Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire face flood risks amid water management shifts

In Senegal, Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation Cheikh Tidiane Dièye has announced the Programme de renforcement de la résilience contre les inondations au Sénégal (PRRIS). This 15-year initiative, backed by 921 billion CFA francs, aims to shift from emergency crisis management to long-term structural resilience through improved drainage networks and retention basins. The announcement follows heavy rains that caused five deaths and significant disruptions in areas like Dakar. While the Senegal River remains below alert levels, officials are monitoring rising waters in the Gambia River sectors.

In Côte d’Ivoire, authorities have issued flood alerts for the Nawa region. The Compagnie ivoirienne d’électricité (CIE) plans imminent water releases from the Buyo Dam due to high upstream rainfall, which could cause the Sassandra River to rise rapidly. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to exercise caution and prepare for potential flooding.

Meanwhile, in Tunisia, the number of unauthorized deep agricultural wells has risen from 205 in 2010 to approximately 3,229 in 2024. Water extraction from these illegal sources has increased from 205 million to 827 million cubic meters during the same period, leading to groundwater depletion and environmental degradation.