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By Annonciata Byukusenge-
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe is attending the fourth Luanda Biennale, the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, which this year focuses on how better management of Africa’s water resources can help head off conflict.
The forum, held every two years, brings together Africans and international partners to promote a culture of peace, prevent violence, and seek lasting solutions to disputes through dialogue, cooperation, and cultural exchange.
This year’s meeting is taking place in Luanda, Angola, from Thursday, Oct. 22, to Friday, Oct. 23. Its theme is strengthening water governance across Africa so that water can be used to prevent conflict and to bring parties together to resolve disputes.
Organizers say the focus reflects water’s central role in African livelihoods, from social well-being to farming, livestock, industry, and economic growth.
Participants noted that disputes over water sharing, or poor management of the resource, can fuel tension between communities, families, or countries that share water sources.
The forum is organized by the Angolan government, the African Union, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The first edition was held in 2019, followed by the second in 2021 and the third in 2023.
This year’s theme is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which includes a goal of providing citizens with sustainable access to enough clean water and improving sanitation services.
Topics expected on the agenda include cooperation on water shared between countries, public participation in decision-making, the effects of climate change on water and shifting settlement patterns, investment in water infrastructure, and building the capacity of those who manage water resources.
