Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia Sign Landmark Sahara Water-Sharing Agreement
Updated: Jul 7
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 overexploitation of the shared resource. Water allocations will be determined using scientific models, with the three countries coordinating management efforts through a common consultation mechanism.
Libya’s Minister of Water Resources, Hosni Aouidat, emphasized that increasing water demand and climate change make stronger regional cooperation essential for long-term water security. The agreement is viewed as a significant step toward sustainable resource management in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
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