Abstract
This chapter analyzes in detail the effects of the Merowe Dam project in Sudan, highlighting population displacement and impoverishment of three communities: the Hamadab, Amri, and Manasir. Within the scholarship of development-induced displacement and resettlement (DIDR), as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs), the contribution takes a critical approach by assessing two World Bank variables in its impoverishment risks and reconstruction (IRR) model: landlessness and homelessness. By exploring the decade-long history of the dam project, its sources of funding and stakeholders, as well as legal documents and media reports, the chapter concludes that the dam and the Sudanese government systematically violated the human rights of the three tribal groups by forcing them onto less fertile land and failing to deliver key compensation promises to the affected populations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Government of Sudan, Dams Implementation Unit (DIU). Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/location.html
- 2.
The other six risks defined by the model are joblessness, marginalization, food insecurity, increased morbidity, loss of access to common property resources, and community disarticulation.
- 3.
Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC)—Countries—Sudan. Accessed July 30, 2018, from http://internal-displacement.org/countries/sudan
- 4.
Ibid.
- 5.
International rivers—campaigns: Chinese dams in Africa. Accessed February 20, 2018, from https://www.internationalrivers.org/campaigns/chinese-dams-in-africa
- 6.
Big Dams Bringing Poverty Not Power. (2006). Progress magazine: The sustainable development quarterly. Accessed February 20, 2018, from https://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/big-dams-bringing-poverty-not-power-to-africa-2006
- 7.
Business and Human Rights Resource Center. Three killed in Sudan protest over Nile dam. Accessed February 22, 2018, from https://business-humanrights.org/en/three-killed-in-sudan-protest-over-nile-dam-0
- 8.
International Rivers. Bujagali Dam, Uganda. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/campaigns/bujagali-dam-uganda
- 9.
See footnote 1.
- 10.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/studies.html
- 11.
Ibid.
- 12.
Ibid.
- 13.
Ibid.
- 14.
Ibid.
- 15.
Ibid.
- 16.
Ibid.
- 17.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/transp-lines.html
- 18.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed July 28, 2018, from http://diu.gov.sd/en/home/pages/url/14
- 19.
Ibid.
- 20.
Ibid.
- 21.
Ibid.
- 22.
Ibid.
- 23.
Ibid.
- 24.
Ibid.
- 25.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/funding.html
- 26.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/consultancy.html, http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/ccmd.html, http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/alstom.html, http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/hpe.html, and http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/companies.html
- 27.
See footnote 25.
- 28.
Sudanese farmers say Merowe dam flooding villages. (July 31, 2008). Sudan Times. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article28086
- 29.
Genocide Watch. South Sudan and Sudan country profile: The birth of a new country. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.genocidewatch.org/southsudan.html
- 30.
World Without Genocide at William Mitchell College of Law. Darfur Genocide. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/darfur-genocide
- 31.
Ibid.
- 32.
See footnote 10.
- 33.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed February 28, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/social.html
- 34.
Ibid.
- 35.
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Fact Sheet No.25, Forced Evictions and Human Rights. Accessed February 26, 2018, from http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet25en.pdf
- 36.
Government of Sudan (DIU). Accessed February 28, 2018, from http://www.merowedam.gov.sd/en/payments.html
- 37.
Ibid.
- 38.
Sudanese police arrest four students from Merowe dam-affected communities. (2011, November 18). Sudan Tribune. Accessed February 28, 2018, from http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article40754
- 39.
Haberlah “Dar al-Manasir.” Accessed July 26, 2018, from http://www2.hu-berlin.de/aknoa/hune/daralmanasir.htm/
References
Abdelaziz, K. (2011, November 20). Hundreds protest in Sudan, displaced by dam: Witnesses. Reuters. Accessed February 28, 2018, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-protests/hundreds-protest-in-sudan-displaced-by-dam-witnesses-idUSTRE7AJ0GP20111120
Adam, M. J. (2015). Lake Nasser: A unique opportunity for the study of submerged terrestrial sites. Accessed February 20, 2018, from http://www.academia.edu/173943/M.J._Adams_Lake_Nasser_a_Unique_Opportunity_for_Submerged_Terrestrial_Site_Archaeology
Akasha, Y. (2014, December 12). Sudan’s anti-dam movement fights the flooding of Nubian culture. The Guardian. Accessed February 28, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/12/sudans-anti-dam-movement-fights-the-flooding-of-nubian-culture
Ashton, P. J. (2002). Avoiding conflicts over Africa’s water resources. Ambio, 31, 236–242.
