Somalia Mobilises for El Niño as Climate Risks Mount

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Gen. Bashir Mohamed Jama opened the National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF 2026) in Mogadishu, where government officials and climate experts are examining the Deyr 2026 forecast, emerging climate risks and measures to strengthen preparedness. The forum comes as Somalia faces continued exposure to drought, flooding and other climate-related disasters that have placed pressure on vulnerable communities, livelihoods and food security. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has also launched the technical kick-off meeting for Somalia's Weather and Climate Information Services Action First initiative. Implemented in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization and the UK Met Office, the initiative aims to strengthen action-based forecasting, early warning systems and anticipatory action. Officials say improved access to timely and reliable climate information will be critical to ensuring communities and authorities can act before extreme weather events escalate into humanitarian crises. Agriculture and food security officials are also calling for seasonal forecasts to be translated into practical guidance for farmers. Mohamed Muse, Director of Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, said climate information should support timely agricultural advisories, anticipatory measures and preparedness to protect crops, livelihoods and food supplies.. The discussions brought together representatives from international financial institutions, climate-finance organizations, development partners and the Federal Government of Somalia to explore greater cooperation on climate action. The government's latest initiatives point to a broader shift toward anticipatory action, with greater emphasis on using climate forecasts, early warning systems and climate finance to prepare communities before disasters occur.