The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for increased investment to achieving the sustainable development goal of water and sanitation for African countries.

The UN chief said building and maintaining safe, resilient and accessible water and sanitation required stronger domestic resource mobilisation and sustained investment in the sector’s governance.

Mr Guterres made the call on Monday in his message to mark the 2026 Africa Day,

Africa Day is celebrated every year on May 25 to mark the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) in 1963.

It is a day that honors the continent’s diversity, history, and the ongoing work toward unity and self-determination across its 54 nations.

In addition to sustained investment in the sector’s governance, Mr Guterres said achieving the goal also required far more global solidarity to help African countries access funds and debt relief mechanisms and harness public-private partnerships.

“And it demands massive investment in Africa’s electrification and transition to renewable energy – to power universal water and sanitation, reduce Africa’s exposure to the frequent volatility of global oil supplies, and help break the world’s addiction to fossil fuels.

“Today and every day, the United Nations is proud to work with African countries to build the peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future all Africans – and our world – deserve,’’ he said.

According to him, the 2026 theme focuses on another shared priority: water and sanitation.

“These services are the bedrock of public health, human dignity and economic opportunity.

”Yet millions across the continent – particularly women and youth – still lack access to these essential services due to limited investment, weak or absent infrastructure, and the intensifying impacts of climate change.”

Mr Guterres, however, lauded the continent’s abundant strengths, resilience, potential, and growing influence on the world stage

“For generations, the people of Africa have confronted and overcome the destructive consequences of slavery and colonialism and forged unity and purpose out of adversity.

“Today, that shared determination is fueling common objectives: unlocking the promise of continental free trade and renewable energy, driving innovation, spurring sustainable development and laying the foundations for lasting peace, stability and prosperity,’’ he said.

 (NAN)