FAO warns of escalating desert locust threat across North Africa, the Sahel

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a stark warning that desert locust swarms are expected to intensify across Libya and North Africa throughout June and July,posing a growing threat to food security in the region.

The swarms,which are already forming in parts of Libya,Tunisia,and Algeria,are anticipated to move southward towards the Sahel in search of rainfall to support breeding.

In its latest update,the FAO confirmed that significant infestations have been detected in key areas of Libya,including north of Ghat,south of Ghadames,and near Sebha. Smaller swarms have also emerged in Tazerbo and south of Bani Walid,where hopper bands—clusters of immature locusts—have been developing since May. These groups are expected to take flight in the coming weeks,forming larger swarms that will sweep into southern Algeria,northern Niger,and Mauritania as the summer breeding season begins.

While spring breeding has concluded in Egypt,Sudan,and Saudi Arabia,the FAO highlighted the urgent need for heightened surveillance and control efforts across North Africa. The organization cautioned that without decisive intervention,the advancing swarms could lead to large-scale crop devastation,exacerbating food insecurity across the Sahel and threatening livelihoods in vulnerable communities.