top of page
Search

Water Weaponization in Ethiopia and Eritrea’s Regional Struggles

Since the era of the first human settlements, water has proven to be the golden rule for a flourishing society, an essential element for the sustenance of communities and civilisation. According to a recent Statista report, by 2022, water had triggered 87 wars and conflicts, also often becoming a weapon of war. 


A large hand tilts an hourglass in a desert. Water drips onto a person holding a bucket. Sparse trees and cracked ground in background.
Illustration by Yashashree A

By disrupting access, interrupting irrigation systems, and contaminating waters, water can be utilized as a war threat. In 2022, Statista reported 16 cases in which water was used as a weapon. Most recently, a striking example emerged from South Asia, where India moved to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty in retaliation for a terrorist attack it attributed to Pakistan. 


Water is a fundamental feature of the African continent, and it is often unequally distributed. As noted by the WWF, countries around the African continent normally share important water basins, yet the increasing construction of dams and reservoirs exacerbates droughts and floods, and centralizes water collection and supply. 


As is the case with the Nile, the longest river in the world, where its riparian countries—Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Sudan, and Egypt—have been engaging in multiple confrontations on water shares, dams, and irrigation systems, as noted by Kabukuru (2017). 


In particular, the Horn of Africa has seen water as a major cause of contention since the 1960s, when former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser built the Aswan High Dam, which resulted in the displacement of Nubian people both in Sudan and Egypt.


Today, Sudan suffers from one of the worst famines of the century. One of the causes of this tragic famine is the two belligerent Sudanese military parties' manipulation, destruction, and weaponization of irrigation and sanitation systems, as reported by Annette Hoffmann for the Clingendael Institute. 

 

Since 2023, the tensions between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have escalated into a bloody civil war that has thrown Sudan into famine and suffering. Water, together with the collapsing healthcare system and other institutions, has been utilized by both parties to increase insecurity. 


Further, by damaging the irrigation systems, the Forces have disrupted crop production, Hoffmann explains, which caused the collapse of Sudanese agricultural trade and the ability to supply food to their own population. Sudan is a dramatic example of how water can be weaponized in conflict areas, with devastating consequences for the broader society and economy.


The 2020 EU External Action Service calculates that global reservoirs have withdrawn more than 700 km3/year as of 2010, rendering water diplomacy essential. When water becomes scarce, nations contend for it as it is an essential resource for the energy industry and vital to human survival. It enables irrigation and improves health and trade. The latter are crucial considerations, especially in the Horn of Africa, where water stress is rampant. Yet, energy diplomacy is not taking place as expected. 


Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2020, which triggered an immediate reaction from Egypt and Sudan, as it plans to store 74 billion cubic meters of water and generate 5,150 MW of electricity when fully operational, according to Brlie for Fana Broadcasting. This amount of water could threaten the bargaining power of the Egyptian government during negotiations and make Ethiopia an energy competitor in the market. 


The scramble for water followed in 2022, when the Ethiopian government fought against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and destroyed the Tigray region’s irrigation system and hydroelectric plants. Tigray is a semi-arid region in the north of Ethiopia, at the border with Sudan and Eritrea. Its geographical position has made it the stage of the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict and led to the starvation of more than 2.3 million people suffering from water insecurity, as reported by Bruess for Circle of Blue.


History repeats itself, and today, the rising tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia stem from the Ethiopian desire for access to the Red Sea, which provides strategic access to trade routes and is of major security concern for the East African nations. Since the loss of two of the most important harbours due to Eritrea’s secession in 1993, Ethiopia has directed an aggressive foreign policy towards Eritrea’s waters. 


Relations have deteriorated since the Eritrean proxy involvement in the Tigray conflict, and Ethiopia believes itself to have the moral and legal grounds on which to claim access to the waters, being the most populous landlocked country in the world.


Risks of the potential escalation of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea would certainly have a spillover effect on the greater region of the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti and the Middle East, as changes related to water controls would impact trade patterns in the Suez Canal. According to Chatham House, some war-free solutions could include Ethiopia leasing some of the coastline from Eritrea and engaging in developing its naval capacity. 


With this, the people of Tigray keep suffering from the weaponization of water and the aggressive diplomacy of the Ethiopian federal state. The incumbent tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea might heighten the gravity of the offensive in Tigray. This would cause not only immense suffering, but also attacks on water courses and reservoirs in a region that is already at risk from aridity. 

 

Clearly, water continues to be a common denominator of north and east African nations' geopolitical considerations. Whether Ethiopian projects, such as the dam, or the weaponization of water courses in Tigray and Sudan, water has become a security issue and the spark of contention in the Horn of Africa.



 Edited by Tatenda Dlali


Arianna Feola (she/her) is a student of International Relations based in the Netherlands and a writer at Political Pandora. Born and raised in Italy, she has a deep curiosity for cultural diversity, languages, and migratory movements. Her academic focus lies in the Middle East and North Africa region, where she explores the intersections of politics, economics, culture, religion, and identity.



Disclaimer


Any facts, views or opinions are not intended to malign, criticise and/or disrespect any religion, group, club, organisation, company, or individual.

This article published on this website is solely representative of the author. Neither the editorial staff nor the organisation (Political Pandora) are responsible for the content.


All illustrations in this piece, if any, are original works created exclusively by the Design Department of Political Pandora.


These illustrations are protected and are not available for replication, reproduction, or redistribution in any form without explicit written consent from Political Pandora. Unauthorized use, including but not limited to copying, modifying, or redistributing, is strictly prohibited.


Photographs in this particular article are taken from external sources and are not a property of Political Pandora. The use of these images are not meant for commercial purposes.


While we strive to present only reliable and accurate information, should you believe that any information present is incorrect or needs to be edited, please feel free to contact us.



References:



Keywords: Water Conflicts And Geopolitics, Weaponization Of Water, Indus Waters Treaty Suspension, African Water Inequality, Nile Basin Disputes, Horn Of Africa Tensions, Aswan High Dam And Displacement, Sudanese Civil War And Famine, Irrigation Destruction In Sudan, Global Water Scarcity, Energy And Water Diplomacy, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ethiopia-Egypt-Sudan Tensions, Tigray Conflict And Water Insecurity, Red Sea Access And Eritrean Tensions, Strategic Trade And Waterways, Proxy Conflicts And Resource Strain, Water As A Security Issue.

Comments

Join the 
Pandora Community

Join Political Pandora! We offer exciting opportunities for passionate youth.

 

Publish your work on a global platform with an engaged audience, often cited in academic research. Your voice matters—be part of the conversation!

bottom of page