.An analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences plus morphological data (Wüster et al. 2018) has solved the long-standing uncertainty surrounding the Naja melanoleuca ‘species complex’. This is now shown  to contain five distinct species: a more restricted N. melanoleuca; N. guineensis (western Africa); N. savannula (savanna parts of western and central Africa); N. peroescobari (endemic to the island of São Tomé); and N. subfulva (central to northeast and Africa and southwards to Angola in the west and South Africa in the east).

Listed as Least Concern on the basis that this species is widespread, regularly observed and, as it can survive in several natural habitat types, likely to be at only localized risk from habitat loss. Nevertheless this may be a species of serious conservation concern locally, particularly in Nigeria due to reported population declines and habitat loss resulting from this country's level of industrialization.

This species has a distribution centred on the Congo Basin, from where it ranges west at least to southwestern Nigeria, although its western range limits are poorly-known, and south to northern Angola (Wüster et al. 2018). It reaches its eastern range limit at the Albertine Rift (Wüster et al. 2018). A number of specimens from Lamta in southern Benin and at least one unspecified locality in Ghana appear to be referable to this taxon (Wüster et al. 2018). It occurs up to 2,700 m asl.

This species is regularly observed throughout its range, although as a top predator it naturally occurs in relatively low densities. In Nigeria, where this species was formerly very common, the population has been reduced as a result of forest loss, and it appears to be rare or have been lost entirely from many areas over a period of "just a few decades" (Luiselli et al. 2002).

This species occurs in savanna and forest. It is exclusively associated with watercourses and other permanent waterbodies, including lakes and marshes with gallery forest (Trape and Mané 2006). It can occur at similar densities in mature forest and plantation-forest mosaics, but "very rarely" enters heavily-altered habitats (Luiselli et al. 2002). It is active mostly by day but also nocturnally, and fish are its preferred prey although it will also take amphibians, reptiles, bird eggs and small rodents (Trape and Mané 2006). This is an oviparous species, laying 15 to 26 eggs.

As a highly venomous snake this species is likely to be persecuted throughout its range, which may place some localized pressure on subpopulations of an animal that occurs at low abundance. Habitat loss represents a threat to this snake, both directly as this snake occurs at low densities (Luiselli et al. 2002), and indirectly by facilitating the expansion of the more adaptable spitting cobra Naja nigricollis, which is a superior competitor in modified habitats (Luiselli et al. 2002). In Nigeria, where this species has undergone apparently severe declines, rapid population growth and heavy industrialization, including oil and gas exploration as well as infrastructure development, are the leading causes of forest loss (L. Luiselli pers. comm. 2012).

This species is found in international trade in very small numbers: Jensen et al. (2018) found only 36 live animals (which may include other species following recent taxonomic changes) advertised for export to North America and Europe between 2013 and 2017, across five range states. The species is also captured for venom extraction within the range countries. There is also some use of this species in the reptile skin trade.

This species occurs in several protected areas. In West Africa, conservation measures are recommended in areas where habitat loss is extensive, particularly the retention of the forested river banks that represent the main habitat for this snake and the prevention of further deforestation (L. Luiselli pers. comm. 2012).