Water News

CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt has reiterated its opposition to the construction of additional dams on the Nile in Ethiopia, with Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam stating that Egypt "will not allow" new upstream projects that could affect its water security. He called for a legally binding agreement governing the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), including provisions for data sharing and reservoir releases during drought periods. Ethiopia h

July 2026 - The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned that a strengthening El Niño could trigger severe flooding, disease outbreaks, and humanitarian emergencies across East Africa, particularly in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Communities already recovering from drought, displacement, and reduced humanitarian funding are considered especially vulnerable. In Somalia, heavy rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands and local seasonal rains are expected to raise riv

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has announced plans to accelerate water infrastructure development through the proposed National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), which will finance the construction of 50 mega dams and 200 medium-sized dams that have faced funding delays for decades. The initiative is expected to expand irrigation by an additional 2.5 million acres, improve access to clean water, and strengthen the country's food security. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the new financ

July 2026 — Severe flooding triggered by torrential rains has claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands across West Africa. In Ghana, the death toll has risen to 34, with nearly 90,000 people affected, while Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo have also reported fatalities, widespread flooding, and damage to homes and infrastructure. Scientists say the disaster reflects a combination of intensifying rainfall associated with climate change, the seasonal West African

The Lake Chad Basin has secured €11.25 million in new funding from the European Union (€7 million) and Germany (€4.25 million) to strengthen water governance, climate resilience, and regional stability across one of Africa’s most vulnerable ecosystems. The initiative, known as the Lake Chad Water Management Action (LACHAWAMA), was launched in Bangui, Central African Republic. The program will support sustainable management of shared water resources, improve hydrological monit

Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia have signed the “Tripoli Declaration,” a new agreement aimed at ensuring the fair and sustainable management of the North-Western Sahara Aquifer System, one of the world's largest underground freshwater reserves. The aquifer contains an estimated 40 trillion cubic meters of non-renewable fossil water and spans all three countries. The agreement establishes a joint framework for monitoring groundwater levels, preventing pollution, and avoiding overe

JUBA, South Sudan — Governments of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) member states pledged to pursue good-faith dialogue on shared water challenges during Nile Day celebrations in Juba, emphasizing cooperation in managing the basin’s vital waters. Representatives from Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda highlighted the NBI’s role as a key platform for consultation to address rising water and food demands and the impacts of

ADDIS ABABA / JUBA / NAIROBI — WaterLines Africa has officially launched as an independent editorial platform focused exclusively on water, transboundary governance, and the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus across Africa. The platform aims to provide credible, evidence-based reporting and analysis on water policy, shared river basins, climate resilience, infrastructure development, and sustainable resource management. With a primary focus on East Africa and the Nile Basin, Water