Evaluating Potential Impacts of High Population on the Riverine Ecological Environments in the Upper Nile Countries

Transboundary waters are very often a trigger of resource conflict. Typical water resource conflict arises when riparian states begin to assert varying rights or conflicting interests over such waters. The Nile River, as transboundary water, has more recently become a key subject of local, regional, and global concern, especially in studying its potentially conflict-related consequences. The concern is primarily due to diverse claims over Nile water resources and growing factors peculiar to some of the riparian states. This study argues that the Nile River has potential for conflict of far-reaching international consequences and that such a conflict may be triggered by concerns tied to assertive traditional right of ownership, sustainable equitable management of Nile waters, and growing population among the riparian states. By using ecological risk indicators, and global and local datasets, it analyses the impacts of such potential conflict on security, water quality, water quantity, the environment, and economics. The study overall highlights how a cooperative legal framework, as well as international law such as the United Nations Watercourses Convention, can be utilised to effectively manage Nile water resources. This study has crucial legal and policy implications for managing transboundary water resources and preventing potential conflicts of wider impacts.