The Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan, has become the focal point of hydro-diplomacy and water governance in West Africa. On September 24, 2026, the Radisson Blu Hotel hosted the official opening of the first West Africa Water Forum (FREAO). The event, organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through its Water Resources Management Center (CGRE), in collaboration with the UEMOA, CILSS, and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, brings together nearly 200 decision-makers, researchers, private sector actors, civil society representatives, and technical and financial partners.
The forum's opening ceremony, presided over by Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, highlighted the vital and transboundary challenge facing the region. West Africa is home to 28 shared river basins, covering nearly 71% of its total area, and interconnecting half a billion inhabitants, representing one-third of the African population. The region's unique geography demands a shared approach to water management, making it a strategic necessity for preserving peace, development, and climate resilience.
Ivorian Minister of Water and Forests, Jacques Assahoré Konan, emphasized the region's interdependence on water resources, citing the Niger, Senegal, Volta, Lake Chad, Gambia, and Comoé rivers as examples. He noted that the forum is the culmination of a long, technical, and methodical process under the regional Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) framework. The minister added that the discussions, informed by rigorous diagnostics from four regional thematic groups, will focus on four major priorities: the Water-Food-Energy-Environment Nexus, innovative financing mechanisms, social inclusion, and hydro-diplomacy.
UEMOA Commissioner Mahamadou Gado called for a paradigm shift, urging participants to view water as a lever for transformation rather than just a resource to be managed. Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé elevated the debate to a strategic level, emphasizing that managing water at the regional level requires a political commitment to build trust, harmonize policies, and ensure that shared water resources bring nations together rather than drive them apart.
The Ivorian Prime Minister also addressed the region's security context and geopolitical developments, stressing that cooperation on vital issues like water is crucial in times of uncertainty. He highlighted the importance of institutionalizing the FREAO as a biennial framework for coordinating efforts and reiterated Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to water management, as demonstrated by the adoption of a new Water Code in 2023.
The Abidjan FREAO builds on the momentum of the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar and aligns with the African Union's proclamation of 2026 as the Year of Water. The event serves as an incubator for consolidating and unifying West African positions ahead of the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi in December 2026. The Ivorian Prime Minister's ambition is for West Africa to present a united, prepared, and solidary front to secure global climate financing and address the region's structural deficit.
With the FREAO, West Africa takes a significant step towards transforming its water management landscape. The forum's outcomes are expected to contribute to a stronger regional voice in global water governance and pave the way for more effective cooperation and coordination among West African nations.
Key points
- The West Africa Water Forum aims to address the region's unique water challenges and promote a shared approach to water management.
- The forum focuses on four major priorities: the Water-Food-Energy-Environment Nexus, innovative financing mechanisms, social inclusion, and hydro-diplomacy.
- The event serves as a platform for West African nations to consolidate their positions and present a united front at the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
