Date: Monday, February 26, 2018 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
Venue: Ottawa Library, 377 Rideau Street, Programs room (downstairs)
The Eastern Nile Region (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia) has for decades been affected by political tensions over the proposed and now nearly complete Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and other hydro structures. The objective of the presentation is to better inform the ASG membership and guests about the dam and its impact on the Nile River and adjacent countries. The talk will be structured as follows:
- What is the GERD and its background story? What are the “rights” and “benefits” that are subject to dispute?
- What does International Law say about the governance of border-crossing rivers and the non-navigational use of waters. How effective and enforceable is that law?
- The regional integration and interdependency dimensions of relations between Ethiopia and neighbouring countries.
- How can those countries achieve regional tranquility, security and development?
- What are the implications of the absence, so far, of a functional Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFWA) for the Nile Basin, and what are the political ramifications?
- Options and possible trajectory for the 3 countries.
Tag Elkhazin
Tag initially trained in Water Resources, Monitoring and Evaluation and Implementation of Infrastructure and Energy Projects and worked in these areas in many countries. He subsequently trained in Strategic Studies, Peace Building and Alternative Dispute Resolution in the United Kingdom and Canada. Tag is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Institute of Canada and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) London UK. Tag was personal advisor to Sen. Lois Wilson, Canada’s first Peace Envoy to Sudan. He was on the faculty of the Pearson Peacekeeping Training Centre. He is currently Adjunct Professor at Carleton University Ottawa, assigned to the Institute of African Studies.
He regularly provides comments and analysis in writing and in broadcasts on Conflct in South Sudan, Water/Nile Waters, Women, Civil Society, Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Darfur Political Process and issues generally relating to the Horn of Africa.
*The next two events will be March 28 (a presentation by IMPACT – formerly Partnership Africa-Canada -on its work) and April 25 (a presentation by Hany Besada on China and Africa). Both events will be in the Richmond Room at Ottawa City Hall and start at 5:30PM.
