The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Manantali Energy Management and Exploitation Company / Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (SOGEM/OMVS) Seydou Sané advocates a “multi-sectoral, global and inclusive” vision for effective water governance in Africa. He spoke last Wednesday, May 22, during a workshop on the theme “Accelerating the sustainable management of transboundary water resources for growth, peace and poverty reduction in Africa”, on the sidelines of the 10e World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia taking place from May 18 to 25, 2024.
“The basins must be involved in this forum of Water for shared prosperity, with a focus on a joint strategy dedicated to the vital force of our continent. It is all these issues which legitimize the holding of a series of high-level sessions, which requires that we support the African Network of Basin Organizations in terms of engagement on the continental level with the African Union and AMCOW (Council of Ministers Responsible for Water in Africa). This session will help to put in place a constructive approach oriented towards this 2050 horizon which can be used to develop a common charter for African basins, which we are defending on this day of May 22 dedicated to Pelvis segment », Said Seydou Sané. Continuing his remarks, he stressed that “climate change calls for coordination of adaptation and mitigation strategies, including for the preservation of aquatic ecosystems”.
Seydou Sané also noted the importance of the involvement of cross-border basin organizations (TBBs) which are on the “front line in the fight for the preservation” of water. This, in the face of challenges such as the exponential demographic growth of the continent, water stress, pollution and the conflicts underlying this context. “These OBTs strongly support close and proactive collaboration between countries sharing water resources, which becomes crucial, on the one hand to prevent conflicts and, on the other hand, to optimize the use of these resources, in order to strengthen water, energy and food security on the continent in a peaceful, equitable and sustainable manner,” said the President of the Board of Directors of SOGEM/OMVS. And added: “Then, given the galloping urbanization of an extraordinarily young continent, the ANBO (African Network of Basin Organizations) is at a crossroads. We must provide solutions alongside African States, in particular our Member States, which are increasingly confronted with the scarcity of a vital commodity that is water, for the development of Africa. .
MARIAME DJIGO
