Using the media as a tool for cooperation

 Bereket Gebru

Ever since the assumption of state power in Egypt by Abdul Fattah El Sisi, Ethio-Egyptian relations have turned around for the better. The self confessed attempts by his predecessor Mohammed Morsi to sabotage Ethiopia and its efforts to realize the dam have steadily been replaced by a policy of engagement under the current Egyptian regime.

With cooperative relations secured quite early with Sudan and South Sudan upon its attainment of independence, the progressively cooperative endeavors with Egypt nurture a peaceful and collectively beneficial environment in the Eastern Nile Basin that comprises the four countries. Efforts towards strengthening this bond are very important in carrying the working partnership between these countries forward.

In the final week of July, a group of journalists from Sudan, South Sudan and Egypt spent their time in Ethiopia. The main purpose of the visit, held in coordination with the Stockholm International Water Institute and the Nile Basin Initiative's Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office, was to give the media a chance to contribute to reduced tension and broader cooperative activities. Notably, their trip to Ethiopia included a visit to the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.  

Before their visit of the dam under construction, the journalists received three days of training in Addis Ababa and Assosa. The objective of this training, as reported by various media, was to contribute to the emergence and consolidation of constructive media reporting about the Eastern Nile basin. Sudan Tribune reported that journalists were urged to promote and disseminate up-to-date and accurate reports regarding developments on political, economic and environmental issues related to the River Nile. It went on to say that the training also intended to promote wider awareness and enhance knowledge and expand understanding on cooperation opportunities and the reward could be gained out of joint collaboration on water management and development.

Through the application of journalism’s capacity to present and analyze facts shaping the opinions of people along the way, the training intends to build cooperation over the Nile between the countries through the use of the media. The training is also expected to raise the awareness of the concerned journalists regarding the national interests of countries in relation with the Nile showcasing the diversity of these interests and presenting the potential areas for cooperation.

Sudan Tribune reported:

A number of participants from different countries told Sudan Tribune that the training was incredibly helpful. They said the training has facilitated an improved understanding among the journalists on the challenges and opportunities of water cooperation. Trained Journalists vow to report in a responsible way and to further provide the public in their respective countries factual information to clear long-standing confusion regarding Ethiopia’s massive dam project. The journalists vow to use their respective media to promote the benefits of multi-lateral cooperation in the various Nile water related sectors.

The training was then followed by a visit to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). After a reported warm reception and a briefing by the project manager of the GERD, Semegnehu Bekele, the journalists spent the night at the project site. Considering it was the first time a group of Egyptian journalists visited the site, the experience seems to have left a lasting impression on them.

Sudan Tribune quoted Haitham Mohamed, an Egyptian journalist, as saying that he had misconception on the project and the visit had helped him open his eyes to fix the fallacy. The newspaper went on to state that Haitham Mohamed said he used to consider the dam project as an absolute threat to Egypt’s water security before the visit. It quotes Haitham as saying: “I thought the construction of the dam would hurt Egypt but now I discover that is not the case.” “After I talked to the experts and engineers including the project manager, I have come to believe it is a crucial project which Nile basin countries should rather cooperate in order to enhance their development efforts,” he added.

Ayah Aman, an Egyptian journalist specializing in Africa and the Nile Basin, Turkey and Iran and Egyptian social issues, was also a member of the Egyptian delegation. In an article she wrote for Al-monitor, she stated: “the left and right sides of the dam are finished.” She also clarified on recent false reports that the reservoir is already being filled by remarking: “water is not stored behind the dam yet.”

She also showed the Ethiopian perspective regarding the dam to her readers by including the project manager’s words to the Egyptian people:

All dimensions related to safety of the dam, quality of construction, operation and maintenance have been designed and put into consideration in a way that makes us reliable, as the project will be of benefit to downstream countries as much as it is to the Ethiopian people,” Bekele said in his response to growing Egyptian doubts about the dam. “Ethiopia has vowed to make use of its water resources to benefit everyone. We think beyond the horizon,” he added.

Another point she included was a short description of the benefits of the dam to Egypt and Sudan as presented by Engineer Semegnew Bekele. She also implied that the project manager showed transparency in most of his dealings with the group singling out an instance as an exception to that attitude.

The reaction by Haitham Mohamed indicates that it is possible to change the prejudices we, as people of the Eastern Nile Basin, have about each other through closer engagement to achieve a better understanding. The article by Ayah Aman also shows that a chance to share our thoughts would open the door for others to benefit from the experience of just a few people who have stumbled up on the chance.

It would be very important to keep such exchanges between people of the sub-basin going as they would enable the countries attain a better understanding about the intents and interests of the other. The chance to visit Nile related life in the four countries of the sub-basin would ultimately create improved awareness on the issues individual states raise, developing the trust between them and increasing the opportunities for amicable deals. Therefore, the recent visit by journalists from Sudan, South Sudan and Egypt to Ethiopia can be used a start of something strong to follow.