16 May 2010

River Nile agreement rejected by Egypt

10:50 am on 16 May 2010

Egypt has rejected a new agreement on how the waters of the river Nile should be shared.

The agreement was signed in Entebbe, Uganda, by four upstream countries - Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. They want a new deal after 13 years of talks.

Officials from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya also sent officials to Entebbe. The BBC reports they may sign later.

However, Egypt and Sudan say they will not sign a new deal unless they are guaranteed an exact share of the water.

The Nile passes through nine countries, but a colonial-era treaty gives Egypt and Sudan the right to 90% of its flow.

An estimated 85% of the river comes from Ethiopia - the source of the Blue Nile.