As climate extremes tighten their grip on Africa, drought remains the continent’s most widespread and persistent climate hazard. It creeps slowly, often unnoticed, and yet it exacts a devastating toll on crops, water supplies, pastoral systems, lives, livelihoods, and entire economies. The question is no longer whether drought will come, but whether we can detect it early enough, act quickly enough, and coordinate effectively enough.

The African Union Commission has released the June 2025 issue of the AMHEWAS Africa Drought Watch Bulletin. This landmark product provides a continent-wide overview of drought conditions and actionable insights to support early response and preparedness.

The bulletin, developed through the African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS), identifies areas of emerging and protracted drought and highlights risks to agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. It combines real-time satellite indicators with rainfall forecasts to guide decision-makers on where to act and at what scale.

“This bulletin is more than a monitoring tool. It’s a decision support platform that allows African institutions to stay ahead of drought risks and protect vulnerable communities,” said Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE), African Union Commission.

Key Highlights from the June Issue:
• Severe drought persists in Northern Africa, with significant impacts on cereal production in Morocco and Algeria.
• Emerging drought conditions in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Cameroon threaten agricultural output due to delayed rains and extended dry spells.
• Forecasts warn of continued rainfall deficits in parts of Western and Central Africa during the July–September period.

The bulletin classifies drought into four levels and aligns each level with a recommended governance response, from sub-national to continental scale, helping countries and regions coordinate more effectively.

It is co-produced by the AUC, ACMAD, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Climate Centers, and technical partners.

“The AMHEWAS Drought Bulletin is more than just a technical product; it is a strategic shift in how Africa manages drought risk from reactive to proactive drought risk management. It provides a structured, evidence-based mechanism for anticipating drought, guiding coordinated action, and strengthening resilience. Its development reflects a model of operational co-production among African institutions — turning early warning into early action through shared systems and strategic alignment,” said Viola Otieno, Early Warning and Early Warning Expert, African Union Commission.

Download the full June 2025 Bulletin [here].

Learn more about the drought bulletin [here] or download the PDF version [here]

For further information, please contact:
Mrs. Teresa Pinto, Technical Coordinator, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy | African Union Commission | E-mail: PintoT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ms. Viola Otieno, Early Warning and Early Action Expert, AMHEWAS Situation Room | Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | African Union Commission | E-mail: OtienoV@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For media enquiry:
Mr Molalet Tsedeke | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-911-630 631 | E-mail: MolaletT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communications Analyst – Disaster Risk Reduction | Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | African Union Commission | E-mail: MuriukiM@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia