African leaders meeting in Addis Ababa this weekend are putting water security at the center of the African Union’s development agenda as climate change and rapid population growth strain fragile infrastructure. Under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation,” the summit frames access to clean water as essential to economic resilience, public health, and long-term stability. The summit’s urgency is informed by the continent’s struggle with water: droughts disrupt hydropower, floods wash away roads, and erratic rainfall starves crops. Likewise, sanitation gaps fuel preventable disease and drain productivity. Alongside water, leaders will tackle peace and security crises, youth participation in governance, and trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Anadolu Ajansi
