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March 2025 and Forecast to mid-May 2025
The Desert Locust outbreak of southern Sahara expanded to Northwestern Africa during March. Adult groups arrived in several places of Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and to a lower extent to Morocco. Spring breeding started in these countries where rainfall occurred, and hopper groups and small bands began to appear at the end of the month. Hopper and adult groups persisted in southern Algeria and hopper bands were also found in Chad. Scattered adults were breeding in Morocco. Locusts declined along the Red Sea coast in Sudan and Egypt, where a few hopper bands and groups were present. In the Nile Valley of southern Egypt and northern Sudan, adult groups and swarms remained, and spring breeding started. Hopper bands persisted along the northern coast of Saudi Arabia. Control operations continued but decreased compared to February.
During the forecast, spring breeding will continue in Northwestern Africa, particularly in central Algeria and western Libya, but also in Morocco and southern Tunisia. Adult groups and small swarms will breed, causing hopper groups and bands to increase. Some locusts may persist in northern areas of Niger, Mali and Chad. In the Nile Valley, adult groups and swarms will continue to breed, primarily near irrigated crops in northern Sudan and southern Egypt. In Saudi Arabia, locusts will move from the Red Sea coast to the interior for a generation of spring breeding. Control operations will remain necessary in these regions. No significant developments are likely in the Eastern Region.
KEY POINTS
• Overview: The Desert Locust outbreak of southern Sahara expanded to Northwestern Africa.
• Current situation: Several breeding adult groups in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and southern Tunisia; hopper groups in Algeria, few small bands in Chad, Libya and Morocco. Adult groups and swarms along the Nile Valley of Sudan and Egypt; hopper bands in Saudi Arabia.
• Control operations: Decreased during March (17 962 ha) compared to February (25 748 ha).
• Forecast: Numbers will increase with spring breeding in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia with hopper groups and bands. Spring breeding will occur along the Nile Valley in northern Sudan and southern Egypt, and in the interior of Saudi Arabia. Control operations will be required.
FAO/DLIS will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates and alerts.