and Sudan responded by cutting off diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
On June 22, Ethiopia announced that it would begin generating electricity from the dam. Egypt and Sudan responded by threatening to use military force to destroy the dam.
On June 24, Egypt and Sudan requested that the United Nations Security Council intervene to prevent a war. The United States, the European Union and the African Union have all called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The conflict over the Nile River is a major threat to Sudan. If a war breaks out, it could lead to the collapse of the Sudanese government and the destruction of the country.