An upsurge of desert locusts is taking shape in Northwest Africa, with Morocco currently facing the highest pressure while Algeria, Mauritania, and Sahel countries prepare for possible summer migrations. Recent reports from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) confirm that Morocco has become the main hotspot in the western region, as locust populations move out of Saharan breeding areas toward more favorable zones.

Morocco: main control line

FAO monitoring indicates that large numbers of immature winged adults have formed over wide areas of Morocco following the development of larval groups and marching bands. In June alone, control operations in the country covered 87,363 hectares, including 33,500 hectares treated by air, underscoring the scale of the response.

Infested areas include regions around Guelmim, the coastal strip between Tiznit and Agadir, the corridor between Foum El Hassan and Foum Zguid, and, to a lesser extent, the zone between Merzouga and Errachidia. Some adults have already begun to reproduce, with mating observed near the Atlantic coast and in the Errachidia area. Authorities see two main risks: the formation of small, localized swarms within Morocco and the migration of adults toward other suitable breeding zones.

Since the spring, Moroccan teams have intensified survey and control operations after an initial round of breeding in Saharan areas. Field reports have described larval groups, marching bands, and many immature adults, with treated areas increasing month over month. The objective is to break the breeding cycle before groups turn into fast‑moving swarms that are much harder to contain. Vigilance is particularly high in the south, where oases and fragile farming systems are emerging from several years of drought and remain vulnerable to crop and pasture damage.

The effectiveness of the campaign depends on rapid ground surveys, weather patterns, vegetation conditions, and the ability to track groups that can quickly change direction with shifting winds. Any deterioration in one of these factors can turn a localized outbreak into a broader regional threat.

Algeria and Mauritania: key links to watch

Algeria is not facing the same level of pressure as Morocco, but the country is on alert. According to FAO updates, only limited infestations have been reported so far, with some groups of immature winged adults and scattered or grouped larvae in certain areas. The main concern is that adults leaving Morocco could cross into eastern Morocco and western Algeria, where favorable conditions could support continued breeding.

Mauritania is drawing attention because of its geographical position. If Moroccan locust groups begin moving south, Mauritania could become one of the main gateways to the summer breeding belt. Treatment volumes there remain low compared with Morocco: in June, about 68 hectares were treated in Mauritania, compared with 1,070 hectares in Algeria and more than 87,000 hectares in Morocco, based on FAO figures.

Specialists warn that such imbalances are risky. Even if one country manages to suppress an outbreak on its territory, adults that move into areas with weaker surveillance and limited control resources can re‑establish the problem farther south.

Sahel: on watch ahead of summer rains

Sahelian countries are not currently described as overrun, but they remain under close watch. In June, FAO estimated that some of the groups present in the northwest could move into Mauritania or other Sahel states, and recommended that survey operations start early in known summer breeding zones.

This context shaped a regional planning meeting held in Nouakchott from July 6–9, 2026, convened by the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region (CLCPRO). The workshop focused on organizing the 2026 summer campaign and brought together heads of national locust control units from the 11 member countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad, and Tunisia. Participants worked on a joint action plan for July through September, emphasizing coordinated surveys, information sharing, and rapid control operations.

With summer rains, many Sahelian areas can green up quickly, creating favorable conditions for locust breeding and survival. Governments in the region know that the most dangerous phase often comes before visible damage appears: once swarms have formed and settled, control operations are more costly and less effective.

Regional outlook

At this stage, North Africa is not facing a generalized invasion, but the situation is serious. Morocco is dealing with significant locust pressure, Algeria is monitoring secondary foci, and Mauritania and Sahel countries are preparing for potential southward movements of adult groups. In this kind of configuration, regional coordination and early warning are as important as ground and aerial spraying, because the window for effective intervention narrows quickly once breeding is under way.