Africa: AU Urges Continent to Bolster Preparedness to Mitigate Potential Impacts of 2026 El Niño

What the report says

The African Union Commission has called for stronger continent-wide preparedness and coordinated action ahead of a projected 2026 El Niño, saying the climate pattern could affect food security, livelihoods, water supplies and other critical sectors across Africa. The comments were made in Addis Ababa, where the AU opened an Extraordinary Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment.

According to the Ethiopian News Agency report distributed by AllAfrica, AU Commission Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Harsen Nyambe said the meeting was convened to confront the expected threat and improve Africa’s readiness. He warned that climate extremes could hit communities and economies hard, especially in countries where agriculture is a main source of income.

The article says global climate models point to a high probability of an El Niño event in 2026, with possible consequences including heatwaves, disruptions to farming, water scarcity and higher disease risks. The gathering brings together AU member states, regional economic communities, meteorological and climate institutions, development partners and organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The discussions are also intended to support Africa’s climate priorities before COP31 in Türkiye and preparations for COP32, which Ethiopia is scheduled to host, underscoring the wider policy significance of the planning effort.