West and Central Africa: 2025 Monitoring of the flooding situation - As of 1 July 2025

FLOODING SITUATION OVERVIEW

In West and Central Africa, the effects of climate change encompass both slow-onset phenomena, such as rising temperatures, droughts and soil degradation, and sudden-onset events, like recurring floods, with far-reaching impacts on people’s well-being. Weather and climate change affect nearly every aspect of socio-economic development. These risks are expected to worsen needs, exacerbate social tensions, trigger disputes over land and infrastructure, and fuel conflicts between livestock herders and farmers.

In 2024, flooding affected 7.5 million people across 18 countries in the region. Chad was hardest hit, with 1.9 million people affected, followed by Niger (1.5 million), Nigeria (1.3 million), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1.2 million). Cameroon, Mali, Guinea, and the Republic of Congo recorded a combined total of over 1.1 million affected.

While 2025 seasonal forecasts are generally favorable, above-average rainfall, early onset, and irregular dry spells raise the risk of flooding and farmland submersion. This could lead to substantial crop and fodder losses, loss of life, infrastructure damage (markets, schools, health centres), and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

As of early July 2025, 129,000 people have been affected by floods in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), and Ghana. DR Congo – as in the same period in 2024 – remains the worst-hit, with 63,000 people affected (nearly half the total), followed by the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, CAR, and Ghana (66,000 people combined).

Floods have severely impacted livelihoods and basic social services. At least 5,300 houses were destroyed or damaged in Nigeria and CAR – Nigeria alone accounts for 3,800. About 33,000 persons have been displaced, mainly in Nigeria, DR Congo and Ghana. Over 5,300 hectares of farmland have been affected, with serious implications for food security. At least 361 people have died since the onset of flooding.

To the extent possible, preventive and mitigation measures must be prioritized to reduce the impact of climate-related events, especially in densely populated areas. In many countries across the region, flood response is stretching limited humanitarian resources, complicating aid delivery and exposing workers to heightened operational risks.