African countries face potential water scarcity conflicts with AUs new initiative

African Leaders Gather for Summit Focused on Water Resource Management

The African Union’s 2026 summit theme of water as a vital resource for life, development, and sustainability has sparked discussion among experts about the continent’s growing water-related challenges. The summit aims to address issues such as climate change, upstream-downstream conflict, and industry abuse.

Experts point out that water scarcity is becoming increasingly linked to humanitarian conflicts, climate change, and peace and security concerns. Sanusha Naidu, a foreign policy analyst, notes that “water is life” but also highlights its commodification and the resulting humanitarian conflicts.

Climate change is exacerbating resource strain, particularly in Africa, where temperature increases are slightly above the global average. The World Meteorological Organization and climate experts emphasize the continent’s disproportionate burden from the climate crisis.

Dhesigen Naidoo, a senior water and climate researcher, states that climate change is now primarily experienced as a water crisis, with devastating impacts from floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. He notes that managing these challenges has become increasingly difficult due to the growing scale of the problem.

The correlation between strained resources and conflict is evident in regions such as the Sahel and northern Nigeria, where armed groups are recruiting vulnerable populations. Intercommunal conflicts over shared pastoral land resources have also turned deadly in areas like the middle belt region.

Water scarcity is heightening geopolitical security concerns, with observers pointing to electricity and water cuts that prompted protests in Madagascar last year and South Africa this week. The summit’s focus on water resource management will aim to address these pressing issues and promote sustainable development and peace.

Source: Al Jazeera