Water must never be used as a weapon of war

Each time I attend Cairo Water Week, I am reminded that water is more than just a resource, but the lifeblood that connects us as humanity. This year marks the fourth time that I have had the privilege to participate in this gathering, and each time, I leave with a deeper sense of urgency and hope.

In a world shaken by conflict, climate change, and inequality, water remains one of the few elements that can truly unite rather than divide us. Yet, it is painful to witness how, in some parts of the world, water is being manipulated and used to assert control, or worse, as a weapon of war.

At the 8th Cairo Water Week, which took place from 12 to 16 October 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, I felt compelled to convey a clear message: water must never be weaponised. It must never be used to punish, to divide, or to advance political or military objectives.

Water should remain a symbol of peace, life and cooperation, and not a tool of destruction.

This year’s Cairo Water Week is themed “Innovative Solutions for Climate Resilience and Water Sustainability.” It brings together global leaders, scientists, policymakers, and development partners to craft solutions for one of the most pressing issues of our time, and that is how to manage our water resources in an age of climate uncertainty.

Over the years, Cairo Water Week has grown into one of Africa’s most influential water platforms. It fosters genuine dialogue and collaboration on issues such as water security, infrastructure investment, and climate adaptation.

South Africa’s participation, which I am honoured to lead, is a reflection of our deep commitment to building partnerships that ensure water security for all Africans. Our engagement here also follows closely after South Africa’s successful hosting of the African Union’s Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Africa Water Investment Summit in August this year.

That summit was a historic moment, mobilising investment and political will to transform Africa’s water and sanitation landscape. Our work in Cairo builds on that momentum, reaffirming that Africa’s collective water future depends on solidarity, shared vision and trust.

Africa’s great rivers, such as the Nile, Zambezi, Orange–Senqu, Inkomati, and others, are nature’s way of reminding us that we are bound together by geography, by history, and by destiny. These rivers flow across borders and cultures, linking our peoples in ways no border line ever could.

South Africa’s experience has shown that water diplomacy is a form of peace diplomacy. Through frameworks such as the SADC Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses and institutions like the Orange–Senqu River Basin Commission (ORASECOM), we have witnessed how cooperation builds trust, stability, and opportunity among nations.

Still, much more must be done. We need to strengthen our transboundary institutions, modernise our water infrastructure, and make greater investments to ensure that every African has fair access to water, particularly in the face of climate change.

South Africa stands ready to work hand in hand with every African nation to secure our shared water future. Our rivers do not recognise borders, and neither should our cooperation.

Real water security begins with people. It is about women who fetch water for their families, young people driving innovation, and communities that depend on clean rivers for their livelihoods.

South Africa’s approach to water management is rooted in inclusivity. Through initiatives like the Women in Water Diplomacy Network under ORASECOM and the Youth Strategy for the Water Sector, we are ensuring that the next generation, especially young women, are not just participants but leaders in shaping water solutions.

When people have a voice in decisions about water, we move closer to justice, equality and sustainable development. No one must be left behind.

We must never lose sight of one fundamental truth: that water is life, not leverage. The deliberate use of water scarcity as a tool of war or as a means of control is a violation of the human spirit and an affront to peace itself.

Water must never be used as a weapon of war. It should flow as freely as peace should. Across borders, across communities and across generations.

As we gather in Cairo, our message is clear: choose cooperation over confrontation, solidarity over separation and sustainability over short-term gain.

When nations share water wisely, they are not only sharing a resource, they are building trust, hope and peace.

From Cairo to Cape Town, from the Nile to the Limpopo, let us ensure that every drop of water strengthens the bonds of humanity, rather than fuels the fires of division.

David Mahlobo - Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.