West African Countries Unite to Manage Shared Aquifer Basin and Promote Water Security

Strategic Insights -

Ministers from The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal have signed a declaration in Geneva to establish a permanent mechanism for the concerted management of the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin (SMAB). This shared groundwater resource is vital for the region's adaptation to climate change, with 80% of the population relying on it. The declaration aims to reinforce peace among the populations of the four countries and promote access to clean water and sanitation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SMAB spans approximately 1,300 km with a surface area of 331,450 km2 and an estimated population of over 20 million inhabitants.
  • The aquifer basin is under pressure due to population growth and agriculture, making its sustainable management crucial for regional stability and water security.
  • The declaration recognizes the importance of access to clean water and sanitation, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Regional Working Group for Transboundary Cooperation on the SMAB, established in 2020, will provide the Secretariat for the intergovernmental mechanism.
  • Only 24 countries report having operational arrangements in place for all their transboundary waters, whereas 153 countries share transboundary rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
  • The SDGs aim to ensure that all transboundary waters are covered by operational arrangements by 2030, requiring a quadrupling of progress.
  • The declaration calls on all countries to accede to the United Nations Water Convention and Watercourses Convention, recognizing these as fundamental tools for promoting sustainable transboundary water management.

Statistics:

  • 80% of The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal's populations rely on the SMAB.
  • The SMAB spans approximately 1,300 km with a surface area of 331,450 km2.
  • The abifer basin supports an estimated population of over 20 million inhabitants.
  • Only 24 countries report having operational arrangements in place for all their transboundary waters.
  • 153 countries share transboundary rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
  • The SDGs aim to ensure that all transboundary waters are covered by operational arrangements by 2030.

Sources:

  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
  • United Nations Water Convention
  • Watercourses Convention
  • UNESCO International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre