River basin organizations in Africa: Volta, Senegal and Inco Maputo River Basin, South Africa

Abstract

International river basins are covering Africa's almost 62% of land area. Long history is present in the area of transboundary water management and water law which are partially helpful to regulate rivers (Lautze and Giordano, in submission, 2005).This factled to a range of factors that have driven transboundary water law in Africa in the post-colonial period. Internally, these factors include joint management, water development, and water sharing and division. Externally, they have included a range of factors emanating largely outside the African continent including geopolitics, the concept of hydraulic mission, cultural ties, international environment agendas, and global concern with water conflicts. The results contributed to an evolutionary change in the way these external factors have influenced African transboundary water law. More importantly, analysis of the way internal and external drivers interact suggests that both must be considered by basin states and the outside actors if either is to achieve their objectives (Lautze and Giordano & Borghese, 2005).