The Historical and Legal Background of the Problem of Sharing the Nile Water

Disputes over waterways are among the most important causes of conflicts, especially in Africa. Thus, studying these disputes is an important introduction to studying security in Africa. However, far from focusing on the security, geopolitical or strategic approach to studying these crises, this study attempts to review the historical and legal aspects of one important dispute over waterways in Africa, the problem of Nile River. The study attempts to discuss the Nile water-sharing problem in a historical and legal frame by examining the international order of waterways and the agreements related to Nile water usage. The study also briefly explains the history of the clashes between Nile Basin countries explaining their different points of view. Finally, the study delivers the Grand Renaissance Dam of Ethiopia as a case study to present a concrete discussion of the Nile water-sharing problem and its impact on the stability of the African continent.