Senegal designated host country of the 24th AfWASA International Congress and Exhibition in 2028
Senegal will host the 24th International Congress and Exhibition of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) in 2028. The official announcement was made following the meeting of the Executive Board, held on Saturday, 7 February 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and was subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly.
Driven by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and with the support of the National Water Company of Senegal (SONES), Senegal responded positively to the call for expressions of interest launched by the AfWASA Executive Directorate in November 2025. Other bids were submitted, notably by South Africa, but a consensus was ultimately reached to award Senegal the organization of the 2028 edition, while South Africa will host the Congress in 2030.
The decision was taken under the chairmanship of Dr. Blaise Moussa, President of AfWASA, and Abdoul Niang, Vice President for the West Africa Region.
The selection of Senegal also confirms the country’s leadership in the water and sanitation sector. A founding member of AfWASA, Senegal previously hosted an Association Congress in 1994 and co-organized, with the World Water Council, the 9th World Water Forum in 2021 in Dakar. The country also plays a leading role within continental and international bodies, notably through its current presidency of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).
Present in Cameroon, the Senegalese Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, welcomed the decision, which validates the candidacy submitted by Senegal since November 2024. This bid reflects the Senegalese authorities’ commitment to hosting, for the first time since 1994, a major continental congress in the water and sanitation sector.
Held every two years, the AfWASA International Congress is the flagship event on the Association’s agenda. It brings together water utilities, public decision-makers, technical and financial partners, as well as solution and service providers, to address the sector’s strategic and operational challenges. The event is also accompanied by an international exhibition promoting exchanges, innovation sharing and the development of partnerships.
By hosting the 24th AfWASA International Congress and Exhibition in 2028, Senegal is once again positioning itself as a continental hub for reflection and action on the future of Africa’s water and sanitation sector.
