Africa: As Freshwater Reserves Shrink, Countries Must Prepare for a New Water Reality

The World Meteorological Organization warned that abnormal water supplies are becoming the norm, with river flows and groundwater in decline. In 2025, river discharges were among the lowest in 35 years, and nearly two-thirds of monitored wells were outside their normal range. While some regions in South America saw a slight recovery, all major glacier regions lost ice for the fourth consecutive year.