Drought onset in East Africa at the end of 2025
A severe drought has been affecting East Africa since September 2025, particularly Somalia, south-eastern Ethiopia, and eastern Kenya.
Its magnitude and impact are analysed in the latest Global Drought Observatory Analytical Report published by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS). The agricultural sector has been severely impacted, with serious consequences for the local population.
This data visualisation, created using CEMS data, shows the temporal evolution of the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) between September and December 2025. SPEI is a widely used index for identifying and monitoring meteorological and agricultural drought. It reveals the onset of a severe drought in the border region of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya at the end of September. By the end of the year it had gradually intensified, impacting nearly the entire Horn of Africa.
More information is available in the Report.
