Analysis of Hydro-Politics from the Perspective of Justice: Focus on Ethio-Egyptian Relation over the Blue Nile

Abstract

The study has analyzed hydro-politics from the perspective of justice by focusing on Ethio-Egyptian hydro-political relation, which is encircled by the utilization of the Blue Nile. To this end, it employed a qualitative research method, content analysis research design and secondary sources of data. Accordingly, the research found the nonexistence of hydro-political justice in the Ethio-Egyptian relation of utilizing the Blue Nile. It also uncovered that hydro-political justice is within the water use policy of Ethiopia and basin-centered dealings of the riparians. Furthermore, the research justified that the dynamics of their water use position is, currently, manifested by consequential and transitional perspectives of justice. Based on these findings, the study concluded that Ethio–Egyptian relation in the utilization of the Blue Nile is on the right path of renovating hydro-political justice. The renovation opening path of hydro-political justice over the water resource is begun to be observed after a decisive political measurement and an enervating diplomatic journey of Ethiopia that it did with Egypt and other riparians’ through inaugurating Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Hence, the study recommends that both riparians must follow a water policy that respects equitable principle of international law in general and the water use theory of limited territorial sovereignty in particular.