Gambia River: the water level continues to recede in Kédougou, but vigilance remains necessary downstream.

The Gambia River level is receding in Kédougou and Mako, while Gouloumbou and Niokolo-Koba are experiencing a slight rise. Several stations remain under orange alert, according to the hydrological bulletin of October 13, 2026.

KÉDOUGOU – The water level is receding at several monitoring stations along the Gambia River and its tributaries in southeastern Senegal. However, this downward trend does not mean the end of the hydrological risk. The daily bulletin from the Tambacounda-Kédougou Water Resources Brigade, published this Tuesday, October 13, 2026, reports still high levels and maintains several stations on orange alert.

In Kédougou, the Gambia River level dropped from 5.34 meters on Monday to 4.62 meters on Tuesday at 8:00 AM, a decrease of 72 centimeters in 24 hours. Despite this significant decline, the water level remains 90 centimeters higher than that recorded on the same date in 2025, when the river level was 3.72 meters. The station remains under yellow alert, with the warning level set at 7 meters.

In Mako, the trend is also downward. The river level has dropped from 4.66 to 4.55 meters, a decrease of 11 centimeters in one day. However, it remains 1.11 meters higher than the level recorded on October 13, 2025. The station is under orange alert, while the alert level is set at 6 meters.

Levels remain high in Simenti and Gouloumbou

Further downstream, water levels remain a concern, despite contrasting trends. At Simenti, the Gambia River has dropped by 9 centimeters, from 10.56 to 10.47 meters. However, the current level is still 4.13 meters higher than that observed at the same time in 2025. The station is under an orange alert, with a warning level of 13 meters.

In Gouloumbou, however, the river level has risen slightly again. It increased from 10.78 to 10.84 meters, a rise of 6 centimeters in 24 hours. Compared to October 13, 2025, the current level shows a rise of 2.01 meters. The station remains on orange alert, 1.16 meters below its alert level of 12 meters.

The tributaries flow in a scattered order.

On the tributaries, the water level has receded particularly sharply at Diarha Pont and Thiokoye. At Diarha Pont, the level dropped from 3.74 meters to 2.53 meters, a decrease of 1.21 meters in 24 hours. At Thiokoye, it fell by 60 centimeters, from 5.55 meters to 4.95 meters.

In Diaguiri, the water level dropped by 23 centimeters, settling at 4.67 meters compared to 4.90 meters the previous day. The station remains under orange alert, however, 1.33 meters below its alert level of 6 meters.

Conversely, the Niokolokoba river level rose from 6.80 to 6.92 meters, an increase of 12 centimeters in a single day. This development confirms that the water level is not receding uniformly across the entire monitored river network.

Caution remains necessary

Overall, the data from the October 13th bulletin show a decrease in levels at several stations, but also localized rises and water levels still higher than those observed a year earlier.

The situation therefore calls for caution, particularly in areas where monitoring stations remain on orange alert. Residents living along the rivers are urged to closely monitor water levels and follow the instructions of the relevant authorities.

The observed decrease in water levels at Kédougou, Mako, Simenti, and on some tributaries is a positive sign. However, it should not obscure the persistence of high water levels downstream of the Gambia River.