Lusaka (Zambia) 28 May 2025 (SPS) – The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic took part in the 3rd Pan- African Implementation and Partnership Conference on Water (PANAFCON-3), held in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, from May 27 to 30 at the Kenneth Kaunda International Conference Center in the city of Mangushi.
The Sahrawi delegation to the Conference includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Yeslem Beisat, and the Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mr. Lamine Baali.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema presided over the official opening of the symposium, which is organized in collaboration with the Government of Zambia, the African Union, the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
In his opening remarks, President Hichilema emphasized the "critical importance of prioritizing water as a strategic issue that directly impacts security, stability, and development across the continent."
Held under the theme: "A Holistic Approach to Tackling Water Security and Health Challenges for the Africa We Want and Are Building Towards," the symposium serves as a key regional platform to review African water policies beyond 2025 and to shape a unified vision supporting the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063.
The event brings together over 1,500 participants, including ministers, experts, diplomats, representatives of international and regional organizations, civil society actors, private sector stakeholders, researchers, and representatives of institutions specialized in water management and investment in this vital sector.
The Conference features several technical workshops and high-level roundtables led by senior officials and researchers, addressing critical issues such as water governance, financing, food security, and continental integration amid accelerating climate change.
On the sidelines of the event, the Sahrawi delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with African and international counterparts to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in water management and sustainable development, as well as to rally support for the Sahrawi cause at continental forums.
Through its participation in this symposium, the Sahrawi Republic reaffirms its unwavering commitment to African cooperation and regional integration in pursuit of the continent’s goals of sovereignty over its natural resources and dignified living in a healthy and secure environment. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
Related blogs
