Going Forward...

In 2013, progress was made in addressing the issues surrounding the NAS. All four countries lying on top of the NAS committed to ensuring the equitable use of the water (UN News Service Section, 2013). Interestingly, experts believe that with proper management of this TBA, it will last for centuries to come, which will relieve a lot of pressure on these African countries and their people (Maxwell, 2011).

Whilst this agreement goes some way to addressing the issues concerning usage of the NAS, I believe that without strict regulation and consequences for breaking the agreement, trouble will undoubtedly lie ahead. If countries such as Libya can continue to extract high amounts of water without being penalised, then of course they will continue to do so.

Furthermore, with social, economic and political stress that has occurred in the region in recent years making things even more unpredictable, there is the possibility that the valuable resource of water from the NAS will be affected. I believe that to truly ensure successful management and equitable use of this TBA, it is imperative that, however tough it may be, these detrimental tensions must be mediated first.

References:

Maxwell, N. (2011). The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System: Thoughts on a Multilateral   Treaty in Light of the 2008 UN Resolution on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers.

UN News Service Section, (2013). UN News - Four African nations agree to improve use of         key water resource under UN-backed plan. [online] Available at:   http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45877#.VpFDapOLSRs [Accessed      4 Dec. 2015].