UN Warns Mozambique Faces Severe Climate Risks From Projected 2026 El Niño
Mozambique has been identified by the United Nations as one of Africa’s countries most vulnerable to the projected impacts of the 2026 super El Niño, including droughts, cyclones and floods.
The United Nations has warned that Mozambique is among the African countries most vulnerable to the projected effects of the 2026 super El Niño, with prolonged droughts, cyclones and floods expected in the coming months.
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Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change, issued the warning at the end of an 11-day working visit to Mozambique. She said the country is among those most exposed to climate change globally despite having contributed very little to it.
Southern Africa faces heightened risks
The projected weather system is expected to bring severe heatwaves, below-normal rainfall and increased drought risks across Southern Africa. Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar were identified as the three countries named in the report as the most vulnerable in Africa.
Morgera said Mozambique could face a combination of prolonged drought, cyclones and flooding as the projected El Niño develops. The impacts remain forecasts, with the timing and severity of the weather events not certain.
Food insecurity and economic pressure
The warning comes as Mozambique faces acute economic strain following catastrophic flooding earlier in the year. The country is also dealing with a major food crisis, with 3.5 million people already experiencing acute food insecurity.
The possible arrival of further climate-related shocks could place additional pressure on communities already affected by food insecurity and the economic consequences of the earlier flooding.
Call for stronger corporate responsibilities
Morgera also called for clearer obligations for private companies operating in Mozambique. She said businesses should respect human rights and avoid foreseeable environmental and climate damage, highlighting particular responsibility for fossil fuel companies.
“It is necessary to define very clear obligations for private companies that they have a responsibility to respect human rights and avoid foreseeable environmental and climate damage; this is particularly true for fossil fuel companies,” Morgera said.
Her comments placed the projected weather risks alongside broader questions about the responsibilities of companies operating in a country that remains highly exposed to climate-related hazards.
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