Introduction

                                            

Welcome ! 

                                                                           source: Aaron et al. (1999)

The United Nations officially recognized the human right to water by adopting Resolution 64/292 in 2010. However, water scarcity, which can be broadly described as 'a shortage in the availability of renewable freshwater relative to demand', is often reported throughout the African continent. In fact, in practice, the fulfilment of the right to water is hindered by political barriers. Indeed, political actors and stakeholders often seem to perceive that if one has their right fulfilled, it will come at the expense of others. These negative externalities stem partly from aquifers' transboundary character. Moreover, the ongoing demographic growth entails a rise in demand. It is likely to pressure current water supplies, which risk being affected by increasing levels of waste and pollution. In addition, the current climate crisis heightens the propensity of extreme weather events. As a result, the water security of populations is jeopardized, especially in drought-prone areas. 

Oversimplifications of the territory and populations often mark talks about Africa. News media tend to emphasize helplessness and diffuse tales about 'The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West'. Such discourse is disempowering and further feeds the heroic narrative of those searching for a 'good cause' that will polish their resume. If we adopt a different lens and change our perspective, we might be able to draw useful conclusions that will genuinely contribute to addressing the water challenges currently faced by African populations. Such change in the way of seeing, and the way of thinking, must embrace complexity. It includes acknowledging how water struggles in Africa are directly related to power enterprises of the Global North. Dating back to the colonial age, the arbitrary drafting of African borders at the Berlin Conference is a classic example of how external actors had a hand in creating a politically sensitive distribution of water resources.

Understanding the political issues that water raises across the territory will be necessary to prevent future water disputes and eventually reduce 'the number of people suffering from water scarcity', as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal aspire.