An estimated 400 million people in Africa have no access to water, while more than 800 million have related diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid.
This emerged at the African Union (AU) Summit, over the weekend, where water stress, climate volatility and fiscal constraints were discussed at large.
The event was attended by heads of state and government from the AU’s 55 member states as well as senior continental officials, regional economic communities and multilateral partners.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, AU Commission Chairperson, said water is a collective goo, necessary for agricultural transformation, energy generation, infrastructure expansion and climate resilience.
Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa,who was also at the meeting, said water and sanitation are vital for industrial parks, logistics corridors and agro-processing hubs.
Financing water projects emerged as a collective challenge.
The continent needs over $30 billion, for water and sanitation projects by 2030.
The composition of the new Bureau of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union for 2026 is as follows:
1. Chair of the African Union – The Republic of Burundi, (Central)
2. First Vice – Ghana, (West);
3. Second Vice – Tanzania, (East);
4. Third Vice – To be confirmed, (North Africa Region); and
5. Rapporteur – Angola, (South) .
Picture: Supplied