Latest news with #Nile
Al Jazeera
17 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
The Nile cannot be governed by colonial-era treaties
In a couple of weeks, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the biggest hydroelectric dam on the African continent, will be inaugurated. The construction of this dam has taken more than a decade and has cost nearly $5bn. The government and people of Ethiopia mobilised the funds for this national project from their meagre internal resources. No international financing was made available for this project. While the construction of the dam has received some international media attention, the media coverage has not made clear the Ethiopian perspective. This is a modest attempt to rectify that problem. The GERD is constructed on the Blue Nile, which Ethiopians call Abay. Abay means 'big' or 'major' in several Ethiopian languages. Abay is one of the main tributaries of the Nile River. Although many associate the Nile almost exclusively with Egypt, the river traverses 10 other African countries. Among these countries, Ethiopia holds a unique position because 86 percent of the Nile water that reaches Egypt originates from the Ethiopian highlands. Abay is the biggest river in Ethiopia with a huge potential to boost overall socioeconomic transformation and development. It has been a long-held aspiration of Ethiopians to utilise this resource. The GERD is a national development project that fulfils this dream. Despite its huge labour force and economic potential, Ethiopia has yet to make headway in its endeavour to industrialise. One critical factor that has held back this effort has been Ethiopia's lack of energy. According to the latest figures, barely 55 percent of Ethiopians have access to electricity. There is a huge demand and need for electricity in Ethiopia. Hence, the GERD is seen as our national ticket out of darkness and poverty. Necessity dictates that Ethiopia use this major resource as an instrument to spur growth and prosperity for the benefit of its 130-million-strong population, which is expected to reach 200 million by 2050. The GERD is expected to generate about 5,150 megawatts of electricity and produce an annual energy output of 15,760 gigawatt hours. This will double Ethiopia's energy output, which will not only light our homes but also power industries and cities and transform our economy. The GERD would also make it possible to increase our energy exports to neighbouring countries, thereby strengthening regional integration and interconnectedness. The lower riparian states of the Nile would also derive immense benefit from the GERD because it would prevent flooding, sedimentation and water loss through evaporation. The very purpose of the GERD, which is generating electricity, requires that the water flows to lower riparian countries after hitting the enormous turbines that generate the electricity. The dam does not block or stop the river from flowing. Doing so would make electricity generation impossible and defeat the very purpose for which the dam was built. So, you might ask, why are some lower riparian countries complaining about the construction of the dam? The reason for their objections emanates not from rational fear or legitimate concern. The objections are the result of an attitude shaped by a colonial-era water-sharing agreement concluded between Britain and Egypt in 1929 and its derivative agreement sealed in 1959 between Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia was not a party to any of these treaties. However, some Egyptians contend that the water-sharing formula enshrined in the colonial-era agreement, which excludes the remaining nine African nations from having any share of the Nile, is still valid and should be adhered to by all Nile riparian countries. From an Ethiopian point of view, this anachronistic argument, often presented as 'historic rights over the Nile' is unacceptable. While Britain is entitled to enter into any agreements regarding the River Thames, it does not have the right to dispose of the waters of the Nile or the Abay River. As we all recall, the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser rejected Britain's claims over the Suez Canal. For much stronger reasons, Ethiopian leaders have consistently rejected arguments based on colonial arrangements in which Ethiopia did not have a say. The Ethiopian view is that the Nile is a shared natural resource. It should be used in a cooperative framework that would be beneficial for all riparian countries. The developmental aspirations and dreams of all nations are equally legitimate. The needs of some should not be prioritised over the needs of others. A fair, just and inclusive arrangement that takes into account the realities of the 21st century is needed. Such an arrangement is already in place in the form of the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement, which is a contemporary, African-initiated treaty designed to promote sustainable management and equitable use of the Nile. This treaty has already been signed and ratified by Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. Egypt should stop yearning for a bygone colonial era and join these Nile riparian countries in their joint effort to promote fair and equitable use of the Nile in a sustainable manner. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
Kenya ramps up tourism push as wildebeest migration begins
