7 January 2026: Low temperatures slowed the Western outbreak
Key points:
- Overview: The Desert Locust outbreak remained serious in Mauritania and Western Sahara.
- Current situation: Numerous adult groups and small swarms were present in Mauritania, while hopper groups and bands were fledging into adult groups and small swarms in Western Sahara. Adult groups spread from northern Senegal to near Tan-Tan in Morocco. Some locusts were also found in Algeria, Niger, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.
- Control operations: Increased in December (81 654 ha treated) compared to November (33 273 ha).
- Forecast: Breeding may resume in Mauritania and Western Sahara. Small swarms may migrate northward from Mauritania to Morocco. Some may reach Algeria and Senegal. Groups may appear in Sudan.
In December, the locust outbreak remained serious in Mauritania and Western Sahara. Immature adult groups and small swarms increased along the Atlantic coast of Mauritania, some reaching Senegal. In Morocco, mature adult groups were found near Tan-Tan. Hopper groups and bands were fledging into adult groups and small swarms in Western Sahara. However, low temperatures slowed maturation, allowing intensive control efforts before a third generation could begin. A few isolated adults were reported in Algeria and Niger. In the Central Region, scattered and isolated adults were observed along the Red Sea coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia, and along the Gulf of Aden coast in Yemen, where a few hoppers were detected. No locusts were reported in the Eastern Region.
During the forecast period, a third generation of breeding could occur in Mauritania and Western Sahara, with mature groups and small swarms likely to spread northward up to Morocco. New hopper groups or bands may appear in Mauritania in late January and in Western Sahara in February. Breeding may also occur in southern Algeria and southwestern Libya. In the Central Region, small-scale winter breeding may continue in Yemen and along both sides of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Egypt, as well as in Eritrea and Somalia if additional rainfall occurs. No significant developments are expected in the Eastern Region.
