ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY STUDIES THE ROLE OF GIBE III DAM IN ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE COOPERATION BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND KENYA BY MAHLET FITIWI TEKLE JUNE, 2016 ADDIS ABABA 1 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY STUDIES THE ROLE OF GIBE III DAM IN ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE COOPERATION BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND KENYA BY MAHLET FITIWI TEKLE A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OF ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN PEACE AND SECURITY STUDIES JUNE, 2016 ADDIS ABABA 2 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY STUDIES THE ROLE OF GIBE III DAM IN ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE COOPERATION BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND KENYA BY MAHLET FITIWI TEKLE Name and Signature of Board of the Examiners Director of IPSS Signature Date Advisor / Examiner Signature Date __________________ Internal Examiner Signature Date ___________________ External Examiner Signature Date 3 Acknowledgement First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Kidane Kiros for guiding me throughout this research. Even with the work load that he had he had been understanding and supportive of my work. I would also like to thank all the informants that have been cooperative in taking time to answer my questions even though the topic is sensitive. Last but not least I would like to extend my gratitude to my family and friends who have understood when I disappeared from their lives in order to do this research. i Table of Contents Contents Page Acknowledgement ......................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................. iv Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... v Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the problem .............................................................................................................. 3 1.3. Objective of the study ................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.1. General objective .................................................................................................................. 5 1.3.2. Specific objectives ................................................................................................................ 5 1.4. Research questions ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.5. Significance of the study ............................................................................................................... 6 1.6. Scope of the study ......................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................................... 8 2. Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.1. Trans-boundary Waters ................................................................................................................. 9 2.2. Principles of trans-boundary waters ............................................................................................ 10 2.2.1. Equitable and reasonable utilization and participation ....................................................... 10 2.2.2. Not to cause significant harm .............................................................................................. 11 2.2.3. Cooperation ......................................................................................................................... 12 2.3. Hydroelectric Power Projects ...................................................................................................... 12 2.4. Overview of the Omo River and Lake Turkana .......................................................................... 14 2.5. Gibe III Hydroelectric Power Project ......................................................................................... 17 2.6. The Dilemma of the Gibe III Dam .............................................................................................. 19 2.7. Gibe III: source of conflict or means of cooperation .................................................................. 24 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................................... 27 3. Methodology and Research Design .................................................................................................... 27 ii 3.1. Research Site ............................................................................................................................... 27 3.2. Methodical Consideration and Choice ........................................................................................ 27 3.3. Method of Data Collection .......................................................................................................... 28 3.3.1. Primary Data ....................................................................................................................... 29 3.3.1.1 Interview ................................................................................................................................. 29 3.3.1.2 Sampling ................................................................................................................................ 29 3.3.2. Secondary Data ................................................................................................................... 30 3.4. Analysis Method ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.5. Ethical Consideration .................................................................................................................. 31 CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................................... 32 4. Discussion and Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 32 4.1. The Focus on Hydroelectric Power Projects in Ethiopia ............................................................ 32 4.2. Implication of the Gibe III Dam for Kenya and Downstream Communities .............................. 33 4.3. Reactions of Kenya to the Dam .................................................................................................. 35 4.4. Benefits of the Gibe III Dam for the Downstream Communities ............................................... 37 4.4.1. Roles of International Organizations .................................................................................. 41 4.5. Cooperation and Agreements on the Gibe III Project ................................................................. 44 4.5.1. Challenges during the construction of the Dam .................................................................. 47 4.6. Water Management ..................................................................................................................... 50 4.7. Conflict, Prevention, Management and Resolution .................................................................... 51 4.7.1. Conflict due to the Gibe III Dam ........................................................................................ 53 4.8. Lessons Learned from Gibe I and II ........................................................................................... 55 5. Conclusion and Policy Implication ..................................................................................................... 57 5.1. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 57 5.2. Policy Implication ....................................................................................................................... 60 REFERENCE .............................................................................................................................................. 62 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 71 iii List of Figures Figure