Gambia River: Water levels falling in Kédougou, Mako and Gouloumbou

The water levels of the Gambia River and its main tributaries are showing contrasting trends in the Tambacounda-Kédougou region. According to the daily hydrological bulletin from the Tambacounda/Kédougou Water Resources Brigade, issued this Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 8:00 AM, several stations are recording a decrease in water levels, while Simenti is showing a significant increase.

In Kédougou, the water level is at 3.51 meters, compared to 3.92 meters the previous day, representing a decrease of 41 centimeters in 24 hours. With the alert level set at 7 meters, the current level is 3.49 meters below the alert threshold. The bulletin also indicates a decrease of 1.92 meters compared to the level recorded on the same date in 2025.

The same trend is observed in Mako, where the river level has dropped from 3.95 to 3.45 meters, a decrease of 50 centimeters. The alert level is set at 6 meters, leaving a margin of error of 2.55 meters. Over the past year, the river level has fallen by 1.17 meters.

Conversely, the Simenti station recorded a significant rise. The water level increased from 5.57 to 6.30 meters, a rise of 73 centimeters in 24 hours. Despite this increase, the level remains 6.70 meters below the alert threshold of 13 meters. Compared to September 8, 2025, however, the level is still 1.75 meters lower.

In Gouloumbou, the water level has dropped by 39 centimeters. It now stands at 6.78 meters, compared to 7.17 meters the previous day. With the alert level at 12 meters, the difference from the threshold remains at 5.22 meters.

The Diaguiri station, for its part, shows a stable situation, with a water level of 2.24 meters, the same as the previous day. The level remains 3.76 meters below the alert threshold, set at 6 meters.

On the tributaries, the overall trend is downward. At Thiokoye, the level falls by 18 centimeters to reach 1.92 meters, while at Niokolokoba, it drops slightly by 6 centimeters, to 3.83 meters.

A contrasting hydrological situation

The summary table thus confirms a general downward trend at several stations in the Gambia River basin, with a notable exception at Simenti, where a rise of 73 centimeters was recorded. Diaguiri remains stable.

At this stage, the bulletin data does not show any exceedances of alert levels at the reported stations. However, the situation remains to be monitored in light of daily fluctuations in water levels.