Senegalese authorities and meteorological experts have emphasized the urgent need to modernize the country’s early warning systems to combat extreme weather events.
Speaking at the 2025 World Meteorological Day, themed “Bridging the Early Warning Gaps Together,” Minister of Infrastructure, Land, and Air Transport Yankhoba Dièmé and Dr. Diaga Basse, Director General of the National Agency for Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM), highlighted the growing climate risks facing Senegal.
The event featured five thematic panels focusing on surveillance, alert communication, and funding strategies, reinforcing efforts to tackle climate challenges.
In 2024, Senegal experienced record-breaking heatwaves and severe floods in its eastern regions, impacting over 56,000 people. Climate projections indicate that extreme heat events could affect 13.6% of the population by 2080, compared to 3.5% in 2000.
Experts and officials stressed that as climate crises intensify, early warning systems are no longer optional but a necessity for Senegal and Africa.