Gathered on May 26 at the École Militaire in Paris, African, French, and international experts examined the links between climate change, food security, and geopolitical stability in Africa. Their conclusion was clear: in the face of a cross-cutting threat, only an integrated and diplomatically coordinated response can prevent future crises.
Climate as a Threat Multiplier
Climate change is no longer just an environmental emergency—it has become a major destabilizing force for security in Africa. That was the central message of the conference “Agriculture, Climate Change and Security in Africa,” which brought together key institutions such as UNESCO, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD, CIAN, and the African Security Network.
The Indian Ocean islands—Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion—were highlighted as frontline laboratories of climate vulnerability, showing how increased environmental risks can feed poverty, migration, and violence.
Madagascar: Agriculture at the Heart of Instability
In southern Madagascar, recurring droughts and collapsing agricultural yields have triggered a vicious cycle between food insecurity and rural violence. Cattle rustling by “dahalo” (bandits) has intensified, fuelled by extreme poverty and the collapse of state support structures.
According to speakers, this illustrates a broader phenomenon: when states cannot absorb climate shocks, a vacuum is created—often filled by violent or illegal groups, leading to the erosion of social cohesion and public institutions.
Mauritius and Réunion: Structural Vulnerabilities and Climate Diplomacy
In Mauritius, intense tropical cyclones, rising sea levels, and water stress threaten two key pillars of the economy: tourism and sugarcane farming. Although Réunion benefits from French state support, it is still exposed to coastal erosion and freshwater management challenges.
These realities reinforce the need for regional cooperation and the integration of climate risks into defence and development strategies, especially in island contexts.
An Interdisciplinary—and Geopolitical—Response
The conference advocated for a comprehensive approach, bringing together climatologists, agronomists, hydrologists, military officers, and diplomats. The goal: to design security policies that incorporate ongoing climate transformations and their varied territorial impacts.
The role of regional organizations, international donors, and partner states was highlighted as essential: climate security demands cross-border coordination mechanisms, major investments in agricultural resilience, and the inclusion of climate considerations in security doctrines.
Toward a Climate Diplomacy for Africa?
As global geopolitical tensions intensify, climate is emerging as both a fault line and a potential platform for cooperation, depending on the strategic choices of African governments. This issue is reshaping the priorities of African diplomacy and calls for greater synergy between climate, agricultural, and security policies.
In summary, climate change reveals systemic vulnerabilities—but also offers a chance for strategic reinvention. It is now up to African states and their international partners to make climate security a core pillar of 21st-century diplomacy.