A herd of wildebeest in Kenya. Image: VCG Kenyan President William Ruto said on Thursday that the government will intensify a campaign to boost tourist numbers in the country. Ruto, who opened the 2025 Great Wildebeest Migration global livestream at the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, said the campaign aims to attract 5 million foreign tourists by 2027. "We are focused on tourism that enriches both the visitor and the host, and transforms travelers into ambassadors for Kenya, a country proud of its wild beauty, conservation achievements and unbreakable spirit," he said. Kenya's Tourism & Wildlife CS Rebecca Miano speaks on the wildebeest migration, tourism growth In this exclusive interview, CGTN reporter @mariongachuhi_ speaks with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, about the impact of the Great wildebeest… — CGTN Africa (@cgtnafrica) July 27, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The president, who urged domestic and international tourists to take advantage of the country's attractions, said the campaign seeks to promote Kenya as the home of human origins and a top travel destination for innovation, sports, conference tourism, adventure, wildlife, culture and beach holidays. Kenya's international tourist arrivals increased by 15 percent to 2.4 million in 2024, up from 2.09 million in 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. Inbound tourism earnings rose to 452.20 billion shillings (about $3.5 billion) from $2.92 billion in 2023. Ruto said Masai Mara, which welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually, is the crown jewel of Kenya's tourism offerings. "Sustainable tourism is a living reality in Masai Mara, where communities thrive, ecosystems flourish and travelers leave enthralled." The Great Wildebeest Migration is the annual movement of millions of wildebeest, zebras and other herbivores from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya, primarily between July and October. A Nile crocodile ambushes wildebeest in the Mara River, Kenya. Image: VCG A Nile crocodile ambushes wildebeest in the Mara River, Kenya. /VCG The largest herd movement of animals on the planet, which is visible from space, is driven by the search for fresh grazing land and water following seasonal rains. The dramatic river crossings of the Mara River, where wildebeest face predators like crocodiles, are widely regarded as the highlight of this spectacular wildlife event. Ruto said Kenya's efforts to protect biodiversity, restore habitats and involve communities in stewardship have made Masai Mara not only a wildlife haven, but also a global symbol of sustainability. "To all watching around the world, I invite you to explore our treasures from the thundering hooves of Masai Mara to the calm shores of our coast, from snow-capped peaks to sunlit savannahs," he said. CGTN / Xinhua
The Sun
4 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Disturbing Ancient Egyptian graves reveal brutal treatment of corpses 5,000 years ago including shock teen girl's burial
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered a disturbing Ancient Egyptian burial practice that saw people dismembered before being put to rest. The discovery offers a rare insight into the spiritual life of villagers more than 5,000 years ago - and may even mark the beginning of religion for the ancient pharaohs. 3 Researchers found the remains of a teenage girl whose arm had been deliberately severed after her death and positioned to match her left arm. The girl's left arm was bent unnaturally in a more than 90-degree angle and tucked in very tightly. The limb was removed near the lower part of the upper arm and forearm, possibly done using an axe. The muscles were most likely sliced with a flint blade, according to researchers. Her severed arm was carefully arranged to appear almost intact, with the hand placed beside the forearm. Buried in the Adaiima cemetery on the west bank of the Nile river, the remains date back to between 3300 to 2700 BC. The girl's body was carefully aligned with the setting sun on the winter solstice, while her coffin also pointed towards the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Celestial alignments, and other symbolic gestures, likely influenced the religious traditions later embraced by Egypt's first pharaohs who emerged between 100 and 400 years later. 3 Her burial may also be the earliest sign of the Osiris and Isis myth - where the goddess Isis reassembles the dismembered body of Osiris beneath the rising Sirius. The tale is thought to symbolise death, rebirth, and cosmic order. Ancient Egyptian Tombs: Over a Thousand Mummies Unveiled The cemetery in which her remains were found is one of Egypt's oldest and most thoroughly studied, and paints a detailed picture about how funerary practices changed over time. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, researchers analysed patterns among more than 900 tombs across the 74-acre Adaiima site. Another coffin that was positioned to catch the winter sun contained a woman buried with ornate jewelry and pottery. A third grave, also belonging to a woman, faced the summer sunset and contained a ceremonial staff and plant-fiber wig. The study suggests these early burials shaped the mythology later adopted by Egypt's ruling elite - from their sky-based alignments to their ritual gestures, such as dismemberment. Older graves were placed around earlier, astronomically aligned tombs, suggesting those burials continued to hold religious or ancestral significance over the years. Ivory boat models and fine coffins were found with remains that researchers believed once belonged to individuals of higher status or spiritual importance. Similar to the dismemberment, a singular bone belonging to a child was found placed on the chest of an adult in a later tomb. In the myth of Osiris, Isis gathers the scattered body parts of her murdered husband after he is slain by his jealous brother, Set. "Sepdet, which we know as Sirius, was believed to be the appearance of Isis in the sky," the study said. "When the state emerged, it did not create religion from scratch. "It absorbed long-standing practices and reworked them into royal narratives." 3
