Climate change is increasingly recognised as a critical threat to peace and security across Africa. While it does not directly cause conflict, its impact is acutely felt in fragile contexts where governance is weak, resources are scarce and populations are already vulnerable. In these environments, floods, droughts and extreme weather events intensify instability, fuel displacement and strain the capacity of peace operations to deliver on their mandates.
The intersection of climate and conflict is particularly visible in regions such as Southern and East Africa, where erratic rainfall, cyclones and environmental degradation are becoming more frequent and severe. In Mozambique, recurrent flooding and cyclones have severely hampered mobility and humanitarian access, especially in conflict-affected areas like Cabo Delgado. Seasonal flooding of rivers and inadequate infrastructure, such as collapsed bridges and disrupted border points, have obstructed the movement of peacekeepers and hindered civilian protection and logistics. In South Sudan, severe floods have repeatedly cut off road access and rendered helipads unusable, limiting patrols and emergency response. These disruptions occur alongside seasonal conflict patterns, where climate shifts often trigger spikes in violence, migration and humanitarian need. These phenomena complicate the already complex operating environments of peace missions, impeding mobility, damaging infrastructure and increasing humanitarian needs. As the effects of climate change continue to intensify, peace operations must evolve to remain responsive and relevant.
Peace operations today face an expanding array of climate-induced operational challenges. Seasonal flooding can cut off access routes, isolate communities and hinder the movement of peacekeepers and humanitarian convoys. Drought and resource scarcity can trigger tensions among communities and heighten the risk of localised conflict. In some regions, climate variability exacerbates displacement and disrupts livelihoods, forcing missions to extend their protection and logistical support to internally displaced populations. At a strategic level, the integration of climate considerations into mission planning remains inconsistent. While some missions have begun to incorporate climate risk assessments, the tools, training and institutional capacities required to fully integrate these insights remain underdeveloped. There is often a lack of integration between climate data and security analysis, limiting the ability of peace operations to anticipate and respond to environmental stressors in a proactive and coordinated manner. Moreover, peace operations are increasingly required to address issues that extend beyond their traditional mandates. In contexts where governance systems are weak or overstretched, missions often become de facto first responders to climate-related emergencies. This expanded role, however, is rarely matched by corresponding resources or technical support, leaving missions ill-equipped to manage the compound risks of climate change and conflict.
Incorporating climate sensitivity into peace operations is no longer optional, it is essential. Missions must adapt their planning and execution to account for environmental realities on the ground. This means more than logistical preparedness. It involves rethinking how peace and security are conceptualised in a climate-affected world. First, peace operations must systematically integrate climate risk analysis into all stages of their planning cycles, including conflict assessments, scenario planning and early warning systems. This approach enables missions to anticipate the impacts of seasonal weather patterns, identify potential resource-related conflict hotspots and better prepare for disruptions to mission activities. For example, in South Sudan, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has begun integrating seasonal climate projections into military assessments to map areas vulnerable to both flooding and conflict. Second, operational flexibility must be enhanced. Engineering and logistics units should be equipped to build climate-resilient infrastructure, such as elevated roads, flood defences and climate-proof shelters. Mobility planning should account for seasonal shifts, including the prepositioning of supplies and adaptation of patrol routes during the rainy season or periods of extreme heat. In Mozambique, the lack of strategic airlift during the rainy season limited the reach of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), highlighting the need for enhanced transport and engineering capacity. Third, local knowledge must be placed at the centre of climate adaptation strategies. Communities living in climate-affected areas possess valuable insights into environmental risks and traditional coping mechanisms. Peace operations that engage with local actors are better positioned to support grassroots resilience and reduce tensions driven by climate-induced stressors. In some regions, natural resource management has been used as a platform for dialogue and community-based conflict resolution, particularly where environmental degradation fuels competition.
Incorporating climate sensitivity into peace operations is no longer optional, it is essential. Missions must adapt their planning and execution to account for environmental realities on the ground.
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At the continental level, there has been growing recognition of the link between climate change and security. The African Union (AU) has adopted a Common African Position on Climate, Peace and Security (CAP-CPS), promoting African-led solutions to climate-security challenges. This framework encourages multisectoral collaboration, prioritises vulnerable populations and seeks to align regional strategies with international efforts. However, implementation remains inconsistent. Many regional bodies continue to face significant challenges due to the lack of institutional capacity, technical expertise and financial resources. Bridging this gap requires deeper coordination between the AU, the United Nations (UN), and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs). Institutions like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are demonstrating how technical expertise can support peace operations. IGAD is one of UNMISS’ critical partners, providing technical analysis support which improves situational awareness and enables pre-planning. Its transhumance framework helps regulate the seasonal migration of pastoralist communities, reducing the risk of climate-related violence along migratory corridors. Sustained investment is also needed in institutional learning, the development of practical tools and the deployment of specialised climate-security advisors within missions. Partnerships across sectors, particularly with humanitarian, development and environmental actors are critical. Peace operations cannot address the full scope of climate-related risks alone. A whole-of-system approach is needed to align short-term security responses with long-term resilience-building and sustainable development.
To address the climate-security nexus effectively, peace operations must undergo a paradigm shift, moving away from reactive, state-centric models and embracing proactive, community-centred approaches that build resilience from the ground up. Climate adaptation must be institutionalised within peace missions and not treated as a peripheral concern, but embedded as a core component of their design and execution. Strengthening climate resilience in peace operations will require a combination of measures which include: integrating climate risk assessments into mission planning and early warning systems; enhancing coordination between the AU, UN and RECs/RMs; fostering community engagement and local ownership of adaptation strategies; investing in engineering and logistics to mitigate environmental disruptions; mobilising sustainable financing for long-term, integrated responses; and supporting African-led frameworks that reflect local priorities and realities. As climate change continues to reshape the landscape of conflict in Africa, the imperative is clear. Peace operations must evolve, transforming climate risk into an opportunity for innovation and resilience through data-driven approaches, grounded partnerships and locally informed solutions.
To address the climate-security nexus effectively, peace operations must undergo a paradigm shift, moving away from reactive, state-centric models and embracing proactive, community-centred approaches that build resilience from the ground up
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Rumbidzaishe Matambo is a Programme Officer at ACCORD, with over five years’ experience in peace and security in Africa, specialising in initiatives that enhance African Peace Operations.
This article is an excerpt taken from a report from the Roundtable Discussion on the Impact of Climate Change on Peace Operations hosted by ACCORD and Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in South Africa. More information about the Roundtable can be found here.
