Nile River Basin

Africa is a continent with a number of transboundary rivers and lakes, some of which are shared by more than ten countries. ¹ Of more than 276 international watercourses and aquifers, 63, covering 64 percent of the continent's land mass and accounting for 93 percent of its total surface water resources, are found in Africa. ² Following the adoption of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention (UNWC), a number of watercourse agreements in Africa have incorporated a number of basic principles of the Convention. This chapter highlights transboundary challenges facing the Nile River Basin and examines the evolution of treaty laws. The chapter specifically focuses on examining the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), in light of the UNWC, to provide insights on its contribution to a permanent legal and institutional arrangement. ³