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- General
- Canada News.Net
Crucial water facility destroyed in war-torn African nation
The director of Khartoum State Water Corporation has said over 450 service vehicles were also lost The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have destroyed the main water quality testing laboratory in Khartoum state, Sudan, inflicting a major blow to critical infrastructure amid the continuing civil war, according to a senior official. In an interview with the Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, Mohamed Ali al-Ajab, director general of the Khartoum State Water Corporation, said the RSF wrecked the al-Mugran laboratory, which previously analyzed Nile and groundwater samples for both public and private clients. The lab, worth an estimated $1 million, was the largest of its kind in the area. "The authority has lost approximately 454 vehicles, whether they were cars, mobile tankers, cranes, or excavators," Ajab said. According to the director, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has delivered spare parts worth $77,000, with an additional $223,000 shipment expected. All of Khartoum state's water stations have been severely disrupted since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Only one station continued working throughout the conflict, according to Ajab. Six of 12 major plants have since partially resumed service. However, Khartoum North (Bahri), a key facility with a daily capacity of 300,000 cubic meters, remains only partly functional. Ajab detailed massive damage to Bahri's electrical systems, citing the loss of over 17km of cable, 61 control panels, nine transformers, and three pumps that were reportedly thrown into the Nile River. Estimates of fatalities have varied since the outbreak of the fighting, though research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that over 61,000 people were killed in the state of Khartoum alone during the first 14 months. Local media have reported a death toll as high as 130,000. In March, the director of Sudan's National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), Ghalia Garelnabi, announced that the RSF had looted all archaeological gold from the National Museum in Khartoum. Opened in 1971, the museum housed artifacts spanning Sudanese history from the Stone Age to the Islamic period. Experts called the assault a "historical catastrophe," with an estimated 90% of the collection destroyed.
Russia Today
4 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
Crucial water facility destroyed in war-torn African nation
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have destroyed the main water quality testing laboratory in Khartoum state, Sudan, inflicting a major blow to critical infrastructure amid the continuing civil war, according to a senior official. In an interview with the Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, Mohamed Ali al-Ajab, director general of the Khartoum State Water Corporation, said the RSF wrecked the al-Mugran laboratory, which previously analyzed Nile and groundwater samples for both public and private clients. The lab, worth an estimated $1 million, was the largest of its kind in the area. 'The authority has lost approximately 454 vehicles, whether they were cars, mobile tankers, cranes, or excavators,' Ajab said. According to the director, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has delivered spare parts worth $77,000, with an additional $223,000 shipment expected. All of Khartoum state's water stations have been severely disrupted since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Only one station continued working throughout the conflict, according to Ajab. Six of 12 major plants have since partially resumed service. However, Khartoum North (Bahri), a key facility with a daily capacity of 300,000 cubic meters, remains only partly functional. Ajab detailed massive damage to Bahri's electrical systems, citing the loss of over 17km of cable, 61 control panels, nine transformers, and three pumps that were reportedly thrown into the Nile River. Estimates of fatalities have varied since the outbreak of the fighting, though research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that over 61,000 people were killed in the state of Khartoum alone during the first 14 months. Local media have reported a death toll as high as 130,000. In March, the director of Sudan's National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), Ghalia Garelnabi, announced that the RSF had looted all archaeological gold from the National Museum in Khartoum. Opened in 1971, the museum housed artifacts spanning Sudanese history from the Stone Age to the Islamic period. Experts called the assault a 'historical catastrophe,' with an estimated 90% of the collection destroyed.
