Managing Shared Basins in the Horn of Africa – Ethiopian Projects on the Juba and Shabelle Rivers and Downstream Effects in Somalia

Autor: Abdullahi Elmi Mohamed
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Natural Resources and Conservation. 1:35-49
ISSN: 2331-6373
2331-6365
DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2013.010203
Popis: The Juba and Shabelle Rivers in the Horn of Africa are shared by Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Most of the rivers’ runoff originates from Ethiopia. Being in a water-scarce and war-ravaged region, the rivers cross areas of border dispute. The paper examines the physical and developmental aspects of the rivers, and analyses resulting trans-boundary river management issues. Methodology used is document reviews, literature analysis and interviews. The rivers supply important economic areas in Somalia. As an outcome from the master plan studies of the basins, Ethiopia is implementing large dams for hydropower generation and large irrigation schemes. No agreements exist between the basin countries. These unilateral major water development projects will have substantial adverse impacts on Somalia. The sum of existing water uses and planned demands in both countries will exceed available water resources in the rivers. Potential disputes over the shared rivers are therefore likely to rise. Turning this risk of conflict into a sustainable peace and development process in the region, the paper presents and analyses existing & potential opportunities for cooperation over the rivers for mutual benefit sharing. Broader regional economic integration through river cooperation seems to be the only and necessary solution for the looming crisis.
Databáze: OpenAIRE