African Union (AU) Member States have officially adopted the Luanda Declaration on the African Blue Economy, committing to transition the continent’s aquatic frameworks into actionable national programs and investment portfolios.
The accord was finalised in Luanda, Angola, at the close of the Third Africa Blue Economy Week, co-hosted by the Angolan government, the AU Commission, and the United Nations Development Programme. Convened under the theme “From Strategy to Action: Political Leadership for Africa’s Blue Economy Transformation,” the event brought together Ministers, private sector representatives, and regional economic bodies.
Addressing delegates, Angolan Vice President Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa described the declaration as a continental turning point aimed at aligning regional priorities, mobilising sustainable financing, and establishing the blue economy as a core driver of Agenda 2063.
Key objectives outlined under the declaration focus on unlocking sustainable public and private blue finance to modernise port infrastructure, marine transport, and offshore renewable energy. The agreement also prioritizes safeguarding marine and freshwater ecosystems against pollution, climate degradation, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, while utilising the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand regional trade in fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal tourism.
The adoption was accompanied by the official launch of the State of Africa’s Blue Economy Report 2026, providing baseline evidence to guide policymaking, regional cooperation, and sustainable ocean governance across the continent over the coming years.
–ChannelAfrica/AU–
