Face of Truth: Glaciers and the Sustainability of Sudan’s Water Resources
Ibrahim Shiglawi
On World Water Day 2025, the importance of serious reflection and re-planning for water resource management in Sudan becomes evident. Water is one of the fundamental elements of life on Earth. It is not limited to meeting human needs for drinking, food, and agriculture but also serves as a cornerstone of national economies and ecological systems. In the context of this day, celebrated annually on March 22, the world highlights the significance of fresh water and the necessity of adopting sustainable solutions for managing this vital resource. This article discusses this important occasion and Sudan’s opportunities to leverage its water resources in the context of reconstruction and developing water security strategies.
The United Nations’ focus for this year’s celebration is “Glacier Conservation,” as glaciers are a primary source of fresh water, representing approximately 70% of the world’s available freshwater. However, this theme raises a broader issue concerning water management in many countries, including Sudan, which faces multiple water challenges in the current circumstances. Thus, ensuring the sustainability of its water resources requires effective measures and clear plans that enhance stability and rebuild the water sector.
The celebration of World Water Day is generally guided by global directives aimed at raising awareness about the importance of water and its sustainable management. Events are held to educate people on water’s vital role, encourage international cooperation, support research in modern water technologies, and propose sustainable solutions to challenges such as drought and pollution. These efforts also include community awareness initiatives through workshops and lectures to promote water conservation. However, in Sudan, such activities were not held this year due to the war. The occasion itself may have been forgotten amid political and administrative instability and the lack of coordination with scientific institutions, research centers, and Nile Basin countries.
Despite these internal challenges, these directives remain of utmost importance. Water management is a national priority that cannot be delayed. While official celebrations have been absent this year and in recent years, hope remains that these activities will be resumed once conditions stabilize to ensure a sustainable water future. World Water Day serves as an important opportunity to reconsider Sudan’s water resource management strategy, especially in light of the ongoing crises facing the country.
The depletion of Sudan’s groundwater remains a central issue requiring urgent attention. Studies from the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources indicate that over 60% of Sudan’s population relies on groundwater as their primary water source, with an estimated 900 billion cubic meters of pure water stored within the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer and the Um Ruwaba Basin. Protecting these sources from pollution and depletion is therefore of paramount importance. The government must intensify efforts to enforce legislation protecting these vital resources and curb uncontrolled and unregulated groundwater extraction, a practice that threatens future water supplies.
The observance of this day should serve as a call for cooperation among various government agencies, such as the Ministries of Irrigation, Health, and Environment, as well as local authorities like the Ministry of Infrastructure in Khartoum State, to develop effective strategic plans for protecting Sudan’s water resources. The state must also enhance awareness programs and training on the sustainable use of water resources while seeking innovative solutions to ensure safe drinking water for as many citizens as possible, particularly in conflict-affected and unstable regions. Within the broader reconstruction efforts, attention should be given to improving Sudan’s water situation by investing in water harvesting projects that contribute to development initiatives and enhance population stability.
From the Face of Truth perspective, World Water Day 2025 represents a crucial milestone for reassessing Sudan’s water resource management policies and formulating a strategic vision that ensures the sustainability of this vital asset. It is an occasion to reaffirm a collective commitment to safeguarding water as a fundamental human right and securing it for future generations through well-structured policies and ambitious plans. There is also a pressing need to resume water harvesting projects and revive the “Zero Thirst” initiative launched in 2016, given its significant impact on improving rural living conditions, stabilizing communities, encouraging displaced populations to return, and expanding agricultural and grazing areas, ultimately contributing to sustainable rural development.
Wishing you all well.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com