As the rainy season approaches, Niger’s authorities are sounding the alarm. The Operational Centre for Monitoring, Alerts and Crisis Management (COVACC) warns of severe risks to livestock and infrastructure linked to early rains expected across the country’s agropastoral belt.
COVACC issues urgent warnings ahead of 2026 rainy season
With the first rains on the horizon, Nigerien authorities are already bracing for the potential impact of an intense 2026 rainy season. The COVACC has issued official warnings to rural communities, especially pastoral groups, about the hazards that typically accompany the onset of heavy seasonal rainfall.
According to the National Meteorology Directorate, the 2026 wintering season is projected to bring ‘normal to above-normal’ precipitation across the agropastoral belt of Niger. Forecasts suggest rainfall levels will align with or exceed the averages recorded between 1991 and 2020.
While these conditions bode well for agriculture, they also pose significant threats to livestock and community infrastructure.
Destructive winds threaten livestock and property
The COVACC highlights that early rains often bring violent winds, particularly dangerous for weakened livestock exhausted by the lean season. Undernourished animals face heightened risks of accidents and mass fatalities during such storms.
Beyond livestock, these weather events cause extensive property damage. Roofs torn off, mud-brick buildings collapsing, and public infrastructure destruction are recurring issues during this period.
Early signs of damage reported
As of May 11, 2026, the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) has documented several instances of damage nationwide. In the commune of Allakaye, Bouza department (Tahoua region), high winds destroyed a three-classroom block, a mud-brick classroom, and a wall of an Integrated Health Centre (CSI).
In Dosso region’s Dankassari commune, the storms also wreaked havoc: two classrooms, a storage facility, six streetlights, and five electric poles were severely damaged.
COVACC urges heightened vigilance
To mitigate risks, authorities are stressing the importance of preventive measures to reduce human, animal, and material losses.
The COVACC advises communities to monitor weather bulletins and alerts from official sources regularly. Pastoralists are urged to shelter livestock during windstorms and avoid flood-prone areas.
The centre also strongly discourages herding animals in koris (dry riverbeds) or seasonal watercourses, which can suddenly transform into raging torrents during heavy rains. Authorities call on the public to steer clear of runoff pathways and report any incidents to local officials promptly.
A critical challenge for Niger’s pastoral economy
In Niger, where livestock farming is a cornerstone of the economy and livelihoods for millions, every rainy season brings both opportunity and vulnerability. While rains revitalise pastures, they also amplify climate-related risks.
With security and economic challenges already straining rural populations, authorities are working to strengthen early warning systems to curb the impact of natural disasters. As the peak of the 2026 rainy season approaches, the COVACC’s message is unequivocal: prevention remains the most effective defence against climate uncertainties. For Nigerien herders, this season could either replenish pastures or jeopardise years of pastoral survival.
