Egypt and Senegal have agreed to strengthen coordination among African countries to develop a unified position on water security ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, as the continent seeks to align international commitments with its long-term water development priorities.
Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam met Senegalese Minister of Water and Sanitation Cheikh Tidiane Dieye ahead of the ninth Cairo Water Week, which runs from Oct. 25 to 29, to discuss African cooperation on water issues and preparations for the UN conference scheduled for December 8-10 in Abu Dhabi, Ahram Online reported on Sunday.
The discussions focused on implementing the Africa Water Vision 2063, strengthening the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and coordinating African priorities ahead of the international gathering, which is co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal.
Sewilam, who chairs the African Water Facility, praised the coordination between Cairo and Dakar and Senegal’s role as president of AMCOW in helping African countries reach consensus on the Africa Water Vision 2063.
He stressed the importance of continued consultations among member states to ensure that the vision’s implementation plan reflects the continent’s priorities and water-related needs.
The ministers also discussed strengthening AMCOW’s governance and institutional performance. Sewilam underscored the need to preserve the council’s specialised technical role while improving coordination with the African Union Commission and other relevant regional institutions to make water programmes and projects more effective.
On the UN Water Conference, the two sides emphasised the need for African countries to coordinate their positions and ensure that the conference’s outcomes are linked to the Africa Water Vision 2063 and its implementation plan.
The aim is to ensure that international commitments translate into action supporting water security and sustainable development across the continent.
Cairo Water Week is expected to provide an additional platform for African officials and international partners to discuss shared water challenges and build consensus ahead of the December conference.
The 2026 UN Water Conference will seek to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation, while strengthening international cooperation on water management.
The Egypt-Senegal talks reflect broader efforts to strengthen African coordination on water governance and ensure that the continent’s priorities are represented in international discussions on water security and sustainable development.
