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Sierra Leone has officially joined the United Nations Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention). The signing took place during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The country becomes the latest in West Africa alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo to commit to international standards for managing shared water resources. The convention now has 57 member states worldwide, 13 of them from Africa.
Water Resources and Sanitation Minister Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Macarthy said Sierra Leone’s accession would help strengthen cooperation over shared river basins, reduce the risk of conflict, and deepen economic ties within the Mano River Union.
UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean described the move as a critical step, noting that more than 90 percent of Africa’s freshwater is located in shared basins.
Sierra Leone shares major rivers with Guinea and Liberia, including the Moa, Scarcies, and Mano basins, which are vital for water supply, food security, and energy.
Officials say joining the convention will also support climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development.
