Climate change inflicts increasingly severe impacts on African nations

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), ocean temperatures surrounding the continent have also reached record highs. Large parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea experienced significant warming, while nearly all waters around Africa were affected by marine heatwaves of varying intensity, particularly in the tropical Atlantic.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that climate change is becoming an increasingly urgent crisis across Africa, with some regions facing devastating floods while others endure prolonged drought and severe water shortages.

The climate pattern El Niño, active from 2023 into early 2024, played a major role in shaping rainfall across the continent. Its influence contributed to extreme weather events that displaced around 700,000 people last year alone.

In West Africa, torrential rains affected approximately four million people. In Maiduguri, severe flooding killed at least 230 people and displaced 600,000, damaging infrastructure and contaminating water supplies. Meanwhile, southern African nations such as Zambia and Zimbabwe suffered their worst drought in decades, with crop yields falling sharply below average.

Extreme heat is also intensifying across the continent. The past decade has been the warmest on record in Africa, with 2024 ranking as either the hottest or second-hottest year depending on datasets. In South Sudan, temperatures reached 45°C in March 2024, forcing school closures. Across the globe, at least 242 million children missed school due to extreme weather that year, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNICEF.

Rising temperatures are worsening food insecurity and water scarcity, particularly in North Africa. Erratic weather patterns are disrupting agriculture, destroying livelihoods, and driving displacement—often compounding the effects of conflict.

South Sudan illustrates the scale of the crisis. Flooding in October affected around 300,000 people, wiping out livestock and spreading disease through stagnant المياه. The country, already facing economic instability and the spillover effects of conflict in Sudan, has seen its fragile systems pushed further under strain.

Aid delivery has also become more difficult. Flooded roads have forced organisations like the World Food Programme (WFP) to rely on costly airlifts to deliver assistance, highlighting the logistical challenges of responding to climate-driven disasters.

Experts warn of a destructive cycle in countries like South Sudan, where floods and droughts alternate throughout the year. Saturated soils mean even short bursts of rainfall can trigger severe flooding, increasing both the frequency and intensity of disasters.

Efforts to build resilience are underway. In areas such as Kapoeta, initiatives supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have helped reduce drought impacts by improving water storage and irrigation.

However, scientists caution that adaptation remains a major challenge. While solutions like desalination may work in some regions, they are often too costly or impractical for many African countries. Instead, experts emphasize the need for early warning systems, preparedness strategies, and long-term investment in climate resilience.

Overall, researchers warn that Africa—despite contributing the least to global emissions—is facing a rapidly escalating climate burden, with extreme weather acting as a “risk multiplier” for already vulnerable economies and communities.