Bal, Hartosh S. (2012, August 21). Politics be dammed. The New York Times. Accessed July 28, 2018, from http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/politics-be-dammed/
Bernacsek, G. M. (2001). Environmental issues, capacity and information base for management of fisheries affected by dams, Executive summary. In G. Marmulla (Ed.), Dams, fish and fisheries: Opportunities, challenges and conflict resolution (pp. 45–84). Rome: FAO Fisheries Technical Paper.
Bosshard, P. (2010). German company brought to justice over abuses in Sudan Dam? International Rivers Network. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/227/german-company-brought-to-justice-over-abuses-in-sudan-dam
Bosshard, P. (2011). New Chinese dam project fuels ethnic conflict in Sudan. International Rivers. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/227/new-chinese-dam-project-fuels-ethnic-conflict-in-sudan
Bosshard, P., & Hildyard, N. (2005). Critical juncture for peace, democracy and the environment. Forced Migration Review, 24, 60 Accessed July 28, 2018, from http://www.fmreview.org/sites/fmr/files/FMRdownloads/en/sudan/bosshard-hildyard.pdf
Brokensha, D. W., Warren, D. M., & Werner, O. (1980). Indigenous knowledge systems and development. Washington, DC: University Press of America.
Business and Human Rights. (2013). Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.business-humanrights.org
Cernea, M. M. (2000). Risks, safeguards and reconstruction: A model for population displacement and resettlement. In M. M. Cernea & C. McDowell (Eds.), Risks and reconstruction: Experiences of resettlers and refugees (pp. 11–55). Washington, DC: The World Bank.
Colson, E. (1993). Putting people first: Sociological variables in rural development (ed. Michael Cernea) (Book Review). Journal of Refugee Studies, 6, 80–81.
De Wet, C. (2006). Introducing the issue. In C. De Wet (Ed.), Development induced displacement; Problems, policies and people (p. 1). New York: Berghan Books.
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018). The kingdom of Kush. Accessed July 28, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Sudan/The-kingdom-of-Kush
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). (2011a). Enforcing Human Rights Law by new means. Accessed August 30, 2018, from https://www.ecchr.eu/fileadmin/Jahresberichte/ECCHR_Annual_Report_2011.pdf
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). (2011b). Askouri vs. Nothdurft, criminal complaint against Lahmeyer (English Translation). Accessed August 30, 2018, from https://www.ecchr.eu/fileadmin/Juristische_Dokumente/Criminal_complaint_Lahmeyer__English_translation___2010-05.pdf
Fernandes, W. (2008). Sixty years of development-induced displacement in India. In H. M. Mathur (Ed.), India social development report 2008: Development and displacement (pp. 90–91). New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Fisher, D. (2005). Epilogue: International Law on the internally displaced persons. In P. Banerjee, S. Basu, R. Chaudhury, & S. K. Das (Eds.), Internal displacement in South Asia: The relevance of the UN’s guiding principles (pp. 316–334). New Delhi: Sage.
Flint, J. (2005, July 24). Villagers in Sudan fight dam dictators: The ambitious government project has left thousands homeless and starving. The Observer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/jul/24/sudan.theobserver
Giles, J. (2006). Tide of censure for African dams: A wave of Chinese-built dams in Africa, particularly the Merowe project in Sudan, could have devastating consequences for local communities. Nature, 440, 393–394.
Gobalakrishna, B. V., & Leelavathi, D. S. (2012). Amartya Sen’s contribution to human development. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.mbainfoline.com/Articles%20on%20Management/-%20New%20Folder/AmartyaSens%20Contribution%20to%20Human%20Development.htm
Graham, A., et al. (2011, April). The role of the EU in land grabbing in Africa – CSO Monitoring 2009–2010 “Advancing African Agriculture” (AAA): The impact of Europe’s policies and practices on African Agriculture and Food Security. Paper presented at the International Conference on Global Land Grabbing, Sussex.
Grainger, S. (2007, April 27). Controversial dam divides Ugandans. BBC News. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6589495.stm
Hathaway, T. (2010). What is driving dams in Africa? World Rivers Review: Focus on the New Dam Builders, 25, 5–6.
Hildyard, N. (2008). Neutral? Against what? Bystanders and human rights abuses: The case of Merowe Dam. Sudan Studies Society of the United Kingdom. Accessed July 28, 2018, from http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/sites/thecornerhouse.org.uk/files/MeroweSudanStudies.pdf
Hoshour, K., & Kalafut, J. (2010). A growing global crisis: Development induced displacement and resettlement. Issue Paper. International Accountability Project.
