On April 28, 2026, Cameroon reached a pivotal milestone in its water resource management strategy with the launch of the National Implementation Plan for the UN Water Convention.
During a high-level ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Yaounde, the Minister of Water and Energy – MINEE, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, officially opened the drafting process alongside a regional workshop focused on integrated transboundary water management.
The event gathered a diverse assembly of diplomats, experts, and technical partners, signaling a unified front in addressing the governance of shared water bodies across Central Africa.
The initiative received strong backing from international stakeholders, including the United Nations and the European Union. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the UN Water Convention, lauded Cameroon’s proactive adoption of international instruments, while EU representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting sustainable governance.
Regional bodies like ECCAS also emphasized that concerted management is no longer optional but a necessity for the Environment, Natural Resources, and Rural Development sectors, as cooperation remains the only viable path to managing the continent’s interconnected hydrological systems.
Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba framed the management of transboundary waters as a critical pillar for regional peace and stability. Echoing the vision of President Paul Biya, the Minister remarked that rivers and lakes should be viewed as “links of friendship and brotherhood” rather than geographic barriers.
He highlighted that with increasing environmental and demographic pressures, a legal and solidary framework is essential to ensure that access to water remains equitable for all neighboring nations, effectively turning potential points of conflict into avenues for cooperation.
The launch of this plan marks the beginning of a broader diplomatic and technical effort to integrate Cameroon’s water policies with international standards. By involving the Ministry of External Relations – MINREX, the government underscored the role of “water diplomacy” in its foreign policy.
The Minister concluded by calling on other African states to join the momentum of the Water Convention, advocating for a collective approach to resource management that prioritizes long-term sustainability and regional integration over localized interests.
