The West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO) was held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on September 24-25, 2026, with the theme "Valorize Water to Transform West Africa." The forum was opened by Ivorian Prime Minister Beugré Mambé, who welcomed Kabiné Komara and later received him at his office for a private audience. During the audience, Komara presented Mambé with copies of his two books on hydrodiplomacy and biodiversity threats in West Africa.
The forum was co-organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). Senegal, which co-organized the United Nations Water Conference with the United Arab Emirates, was also a key partner. Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Senegalese Minister of Hydraulics and President of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), presided over the forum.
Komara was recognized for his significant contributions to shared water management in the sub-region and was awarded a trophy by the conference president. The trophy was in recognition of his two major books, which are now considered references in the field. Komara's books, "Water: A Vital Issue in International Relations" and "Guinea, Our Endangered Biodiversity," were praised by the conference president and attendees.
The forum brought together experts to discuss ways to leverage water resources in the sub-region for development and cooperation. Komara chaired a panel on renovating and promoting hydrodiplomacy to engage in necessary reforms and facilitate funding mobilization. During the panel, Komara emphasized the central role of Guinea, which drains nearly 120 billion cubic meters of water annually to neighboring countries.
Komara stressed the need to protect the Fouta-Djalon massif, a water tower for the sub-region, as a major concern for the regional water agenda. The conference ultimately adopted a program and ambitious commitments, which will form part of the common position that African states will present at the United Nations in December.
The conference declaration included a major appeal to safeguard, restore, and preserve the Fouta-Djalon ecosystems, a vital water tower in West Africa. The declaration called for climate and financial mobilization to reverse the degradation of this natural heritage and ensure the sub-region's water, energy, and food security.
Guinea is expected to capitalize on this significant support to accelerate the inscription of the Fouta-Djalon massif on UNESCO's World Heritage List and affirm its ecological responsibility in West Africa. Kabiné Komara's contributions to water management and conservation have been recognized as crucial to the region's development and cooperation.
Key points
- Kabiné Komara was honored for his contributions to shared water management in West Africa.
- The West Africa Regional Water Forum adopted a program and commitments to leverage water resources for development and cooperation.
- The conference declaration called for the protection of the Fouta-Djalon massif, a vital water tower in West Africa.
