Egypt/Ethiopia/Sudan: Q&A: The ‘Elephant in the Room’ in Nile Basin Reporting

Jan 3, 2020 | Rehab Abd Almohsen, SciDev.net
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Crossing the borders of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, the Nile is often portrayed as a river that ignites conflict because of the demand for its water by the 11 countries it serves. Balanced reporting of developments along its banks is stifled by a lack of information and curbs to press freedom, says Emanuele Fantini, project manager for the Open Water Diplomacy Lab. The Open Water Diplomacy Lab was set up in 2016 to promote science and media as a catalyst for cooperation and peace amid these tensions. It examines the role of the two sectors in influencing ongoing negotiations over Nile waters, reaching out to diplomats, international institutions and NGOs to foster partnerships.