Floods in Africa: The need to find sustainable solutions

The recurring phenomenon of devastating floods has made finding sustainable solutions an urgent imperative for many African nations. These annual events cause widespread anxiety among African populations who fear becoming victims overnight as the rainy season approaches. In recent years, this climatic scourge has become particularly formidable, exacerbated by climate change which has intensified torrential rains across the continent.

From East to West, and from the Sahel to Southern Africa, including Central Africa and the Great Lakes region, no area remains untouched by these extreme weather patterns. The consequences are dire, extending beyond material damage, which includes the destruction of infrastructure, devastation of farmland, and loss of livestock. These natural disasters frequently result in thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people.

This year, Côte d'Ivoire has already experienced its first floods, notably in Bingerville, prompting emergency state interventions. The Ivorian government has ordered the swift completion of drainage canal construction, the clearing of gutters, collectors, and other outlets. This situation is particularly concerning as Côte d'Ivoire is not alone; over twenty African countries have reportedly faced severe floods in recent years.

Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali, Chad, and Niger have experienced significant rainfall in 2024 and 2025, leading to widespread flooding. In some areas, children were unable to attend school, with learning centers sometimes transformed into temporary shelters for displaced individuals. This highlights the gravity of the situation, necessitating a proactive approach from governments.

This proactive strategy should involve implementing anticipatory action plans, reinforcing drainage and flood protection infrastructure, raising public awareness, and adopting preventive measures to mitigate flood impacts and protect vulnerable populations. The article suggests that responsibility is shared between the incivility of populations and the failures of public authorities in fulfilling their duties. The issue of populations occupying flood-prone areas improperly also contributes to the problem.