International Rivers Network. (2004). ALSTOM responds to IRN letter on Merowe Dam. Accessed July 26, 2018, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/alstom-responds-to-irn-letter-on-merowe-dam-3242
International Rivers Network (IRN). (2005). Urgent call for a negotiated agreement to end the violence in the Merowe/Hamadab dam-affected areas. Accessed August 30, 2018, from https://www.internationalrivers.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/pdf.pdf
International Rivers Network. (2006). Sudan Government massacres Merowe Dam affected people. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/sudan-government-massacres-merowe-dam-affected-people-3906
Kamel, M. (2011, May 11). Ethiopia and Uganda to build four new dams in 2011. Egypt Independent. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/ethiopia-and-uganda-build-four-new-dams-2011
Kant, I. (2005). Groundwork on the metaphysics of morals (T. K. Abbott & L. Denis, Trans.). New York: Simon and Schuster.
Koenig, D. (2002). Toward local development and mitigating impoverishment in development-induced displacement and resettlement. Working Paper No. 8. Oxford: Refugee Studies Centre. Accessed July 26, 2018, from http://repository.forcedmigration.org/show_metadata.jsp?pid=fmo:3648
McDonald-Wilmsen, B., & Webber, M. (2010). Dams and displacement: Raising the standards and broadening the research agenda. Water Alternatives, 3, 142–161.
Mehta, L., Neldwish, G. J., & Franco, J. (2012). Introduction to the Special Issue: Water grabbing? Focus on the (re)appropriation of finite water resources. Water Alternatives, 5, 193–207.
MeroweDam. (2008, October 8). Merowe dam floodings. YouTube, 5:24. Accessed February 26, 2018, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBB_5sjLgZk
Morvaridi, B. (2008). Rights and development-induced displacement: Risk management or social protection? In K. Grabska & L. Mehta (Eds.), Forced displacement: Why rights matter (pp. 50–70). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Radio Dabanga. (2015, March 2). Merowe dam affected tired of delay in compensation by Sudan. Accessed February 28, 2018, from https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/merowe-dam-affected-fed-up-with-delay-compensation-by-sudan-government
Robinson, W. C. (2003). Risks and rights: The causes, consequences, and challenges of development-induced displacement. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution-SAIS Project on Internal Displacement.
Save Nubia Project. (2012). Flooding of ancient Kush & Nubia. Accessed February 20, 2018, from http://www.savenubia.org/78-save-nubia/88-flooding-of-ancient-kush-nubia
Scottish Places Database. (2016). Gazetteer for Scotland. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst3417.html
Sen, A. (2005). Development as capability expansion. In S. Fukuda-Parr & A. K. Shiva Kumar (Eds.), Readings in human development: Concepts, measures and policies for a development paradigm. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sid Ahmed, O. (2008, August 7). Aljazeera Arabic Channel. YouTube, 3:02. Accessed August 30, 2018, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NBzyrYDVOe4
Stanley, J. (2004). Development induced displacement and resettlement. Forced Migration Online, Expert Guides. Accessed April 10, 2018, from http://www.forcedmigration.org/research-resources/expert-guides/development-induced-displacement-and-resettlement/alldocuments
Thakkar, H. (1999). Displacement and development: Construction of The Sardar dam. Cultural Survival Quarterly Magazine. Accessed February 22, 2018, from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/displacement-and-development-construction-sardar-dam
The United Nations. (1997a). Accessed July 26, 2018, from http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html
The United Nations. (1997b). Accessed July 26, 2018, from http://www.hrweb.org/legal/catsigs.html
The United Nations. (1998). Guiding principles on internal displacement (E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2). Accessed July 26, 2018, from https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G98/104/93/PDF/G9810493.pdf?OpenElement
Wong, C. M., et al. (2007). World’s top 10 rivers at risk. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International Executive Summary.
World Commission on Dams (WCD). (2000). Dams and development, A new framework for decision-making. London: Earthscan. Accessed April 10, 2018 from https://www.internationalrivers.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/world_commission_on_dams_final_report.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ahmed, I.A.I. (2019). The Merowe Dam in Northern Sudan: A Case of Population Displacement and Impoverishment. In: Schmidt, J.D., Kimathi, L., Owiso, M.O. (eds) Refugees and Forced Migration in the Horn and Eastern Africa. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03721-5_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03721-5_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03720-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03721-5
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)