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].