Hydro-hegemony in the Nile Basin: a Sudanese perspective

This paper seeks to re-evaluate Sudan's position, power and policy in light of the hydro-hegemony theory. Sudan's unique transboundary hydrology, particularly in the south, and recent important developments in Sudanese affairs are of particular interest. The possibility of Sudan disintegrating into two sovereign states as per Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Sudan's emergence as an oil-exporting country have provided new political events that serve as important factors to be used to analyse Sudan's position and power under the hydro-hegemony theory. Furthermore, Sudan's historical hydro-political objective, the ‘midstream doctrine’ which strives to reconcile the competing demands of downstream and upstream Nile riparians shall be brought to the fore. The methodology utilised in this paper to evaluate hydro-hegemony shall be based on Viotti and Kauppi's definition of Hegemony, Yoffe's Water Event Intensity Scale and Naff and Matson's Power Ratio.