Nile: The geopolitical outlook of the longest river in the world

 The Nile river the longest river in the world with a length of 6650 Km (4,132 miles) and draining around 12,93,000 square miles. The Nile is divided into two halves namely The White Nile and the Blue Nile. The Nile is one of the disputed rivers geopolitically as it drains through 11 African countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Republic of Sudan, and Egypt.

Starting from Uganda as the 'White Nile' it flows through South Sudan and Sudan before meeting the 'Blue Nile' which have originated from Ethiopia near lake Tana and forming the Greater Nile. The White Nile flows to Lake Victoria and some areas of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC. The White Nile, however, has only 15-20% of water and silt although training more countries than the Blue Nile which has 80-85% of water and silt. Both the White Nile and the Blue Nile meet north of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The main river of the Nile further flows through the desert area of Sudan and finally draining into Egypt which is called the heart of the river Nile. 

The geopolitics on the river began in the early twentieth century when there began the building of dams and irrigation facilities which limited the flow of the river Nile. The first treaty was signed by the British in 1929, representing that Sudan and a few upstream countries giving Egypt a veto power against all upstream projects that could reduce the flow of water in the river. In 1959, another agreement gave Egypt rights of 66% of the river's flow, Sudan 22%, and rest distributed. But both modern advancements of technology and the need for energy resulted in the building of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam by Ethiopia created a geographical change to the river. With bending the original waterway path of the river for its own benefit, Ethiopia has developed a conflict with Egypt, where the water requirement per capita has now lessened to make it a 'water scarcity' nation.

With the new geopolitical view, there are two options: either working together with mutuality, developing a better world with help of the river, or escalating the conflict both ending up in bitter consequences. And I any day will choose the path of peace.