4 September 2025: Small outbreak in Mauritania

Key points

• Overview: A small Desert Locust outbreak developed in Mauritania.
• Current situation: Hopper and adult groups increased in Mauritania. Isolated adults in Chad. In the Central Region, scattered adults in Sudan and isolated adults in Egypt. No locusts observed along the India-Pakistan border.
• Control operations: Decreased in August (573 ha) compared to July (6 421 ha).
• Forecast: Summer breeding will continue in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, southern Algeria, Sudan, and may start in Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. Groups may continue to appear in the western Sahel. Very small-scale breeding may occur along the India-Pakistan border.

In August, a small locust outbreak developed in Mauritania, with hopper and breeding adult groups observed across the centre of the country, and where mature solitarious adults continued to be observed. Due to incomplete information, it remains uncertain whether similar outbreaks are occurring in other Sahelian countries. Isolated adults were seen in Chad. The significant rainfall across the Sahel during August continues to create favourable breeding conditions for dispersed locust populations. Numbers are expected to increase, with groups continuing to appear in Mauritania and potentially in Mali, Niger, Chad and eventually southern Algeria. Continued surveillance will be essential, and control measures will likely be necessary to contain potential outbreaks. In the Central Region, a few isolated and scattered adults were present in Sudan, where small-scale summer breeding may be occurring in the interior of the country. A few adults were also reported from Egypt. Breeding is expected to continue in Sudan and may begin in Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen. In the Eastern Region, heavy monsoon rains persisted along the Indo–Pakistan border, but no locusts were found. Very small-scale breeding may still occur, though no significant developments are expected.

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