LUANDA, Angola — Africa is positioning its oceans, lakes and rivers as engines of economic growth after African Union (AU) Member States adopted the Luanda Declaration, a new commitment to accelerate the continent’s blue economy.
The declaration was adopted at the close of the Third Africa Blue Economy Week in Luanda, where ministers, policymakers, development partners and private sector leaders agreed that Africa must move from planning to implementation if it is to unlock the full potential of its aquatic resources.
According to the African Union, the blue economy offers a pathway to create decent jobs, strengthen food security, boost regional trade and build resilience against climate change while protecting marine and freshwater ecosystems.
“The time has come to move from strategy to action,” delegates declared under the conference theme, “Political Leadership for Africa’s Blue Economy Transformation.”
Despite possessing more than 30,000 kilometres of coastline and vast inland water resources, Africa has yet to fully harness the economic opportunities offered by sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal tourism, renewable ocean energy and marine biotechnology.
The Luanda Declaration calls on Member States to strengthen governance, attract investment, promote innovation and deepen regional cooperation to ensure these resources contribute to sustainable and inclusive development. It also encourages governments to align national policies with continental priorities and improve financing for blue economy initiatives.
The declaration supports the goals of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term development blueprint, particularly its vision of “a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.” It also complements the AU’s 2026 Theme of the Year, which focuses on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems.
The African Union says achieving these ambitions will require strong political leadership, partnerships with the private sector and greater investment in innovation and infrastructure.
While the Luanda Declaration represents an important political commitment, its success will depend on implementation. Turning policy into action will require sustained financing, effective governance and measurable progress at national and regional levels.
If Member States deliver on those commitments, Africa’s blue economy could become one of the continent’s most powerful drivers of jobs, economic transformation and sustainable development in the decades ahead.