Water security to top agenda at African Union summit

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

African leaders gathering in Addis Ababa this weekend are placing water security at the heart of the continent’s development agenda, as climate shocks and rapid population growth strain already fragile infrastructure systems.

The 39th African Union (AU) summit is being held under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” elevating water and sanitation as central pillars of climate resilience, economic transformation and long-term stability.

Africa’s population, now over 1.5 billion, is growing faster than infrastructure capacity in many cities and rural areas. At the same time, more frequent droughts, floods and erratic rainfall – trends linked to global warming – are disrupting agriculture, hydropower generation and urban water supply.

Policy analysts say these pressures are turning water management into a frontline adaptation challenge with direct implications for food security, energy reliability and livelihoods.

Ahead of the main assembly, high-level meetings facilitated by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and AU bodies began earlier this week, focusing on climate-resilient investments and sustainable groundwater management, particularly in the Horn of Africa.

Sanitation gaps also remain acute, contributing to preventable disease and child mortality and undermining productivity and human capital.

Summit discussions are expected to link water systems more explicitly to public health and disease prevention, reflecting efforts to integrate climate, infrastructure and social policy responses, according to officials familiar with the agenda.

Peace, security, youth and Africa’s global voice

Governance and political stability are also high on the agenda. Leaders are expected to renew calls for UN Security Council reform, pressing for permanent African representation in global decision-making bodies.

A ministerial forum organized with the Nigerian government will examine how to strengthen institutions and sustain public confidence during complex political transitions – a recurring challenge across parts of the continent.

AU peace and security officials are set to address conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, the Sahel and the Democratic Republic of Congo, underscoring how violence and displacement strain infrastructure and complicate cooperation over shared resources.

This year’s summit also signals a stronger emphasis on youth participation in governance and peacebuilding. AU and UNDP officials say discussions aim to shift youth engagement from protest-driven activism toward institutional policy-making and administrative leadership.

Trade and financing

Economic integration remains another core priority. Leaders are expected to review progress on implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost intra-African trade, which is still lower than in most other global regions.

Discussions on the margins will also focus on African-led development financing models and the role of private investment in advancing Agenda 2063.

Analysts note that limited fiscal space, rising borrowing costs and mounting debt-servicing burdens have slowed infrastructure expansion in many countries.

While AU summits often conclude with broad political declarations, officials say this year’s meeting is being framed more tightly around implementation – how to turn continental commitments into funded projects and functioning systems on the ground.