23rd African water & sanitation congress: DG says CAMWATER working to achieve hitch free hosting.

Dr Moussa who is President of AfWASA, gave the assurance in Yaounde, Wednesday July 30. This was during a meeting grouping stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector.

The Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, chaired the event. Other national and international dignitaries attended the event. The 23rd congress of AfWASA is programmed to take place in Yaounde, February 9 to 13, 2026.

Speaking during the event, Dr Moussa stressed on the importance of a united front. He declared that CAMWATER “is mobilising every technical, financial, and institutional partner to make the 2026 congress a pan-African showcase of solutions”.

According to him: “We want to demonstrate that access to safe water and sanitation is not just a dream, it is an achievable goal when we work together”.

Dr Moussa reiterated that: “We must make Yaounde 2026 a turning point for water and sanitation access across the continent”. 

He insisted that: “From now until February, we will work relentlessly to ensure that this Congress inspires tangible commitments, fosters partnerships, and leads to actions that will transform lives”.

Access to water vital social service 

Minister Eloundou Essomba on his part emphasised the strategic importance of the upcoming congress, stating that: “Access to water is not just a social service”.

The minister said water “is a pillar of public health, economic productivity, and climate resilience. This Congress offers an opportunity for Cameroon and the entire continent to explore sustainable and innovative solutions tailored to the African context”.

Eloundou Essomba stated that access to water is a fundamental human right which needs the collective effort to uphold. 

“…together, we can build a future where no African child has to walk miles for a bucket of water, and no family has to choose between health and hydration,” he stated.

Officials said the event will be vital in discussing solutions to Africa’s most urgent development challenges especially access to potable water and adequate sanitation services.

The AfWASA congress, which holds biennially, is one of the Continent’s premier gatherings of water and sanitation professionals. 

It usually groups experts, researchers, service providers, regulators, and development partners.

According to organisers, the 2026 edition of AfWASA is expected to draw over 2,000 participants from more than 50 countries, including engineers, policy-makers, donors, researchers, and private sector representatives.

Speakers stated that the event will feature high-level panel discussions, exhibitions of cutting-edge water technologies, training sessions, and site visits to water treatment facilities in Cameroon.

According to experts, close to 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lacking access to basic drinking water services while over 700 million others are without proper sanitation. The situation, they said, shows the stakes of the Yaounde gathering are high. 

The AfWASA Congress will be holding at a time when water insecurity is increasingly being linked to climate change, urban population growth, and geopolitical tensions.

About AfWASA 

Created in February 1980 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, AfWASA is said to have steadily grown into a central force for the development of water and sanitation systems across the continent. 

The organisation has as vision “a world where everyone has sustainable access to quality water and adequate sanitation services”. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3525 of Wednesday August 06, 2025.