… Southern Angola, particularly Cunene, Huíla and Namibe provinces, has been severely affected by recurring droughts worsened by El Niño and climate change. …
… The forecast comes as climate experts warn of the strengthening influence of El Niño conditions, which are expected to reach strong to very strong intensity during the October–December 2026 period and persist into early 2027. …
… According to the climate experts, the coming season will be influenced by major climate drivers, including a strong El Niño, the Indian Ocean Dipole and Subtropical Indian Ocean Dipole. …
About 50 million people are likely to be pushed into acute hunger before the end of next year by the rapidly developing El Niño weather system, according to forecasting. …
Namibia imports about 70% of its food, leaving it highly vulnerable to external shocks, particularly the looming El Niño weather pattern that could disrupt agricultural production. …
Amnesty International reports that Namibia's immigration and refugee frameworks fail to protect vulnerable Angolan women and children displaced by drought, leaving them facing arrest, deportation, and lack of access to healthcare, education, shelter, water, and documentation. The organisation characterises the situation as a human rights crisis driven by climate-related disaster rather than irregular migration.
Amnesty International reports that Namibia's immigration and refugee frameworks fail to protect vulnerable Angolan women and children displaced by drought, leaving them facing arrest, deportation, and lack of access to healthcare, education, shelter, water, and documentation. The organisation characterises the situation as a human rights crisis driven by climate-related disaster rather than irregular migration.
According to the 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum in Swakopmund, Namibia is expected to experience below-normal rainfall during the October 2026 to March 2027 period, with high confidence in the forecast for much of the broader southern African region and generally above-normal temperatures.
The 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum, held in Swakopmund from 25 to 28 August 2026, brought together climate experts and sector specialists to review the 2025/26 rainfall season and prepare for the 2026/27 season through sector-specific planning and translation of climate forecasts into preparedness measures.
The 33rd Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum warns that most SADC countries, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, will likely receive below-normal rainfall between October 2026 and March 2027, with above-average temperatures expected to compound water shortages and pressure on agriculture.
The UN World Food Programme warns that El Niño, potentially the strongest in 70 years, could push about 50 million people into acute hunger before the end of 2027, adding to the 225 million already in acute food insecurity across 45 countries. Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern Africa are likely to be worst affected, while south and south-east Asia may face reduced rainfall threatening agriculture.
Namibia imports about 70% of its food and faces severe food insecurity risks from a developing "Super El Niño" forecast for October 2026 to March 2027, which could bring drought conditions and crop failure similar to the devastating 2023/24 El Niño. The World Food Programme warned that lower agricultural output across Southern Africa could sharply worsen food insecurity in the region, with over 117,000 households already receiving food assistance in July.
Namibia's electricity and water subsector is projected to expand by 4.9% in 2026, down from 12.6% growth in 2025, partly due to anticipated El Niño impacts. Construction activity is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2026, a downward revision of 3 percentage points from earlier forecasts, following exceptionally strong 20.2% growth in 2025.