Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe called on African Union (AU) institutions and regional organisations to involve young people in decisions on water governance, saying their participation is important in developing sustainable solutions to the continent’s water and sanitation challenges.

He said this during a high-level intergenerational dialogue at the fourth Luanda Biennale in Angola on Thursday, October 22.

ALSO READ: PM Nsengiyumva says governance gaps affecting Africa&039;s water access

The dialogue brought together foreign ministers from Rwanda, Angola, Namibia and Tanzania, alongside young leaders from nine African countries, to discuss inclusive governance and sustainable access to water and sanitation.

Nduhungirehe said that relevant institutions should give young people a voice in decision-making on water governance.

"I emphasised on the need for the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, basin organisations and regional mechanisms to include the voice of young people in the decision-making process related to water governance on the continent,” he said.

The discussions formed part of the two-day Luanda Biennale, held on October 22 and 23 under the theme "Strengthening Water Governance in Africa as a Tool for Conflict Prevention, Mediation and Resolution”.

The forum, jointly organised by the Angolan government, the AU and UNESCO, seeks to promote cooperation in managing shared water resources and improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

ALSO READ: Pan-Africanists urge collective action on water crisis

Water governance is a key concern for African countries, where shared water resources, climate pressures and unequal access to essential services require cooperation between governments and communities.

According to UNESCO, agriculture accounts for about 79 per cent of freshwater withdrawals in Africa, highlighting the importance of sustainable water management to food production and livelihoods.

The meeting also included discussions on cross-border water cooperation, climate change and migration, community participation, and investment in water infrastructure and human capital.

The intergenerational dialogue was intended to strengthen cooperation between political leaders and young Africans, while encouraging the inclusion of youth perspectives in policies designed to address the continent’s water challenges.