An exercise in state sovereignty: The use of Transboundary Aquifers

Abstract

This dissertation analyses the way in which States in the Lake Chad Basin have attempted to balance their State sovereignty and the human right to water when making use of the underground water resources in the Lake Chad Basin. The Lake Chad Basin is a basin of water consisting of not only surface water, such as the Lake Chad and its various tributaries but also four underground aquifers. The States that share the Basin face socio-economic, political and environmental challenges which must be addressed to ensure that the people in the Basin States can exercise their right to water as well as ensure that States can facilitate national development. When balancing State sovereignty and human rights, States must meet various international obligations. Some obligations are owed to the people of the State and some are owed to other States. This dissertation shows the various obligations in question and showcases the problems faced by States in the implementation of the various obligations. Finally, the dissertation suggests measures that can be taken by States to ease the difficulty of balancing the various obligations.