Officials from Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya signed a pivotal agreement to establish a new consultation mechanism for the management of shared groundwater resources in the Northern Sahara.
The ceremony was attended by Algerian Minister of Water Resources Taha Darbal, Tunisian Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries Abdelmonem Belaati, and Libyan Deputy Minister of Water Resources Mohammed Faraj Qanidi.
Minister Taha Darbal underscored the importance of this agreement as a “new and promising chapter in coordination and cooperation between our countries in the vital sector of water resources, which is essential for any developmental process.”
The agreement comes just two days after a tripartite summit in which Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya expressed their firm desire to bolster their economies and address the challenges imposed by the current delicate phase in their region.
Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Minister Darbal stated that the agreement lays the groundwork for tripartite cooperation and represents a “good beginning for fostering cooperation and coordination in other areas given the available opportunities and capabilities.”
He also mentioned that the agreement would deepen the understanding of the shared water resources in the North Sahara and enhance the exchange of information within this framework.
Allocating a permanent headquarters for this mechanism in Algeria “reflects our desire to provide the conditions that allow it to operate comfortably and within a clear and regulated framework that serves the interests of the three nations and reinforces each country’s sovereignty over its water resources,” Darbal added.
Echoing Darbal’s sentiments, Tunisian Minister Abdelmonem Belaati emphasized that the agreement opens up vast prospects for regional cooperation and contributes to enhancing food and water security, thereby boosting the national security of the signatory countries. “The Northern Sahara basin remains a source of life and prosperity,” he stated.
Minister Belaati also noted that the recent presidential summit in Tunisia provided significant political support for launching this consultative mechanism and moving “as quickly as possible towards field implementation.”
He further stressed the need for “necessary funding and support for the mechanism, including cooperation among our local research institutions,” highlighting the collaborative spirit of the agreement.
This initiative marks a significant step towards a more integrated and sustainable management of vital water resources in the region.
