Africa’s Environmental Ministers Mark 40 Years of AMCEN in Nairobi.

By Roy Nakyobe

The 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) was convened in Nairobi, Kenya, from 12 to 18 July 2025, under the theme: “Four Decades of Environmental Action in Africa: Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future.” Hosted by the Government of the State of Libya, the milestone session marked 40 years since AMCEN’s founding in Cairo in 1985.

Bringing together ministers, environmental experts, and key stakeholders from across the continent, AMCEN-20 provided a critical platform for Africa to assess its environmental progress, sharpen its collective voice, and strategize for upcoming global environmental negotiations.

The week-long session focused on strengthening institutional collaboration and enhancing implementation of both regional and international environmental frameworks to address the continent’s pressing environmental challenges. Delegates also reviewed progress made since the previous AMCEN sessions and jointly agreed on Africa’s environmental priorities for the 2025–2027 period.

One of the main goals of AMCEN-20 was to prepare the continent’s position ahead of major international summits such as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), CITES CoP 20, the Minamata Convention COP-6, Ramsar COP 15, Montreal Protocol MOP 37, and the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7).

The Ugandan delegation was led by Ambassador Eunice Kigenyi, Chargé d’Affaires at the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, alongside Dr. Barirega Akankwasa, Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and Ms. Juliet N. Kiggundu, First Secretary at the Mission.

A high-level special session held on 18 July celebrated AMCEN’s 40th anniversary, spotlighting key achievements since its inception and exploring the path forward. Dialogues were held on accelerating progress toward the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.