The discourse initiated at the Tana Forum underscores a significant insight for Ethiopian academic and policy spheres. Water Engineering and hydrological sciences are not isolated; they are intricately linked with international law and geopolitics. Comprehending the process of knowledge production enables Ethiopia to enhance its technical capabilities locally while also influencing international scientific frameworks concerning transboundary river governance.
BY Tesfaye Kebede OPINION
ADDIS REPORTER – At the last Tana Forum in Bahir Dar, remarks made by Getachew Reda regarding the foundation of the former Arba Minch Water Technology Institute (AWTI): now Arba Minch University sparked a furious dispute among Ethiopian hydraulic engineers, hydrologists, and academic professionals.
To properly analyze the conversation, it is crucial to distinguish between a surface-level interpretation of his statement and the underlying academic framework he was relying upon: the Geopolitics of Knowledge Production.
1. The Approach of Egypt: “Manufacturing Knowledge” in Transboundary Water Governance
For decades, Egypt has invested extensively in scientific research, academic publishing, and international legal frameworks concerning water engineering, hydrology, and transboundary river management. By training thousands of professionals and filling academic journals with peer-reviewed literature, Egypt successfully shaped the worldwide scientific consensus around its own national objectives.
Through this systemic creation of information, crucial legal and hydrological ideas were formulated to support downstream state rights:
I. Prior Utilization & Historical Rights: The premise that early utilization imposes a legal and scientific priority, translating historic consumption patterns into an internationally recognized “right.”
II. No Significant Harm: Emphasizing limits on upstream developments rather than stressing principles of equitable and appropriate consumption.
In summary, the discipline of water management was not impartial; it was shaped by Egyptian scholarly supremacy to advance Egyptian national objectives.
2. The Genesis of AWTI and the Enduring Scientific Framework
When Ethiopia built the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute under President Mengistu Hailemariam, the purpose was patriotic and development-driven: to train native engineers to utilize the nation’s immense water resources.
However, because global water science and curriculum materials were overwhelmingly dominated by Egyptian-authored or Western-aligned literature favoring downstream paradigms, the foundational knowledge taught in early hydro-engineering curricula inherently operated within the parameters defined by Egyptian academic influence.
Getachew Reda’s principal assertion was neither that AWTI was established to benefit Egypt, nor was it meant to undermine the significant, esteemed contributions of Arba Minch University to Ethiopia’s national progress. His argument was foundational and systemic: despite Ethiopia’s creation of its leading water institution to attain water sovereignty, the technical frameworks, literature, and scientific paradigms accessible at that time were significantly limited by an Egyptian-imposed worldwide knowledge framework.
The shortcomings in Getachew’s public address at the Tana Forum were not due to a dismissal or misinterpretation of the fundamental idea, but rather a deficiency in effectively expressing and cohesively communicating the intricate notion of Egyptian supremacy in knowledge creation as it was initially framed and relayed to him. This is partly my failure although I have tried to clarify the matter to him, he is not a good listener. No matter how awkward his presentation was and susceptible to misunderstanding, he maintained the core argument.
3. Misunderstanding versus Genuine Purpose of the Assertion
The heated reaction from hydro experts arises largely from a misunderstanding of the critique:
a) Institutional Critique vs. Knowledge Critique: The statement was not an attack on AWTI’s mission or legacy, but an observation on how Hegemonic Knowledge Systems impact national institutions in the Global South.
b) The Appeal for Epistemic Freedom: The overarching message underscores that attaining genuine water security necessitates more than mere physical infrastructure and engineering prowess. It requires the generation of counter-knowledge and alternative scientific discourses that embody upstream rights and equitable usage on the global platform.
Thus, the indignation aimed at Getachew Reda overlooks the larger systemic context. Instead of channeling frustration toward a politician’s inadequate presentation, Ethiopian hydro experts should introspectively examine their own professional shortcomings: for many years, numerous individuals have been oblivious to the influence of Egyptian academic supremacy on the scientific instruments, models, and literature they currently utilize and take pride in.
The discourse initiated at the Tana Forum underscores a significant insight for Ethiopian academic and policy spheres. Water Engineering and hydrological sciences are not isolated; they are intricately linked with international law and geopolitics. Comprehending the process of knowledge production enables Ethiopia to enhance its technical capabilities locally while also influencing international scientific frameworks concerning transboundary river governance.
Getachew K Reda
ዌብሳይት፡ https://addisreporter.com/
ኢሜል፡ info@addisreporter.com
ቴሌግራም፡ https://t.me/addisreporter2
X፡ https://x.com/amejuju?s=21
https://web.facebook.com/addm
