Burundi signs accord to share Nile

Burundi signs accord to share Nile

On Monday Burundi had become the sixth African nation to sign an agreement known as the Nile Basin Initiative calling for countries to share the Nile River.

The accord was initially signed last year by Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya with promises by the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign the initiative.
Before heading into Sudan and then Egypt the Nile River flows through or near all of those countries.
 
Under a 1929 treaty Egypt controls most of the Nile’s waters however if the countries ratify the agreement, Egypt would lose its power to veto Nile projects planned by other countries. Although Egypt has not formally rejected the agreement, it is concerned a new arrangement could leave it without enough water to sustain its population of 80 million.

Sudan too has expressed concern that the new treaty will leave it with a water shortage.