Africa starts 2026 facing severe water challenges. Cyclone Gezani hit Madagascar hard, floods threaten Mozambique, and droughts parch lands along the Kenya-Somalia border. These climate shocks spotlight water as a precious, contested resource as African leaders meet for the AU summit with water as the main theme. Experts warn this is more than an environmental issue. Sanusha Naidu of the Institute for Global Dialogue said, "Water is life. But it’s not just that water is life – water is becoming a commodity of corporatisation and access. It is a humanitarian conflict. It is a climate change conflict. It’s a peace and security issue." Climate change is worsening water scarcity, fueling conflicts. Upstream-downstream tensions over rivers like the Nile are a focal point. Ethiopia’s completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has heightened strain with Egypt and Sudan, who fear losing water security. Magnus Taylor from the International Crisis Group said, "The level of tension is relatively high at the moment" between Ethiopia and downstream neighbors. Beyond the Nile, conflicts also erupt locally. Northern Nigeria faces deadly clashes between farmers and herders over shared water and land. Protests in Madagascar and water shortages in South Africa reveal widespread access problems. Some conflicts use water as a weapon. Naidu pointed to ongoing wars in Sudan and Gaza where water supplies are blocked or attacked, worsening civilian suffering. Industrial demand for water, including for tech infrastructure, adds to the pressure. Naidu warned, "Small perturbations in the system – being without water for three days – is cause for conflict." While the AU’s summit underscores the crisis, experts say much more action is needed. National governments, companies, and citizens all share responsibility. Innovative African solutions offer hope, like clean water systems in Nairobi slums and low-water sanitation projects. Naidu concluded, "Getting water right is a non-negotiable, social, humanitarian, economic, and security issue. But you can’t be tolerant of having no water, or you will die."