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The Niger River Basin. Niger River Basin Countries. Guinea C ôte d’Ivoire Mali Burkina Faso Algeria Benin Niger Chad Cameroon Nigeria. West Africa. Colonial (and post-colonial) influence French, British and Portuguese Persistent divisions / alliances Frequent political instability
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Niger River Basin Countries Guinea Côte d’Ivoire Mali Burkina Faso Algeria Benin Niger Chad Cameroon Nigeria
West Africa • Colonial (and post-colonial) influence • French, British and Portuguese • Persistent divisions / alliances • Frequent political instability • ECOWAS
Water-Related Issues • Increasing population and development • Hydroelectric potential • Irrigation potential • Potential environmental impacts? • Pollution - agricultural and industrial • Desertification • Deforestation
Organizations & Initiatives • Niger Basin Authority • ECOWAS • African Development Bank • Bilateral development grants
Discussion • Should the Niger Basin Authority focus on funding and executing development projects or developing a basin-wide plan for development and management? • How much autonomy and authority should the Nile Basin Authority have? • How can the Niger Basin Authority be most effective? How can the international community help? • How much should developed countries be able to dictate the terms of development to developing countries? Should historical issues like colonial injustices and the trans-Atlantic slave trade be taken into account? • Are there any lessons – either positive or negative – that other basins can learn from the Niger Basin?