AfricaWaterBank.org

If anywhere typifies where Africa and the Arab worlds meet it is Abyei in Sudan — it is a complex tapestry of ethnicities, cultures and religions where Arabs, Africans, Christians, Animists and Muslims live side by side. It is also a possible flash point for any conflict that occurs when the time comes to demarcate the border between north and south Sudan – because it sits right on the likely border.

Reports suggest that as many as 95% of people who voted in the just completed referendum supported the southern third of Sudan forming its own independent nation in July.

As the seemingly unstoppable march towards the division of Sudan into two countries proceeds – issues such as where to locate the border – how to share the oil – how to apportion the land that surrounds that border and most importantly who will control the water – need to be resolved. North and south Sudan fought one of Africa’s most protracted civil wars over these same things – resulting in the deaths of more than 2 million people.

Despite much speculation that it will be the struggle to control oil which will determine whether the division of Sudan will be peaceful or not – it is access to water that may be the real issue. People can live without oil but they cannot live without water.

Everyone in Abyei relies on water from what the Dinka’s of the south refer to as the Kirr River and what the Misseriya of the north call Bahr al-Arab, or River of Arabs. How the control of this river and the water it provides is resolved may determine whether a peaceful division of the Sudan occurs in July.

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The Africa Water Bank develops new water points in the Sudan and is currently working with different groups in the Abyei region to find ways water security can be maintained following the division of north and south Sudan. The provision of clean, safe water in Africa will save more lives than any other intervention.

I have come to the conclusion after nearly 40 years of working in international community development that four key things need to be in place before any overall development progress can be made – access to a clean water supply, good sanitation (toilets or latrines), food security and social stability (absence of conflict and political instability).

At the end of 2010 it would appear that Africa is assuming an all too recognizable bleakness – in a political sense at least. Christmas in Nigeria saw clashes breaking out between armed Christian and Muslim groups near the central city of Jos – in Zimbabwe there were signs that President Robert Mugabe is planning to seize complete control during the elections he wants next year – whilst in the Ivory Coast despite international sanctions and financial pressures being announced almost daily, Laurent Gbagbo, appears determined to stay on as president despite losing the country’s national election.

So what is the good news? For the first time in more than 50 years more Africans have access to clean water than not – the percentage of Africans without access to a toilet has dropped – the number of Africans in need of food support is decreasing – and a significant group of West African presidents – supported by other African nations have resolved not to accept Gbagbo’s position of clinging to power despite losing the election.

These are all seemingly small steps in what is going to be a long journey – but they are
steps in the right direction – which need our ongoing support.

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The Africa Water Bank will continue to assist those Africans who do not have access to clean water develop clean water points in 2011.

The provision of clean water will save more lives than any other intervention