Nile Riparian Countries Urged to Prioritize Sustainable Management, Conserve River

Addis Ababa, February 2, 2025 (ENA)---The 19th Abay Day will be held coming Saturday in Addis Ababa, featuring a series of events on the theme "Strengthening Abay Cooperation for Climate Resilience and Shared Prosperity."

Briefing the media about the event, Ethiopia's Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Ittefa emphasized the importance of collaboration to manage the Abbay River, indicating that cooperation is the best way forward.

Habtamu stated that Ethiopia has been actively engaging in a multitude of initiatives aimed at safeguarding the Abay River, including the implementation of various environmental protection measures to combat soil erosion.

 

Underpinning the principle of "one river, one people, one goal" in Ethiopia, the minister emphasized the importance of protecting water resources.

The Nile Basin Initiative has made significant progress, executing important projects and generating clean energy for neighboring countries, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability.

The provision of clean energy to neighboring countries and the consequent decrease in carbon emissions serve as a notable accomplishment in promoting sustainable development and environmental conservation, the minister said.

Ethiopia has planted over 40 billion seedlings as part of their reforestation efforts, with a significant portion of these seedlings being planted along the tributaries of the Abay River, he recalled.

The Minister stressed that in order to preserve the water, it is essential for all riparian countries to jointly prioritize the sustainable management and conservation of the river.

 

Chair, Technical Advisory Committee, Callist Tindimugaya on his part emphasized that the Nile riparian countries have been actively engaged in efforts to establish conducive conditions for the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the Abay River, rather than focusing solely on the distribution of the water itself.

The Abay River serves as a vital lifeline for over 500 million population residing in the basin countries, he said.

He elaborated the ongoing efforts to mitigate the potential risks that climate change poses to the river including sustainable development practices, restoring ecosystems and raising awareness among communities about the importance of preserving the river's health.