Groundwater has attracted global attention in recent years as a solution to the world’s freshwater shortage issues. It has been estimated that around 96% of the world’s freshwater is stored as groundwater, while UNESCO have calculated that a total of 273 transboundary aquifers can be found globally.
Africa's groundwater plays a pivotal role in securing freshwater for its inhabitants as it is relied upon by over 75% of the population as a basic supply of water.The map of groundwater resources in Arica is shown in (Figure 1), and illustrates just how vast African groundwater supplies are. With around 40 transboundary aquifer systems in Africa, there are numerous hydropolitical aspects to consider regarding conflicts, governance and the management of the aquifers among the states.
Figure 1: A quantitative map of groundwater resources in Africa.
Scheumann and Alker’s article (2009) on the cooperation of African states regarding shared aquifers questions whether national utilisation patterns of transboundary aquifers have already been having a negative impact on water availability, often resulting in conflicts between states. This is particularly the case when aquifers cross borders. Consequently, the weakening of property rights has become an issue of national importance, especially in areas with scarce water resources.
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