Addis Ababa, June 15, 2024 (FBC) – The 3rd Annual Forum for Regional Integration and Reasonable Utilization of the Nile (AFRI-RUN III) has commenced in Addis Ababa this morning.
The forum aims at ensuring equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile water by exchanging experiences and sharing best practices from scientific research, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Nebiyu Tedla said on X.
The forum will also help championing the significance of the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization of trans-boundary waters as the guiding principle in the development of trans-boundary water resources.
Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in officiating the forum, welcomed distinguished experts from the Nile River basin countries for joining the forum to share and exchange views on our collective effort to ensure the equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile River. Ambassador Mesganu further highlighted, working towards the speedy entry into force of the Cooperative Framework Agreement will allow for collaboration and progress in the region.
Executive Director of Institute of Foreign Affairs, Jafar Bediru, gave remarks stating AFRIRUN is a flagship project undertaken since 2022 by FDRE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Institute of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Water and Energy aimed at creating a platform for members of the riparian states, experts and members of academia to gather and have fruitful dialogue on the equitable and reasonable share of the Nile river.
Jafar emphasized the notable advancements achieved in the Nile Basin, such as the increasing number of states ratifying the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement and the promotion of regional power interconnection projects. Nevertheless, it is imperative to recognize the existing structural impediments that are impeding progress, including the delayed establishment of the Nile River Basin Commission and the sluggish pace of regional integration.
According to him, effectively addressing these challenges is crucial for unlocking the Nile’s potential for cooperation, regional integration, and prosperity. Ethiopia has demonstrated its dedication by ratifying the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement and is actively working towards enhancing regional integration through the development of physical infrastructure and the establishment of connections in the region through initiatives like electricity and environmentally sustainable practices. On top of that he underscored the Ethiopian government initiative on Green Legacy which aimed at combating escalating deforestation by planting hundreds of millions of trees annually to mitigate environmental insecurity in the region.
The annual event is organized by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Ethiopia) and the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), in collaboration with the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA).
The event is being held under the theme “Shared Resources for Shared Future and Prosperity: Cooperation and Regional Integration through Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of the Nile”. Senior officers and experts of the organizing institutes, scholars and experts of the Nile basin countries are participating at the forum.