5 November 2025: Outbreak spreads in the west
Key points:
- Overview: The Desert Locust outbreak intensified in Mauritania and spread into Western Sahara.
- Current situation: Breeding adult groups, hopper groups and bands increased in Mauritania and breeding groups spread into Western Sahara. Locusts were also found in Algeria, Chad, Sudan and Yemen and a few in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- Control operations: Increased in October (9 890 ha treated) compared to September (4 543 ha).
- Forecast: Breeding will continue in Mauritania and Western Sahara with new adult groups and small swarms. Groups may appear in Mali, Niger, Chad, Morocco, Algeria and Sudan.
In October, the locust outbreak intensified in Mauritania and spread into Western Sahara, where adult groups migrated and bred across an 800 km stretch from south to north. New hopper groups and a few bands appeared from the second generation of breeding in western Mauritania. Scattered and isolated adults and hoppers were observed in several locations in Chad. Isolated adults were found in Algeria, where a few adult groups were also reported at the end of the month. Ecological conditions remain favourable for breeding in Mauritania and Western Sahara, where hopper groups and bands are expected to continue increasing during the forecast period. Adult groups and small swarms are likely to appear in November. Some adult groups may also appear in Mali, Niger, Chad, Morocco and Algeria. Continued surveillance will be essential, and control measures will be required. In the Central Region, isolated and scattered adults were present in Sudan, and a few isolated adults were observed in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where a few hoppers were also present. Small-scale breeding may occur if additional rainfall happens. A few groups may appear in Sudan in November. In the Eastern Region, no locusts were found, and no significant developments are expected.
