TRIPOLI, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria signed an agreement on Wednesday in Tripoli to create a joint mechanism to manage shared groundwater resources in the Northern Sahara, as the three countries face growing water shortages.
The agreement aims to improve cooperation in managing underground water reserves that stretch across the three countries.
The signing ceremony was attended by the water resources ministers of Libya and Tunisia, along with a representative from Algeria, according to a statement published by Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Unity.
Officials said stronger coordination is needed to deal with increasing water scarcity in the region.
The meeting also approved the internal rules of the new body, set annual financial contributions from member states and gave Algeria the chairmanship for the current term.
The Northern Sahara contains one of North Africa's largest shared underground water systems, making it an important strategic resource for Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. ■