The Time is Right, President Morsi

From an increasingly lawless Sinai to anti-American protests occurring just miles from the presidential palace, Egypt's very first democratically elected head of state has his work cut out for him. But an equally important issue he must tackle is how exactly to renegotiate the water rights of the Nile river. In light of ongoing dam construction in Ethiopia, international agreements that Egypt has previously refused to sign, and recent changes to Ethiopia’s leadership, the time is right for President Morsi to lead new negotiations and revisit antiquated allocation agreements of this critical natural resource.

Much of the frustration in Nile Basin water rights stems from two agreements drafted in 1929 and 1959 by Egyptian and Sudanese representatives, under a weighty British presence. Since these two documents allotted Egypt a vast majority of the Nile’s water and Sudan what little was left, all the basin states formally under colonial governments have achieved independence, populations have changed significantly, and climate change is a growing threat to the entire region.

As recent as 2010, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda have drafted and signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement, which aims to more equitably distribute the water rights across the entire basin, not leaving behind quickly developing countries from which the Nile headwaters flow. Egypt’s former president Hosni Mubarak strongly denounced the effort before his ouster, claiming that Egypt is the “gift of the Nile” and that his country’s claim lay in its traditional use and dependence on the river.

Fortunately, Mubarak is no longer in power and there is hope for a collaborative solution, led by Morsi as well as Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister Hailemariam. Because it is still early on in his presidency, the Egyptian president has a chance to seriously revisit this issue, and the clout to make something happen as well. As recently as last month, Mr. Morsi's approval rating was 79% and growing, as polled by the independent Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research, or Baseera. A renewed focus on basic amenities such as water and the public's access to it could bolster these ratings even more.

Instead of simply denying rumors that the Egyptian military is planning contingent strikes from Sudan into Ethopia, Morsi ought to reach out to his wary counterparts, accept that the world is distinctly different than it was in 1959, and sign the CFA. Sitting at the table and pushing your agenda seems a significantly more fruitful approach than to wait around while your counterparts carry on without you.