Ethiopian Renaissance journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Abstract

Ethiopia is the foremost source of Abay – providing 86% of the Nile water. However, it
is the country that has made the least use of the water of Abay. When European colonel powers embarked on the scramble for resources including water, Ethiopia kept
her eyes on survival fundamentals ---territorial integrity and political independence of
the country. Nonetheless, Ethiopia has always retained the rights, desires and plans
to utilize he Nile water. In fact, Ethiopia has no other option than harnessing its water
resources for consumptive and non-consumptive purposes. Even there is no legal or
intuitional obligation that limits Ethiopian policy makers from fulfilling their national
duties—using the water of Abay - in the best interest of the Ethiopian people