‘Turbulence on the Nile’: Examining the Role of Negotiation in Resolving Interstate Water Disputes

This paper examines the nature of interstate water disputes vis-à-vis the ongoing dispute over the access to, and the usage of, the river Nile by several countries that share its water. Respecting three countries currently deadlocked in negotiations, the paper examines the history of the dispute between the respective states before addressing factors that pose potential barriers to its successful outcome. The paper then proceeds to suggest possible strategies the respective states could adopt to make significant progress in the course of the negotiations, by which it is hoped that an amicable solution will be arrived at concerning the usage of the Nile.