Kigali: 150 Experts Convene to Deliberate on the Future of African Great Lakes

From February 4th to 6th, 2026, Rwanda hosted a high-level assembly of the African Great Lakes Stakeholder Network, in partnership with the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE). The gathering brought together researchers, policymakers, and experts from across the globe to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing Africa’s seven largest lakes.

These seven lakes, Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Turkana, Albert, Kivu, and Edward, hold 25% of the planet’s surface freshwater. However, experts warned that rising temperatures, plastic waste, and agricultural runoff are causing a decline in fish stocks and ecosystem degradation, threatening both the economy and water-based tourism.

Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025-2030): A coordinated action plan was signed to focus on joint research across the 10 countries bordering these lakes to protect biodiversity.

The “1000 Fishes” Project, a new partnership was launched to safeguard endangered fish species, based on research by Shoal Conservation.

Pharmaceutical Waste: Pauline Gerrard, Executive Director at IISD-ELA, raised alarms over pharmaceutical residues entering waterways due to inadequate urban wastewater treatment, calling for urgent mitigation strategies.

Pauline Gerrard, Executive Director at IISD-ELA

Rwanda’s Leadership and REMA’s Role, Eric Mudakikwa Ruhanamirindi, Division Manager at the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), emphasized that protecting these lakes is a cornerstone of regional stability and development.

“The African Great Lakes are not just ecological treasures; they are pillars of livelihood, food security, and regional stability,” he stated. “Managing them requires strong partnerships and a vision grounded in science translated into effective policy.”

Through REMA, Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ACARE to strengthen continuous monitoring, particularly for Lake Kivu, which is unique for its methane gas reserves and deep-water chemistry.

Eric Mudakikwa Ruhanamirindi, Division Manager at the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA

Bridging the Science-Policy Gap, Dr. Ted Lawrence, Executive Director of ACARE, highlighted that the primary obstacle remains the “slow translation” of scientific data into political action. He noted that while North America took two decades to reform its Great Lakes policies, Africa must move much faster to protect the millions who depend on these resources.

Empowering Women in Science (AWIS), The meeting concluded with the launch of a new cohort of the African Women in Science (AWIS) program. This initiative will provide training and funding for women to lead water conservation projects, ensuring their voices are at the forefront of environmental decision-making.

Dr. Ted Lawrence, Executive Director of ACARE

By hosting this event, Rwanda has once again positioned itself as a central hub for tackling Africa’s most pressing technical and political environmental challenges.