States of flux

Sudan and South Sudan are facing the scourge of desertification, especially in western Sudan and Greater Bahr El Ghazal. This trend fuels conflicts over water. Access to drinking water for people and livestock has become increasingly contentious across swathes of both countries.

In addition, many Sudanese and South Sudanese have noted strange developments in the seasonal weather conditions. Meteorologists predict a sharp climb in temperatures for the coming decades, meaning intensified water disputes are likely in the future.

These temperature changes are as well expected to affect the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), which underlies the countries of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan. The NSAS is the world’s largest ‘fossil’ water aquifer system. This gigantic reservoir faces heavy demands from agriculture and for drinking water, and the amount drawn out could double in the next 50–100 years.

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