Africa May Face Strongest El Nino in Decades, AU Experts Warn
Africa could experience its strongest El Nino event in decades from November, with climate experts warning of possible severe weather disruptions across the continent.
The warning was issued by African Union (AU) climate experts during an extraordinary session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Harsen Nyambe, Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the AU Commission, said global climate forecasting centres had predicted the development of a strong El Nino episode later this year.
Nyambe said the event was expected to reach peak intensity between November 2026 and January 2027, adding that forecasts suggest it could be the strongest El Nino recorded since 1950.
He urged African countries to strengthen preparedness measures to anticipate, reduce and respond to the possible impacts of the phenomenon.
According to him, previous experiences showed that El Nino affects African regions differently, with some areas facing prolonged droughts and dry spells, while others suffer floods, landslides and climate-related disease outbreaks.
Nyambe said such climate extremes could negatively affect food production, water availability, energy supply, public health, infrastructure and the livelihoods of millions of Africans.
Jolly Wasambo, an AU Commission climate expert, said Africa remains increasingly exposed to climate variability and extreme weather events linked to El Nino.
Wasambo warned that the expected 2026 El Nino could worsen water shortages and crop failures, potentially leading to food insecurity, livelihood losses, power challenges and conflicts over limited grazing resources.
The extraordinary session was convened following forecasts of a high likelihood of a strong El Nino event, with the objective of evaluating Africa’s preparedness, enhancing early warning systems and anticipatory measures. While supporting the implementation of Agenda 2063 and preparations for COP31 and COP32. #Africa May Face Strongest El Nino in Decades, AU Experts Warn#Africa is Rich, Doesn’t Need Aid – Jimoh Ibrahim
