Water Control Shapes Power and Security in Africa

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This article examines how control over water resources, from major rivers like the Chobe, Orange, and Nile, holds immense power and security implications for African nations. Disputes over border demarcations and access to water flows can influence social stability, migration patterns, and investment decisions. The complex interplay between legal concepts like sovereign equality and the practical realities of water control requires careful navigation as water emerges as a crucial national security risk for countries across the continent.

Why it matters

Water is a vital resource that shapes economies, livelihoods, and international relations in Africa. Disputes over access to and control of major river systems like the Chobe, Orange, and Nile have far-reaching consequences for social stability, migration, and investment. Understanding water as a national security issue is essential for policymakers to create environments where humans can thrive.

The details

Ownership of the small island in the Chobe River, known as Kasikili in Botswana and Sedudu in Namibia, became a legal battle, with Namibia claiming it as their territory. The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Botswana, citing the thalweg, the deepest part of the river channel, as the border. Similarly, the border demarcation of the Orange River between Namibia and South Africa ignores the international legal norm of using the thalweg, denying German South-West Africa access to the river's water flows. Control of water through dams provides flood protection and drought resilience, but is highly contested, as seen in the Nile River dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

• In 2010, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Botswana regarding the Kasikili/Sedudu Island dispute.
• The border demarcation of the Orange River between Namibia and South Africa was established during the colonial era, in the late 19th century.

What’s next

Ongoing negotiations and legal proceedings are expected to continue as countries in Africa seek to resolve disputes over the control and use of shared water resources, with potential implications for regional stability and economic development.