Ousmane Sanogo, Sory Sissoko, Safiatou Sangare, Ibrahima Zan Doumbia, Pangirayi B. Tongoona, Kwadwo Ofori, Samuel Offei, Haile Desmae Groundnut, drought stress, combining ability, gene action, yield 54-67 4 (2) 2020 April 2020 Groundnut is a major food, feed and cash crop in Mali. However, drought stress is a major constraint to this crop production. Study was carried out to estimate the combining ability effects and to assess the mode of gene action for pod yield and drought related traits in groundnut. Four females (ICGV 93305, ICGV 91317, ICGV 86024 and ICIAR 19 BT) were crossed with three drought tolerant males (ICGV 97182, ICGV 87378 and ICGS 44) using North Carolina mating design II. The 6 parents and their 90 F2s progenies were evaluated in 2 x 10 alpha lattice design with 3 replicates in dry season. Combining ability showed significant variation for most traits in both water regimes based on mean squares due to females, males and their interaction. Additive gene actions were more important than non-additive gene actions in controlling almost all the traits under both water regimes. On the basis of GCA effects, ICGV 87378 (with 2602 kg/ha) and ICIAR19BT (with 3016.7 kg/ha) were found good general combiners for drought stress and pod yield under well-watered condition for male and female parent, respectively. Likewise, under water-stressed condition, ICGV 87378 (with 1500 kg/ha) and ICGV 91317 (with 2013.9 kg/ha) were the good combiners for drought stress and pod yield as male and female parents, respectively. ICGV 86024/ ICGV 873378 (with 4041.67 Kg/ha) and ICIAR 19BT/ICGS 44 (with 2597.22 Kg/ha) were the best specific crosses for drought and pod yield in this study. The combiners could be therefore used as important parents for drought study while their combinations are recommended for pure lines selection and further seed production.