The humanitarian situation in Africa is far from bright. Mapping the situation reveals that no region on the continent is spared: from East to West, North to South, all five areas are affected. The current humanitarian crisis, mainly linked to population displacement, reached unprecedented levels in the past.
In Africa, over 45 million people are affected by a humanitarian crisis.
East Africa is the most affected region: almost half of the countries in the top 10 most affected by a humanitarian crisis in the world are located in this part of the continent. This includes Sudan, with over 12 million displaced persons, a direct result of the civil war that has plagued the country for over a year. Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia are also other countries experiencing political and military instability.
Central Africa is also severely impacted. The Democratic Republic of Congo leads with more than 8 million displaced persons. West Africa is not spared either: in addition to Nigeria, countries in the Sahel, particularly those in the central Sahel—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—are paying a heavy price due to the activities of jihadist groups. In general, the humanitarian situation is marked by massive population displacement. Over 45 million people are affected across the continent—an unprecedented figure, making Africa the most affected region in the world by this phenomenon.
The causes are multiple.
Political instability, the effects of climate change, and armed conflicts remain the main sources of this crisis. Considering the situation in Sudan, it was first a political crisis that quickly escalated into a fratricidal conflict. Today, the outlook is not optimistic. All mediation attempts for a lasting ceasefire have failed. Given the military capabilities on the ground and the support both warring parties receive, it is hard to envision a quick resolution or the victory of one side over the other.
In the Sahel, particularly in the central Sahel, the crisis is mainly related to the Islamic insurgency led by groups linked to the Islamic State (ISIS, ISWAP) or Al-Qaeda (JNIM), the two prominent families of international jihadism. Experts agree that the central Sahel has become the new epicenter of global terrorism. This security crisis is compounded by political instability, leading to repeated coups. Given the fragility of these countries—landlocked and among the poorest on the planet—the crisis is likely to persist. In Burkina Faso, the country has over 2 million internally displaced persons, and about 30% of the territory remains infested by jihadist armed groups. According to the authorities, the Rapid Intervention Brigades (BIR), created last year and continuing this year, will help curb or better manage the situation.
This phenomenon is increasingly being extended from the Sahel countries to the coastal countries further south along the Gulf of Guinea. Benin recently suffered a new large-scale attack, the deadliest targeting an army position in the north of the country. Neighbouring Togo is not spared either.
A Forgotten Humanitarian Crisis
The current situation is dire. Despite its scale, the response is not satisfactory, which is far from it. When considering the geography of the phenomenon—whether in Sudan, the central Sahel, the DRC, or elsewhere—these are major humanitarian crises affecting the continent. Unfortunately, these crises do not receive the attention they deserve compared to other recent crises: Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Ukraine. The crises affecting Africa are forgotten and neglected: a sense of abandonment, of double standards from the international community.
The international community must be more involved, as seen elsewhere in Afghanistan. In Syria, an international coalition was needed to defeat ISIS. Comparatively, the Sahel has not received the same attention, especially from the UN, which did not want to provide the necessary financial resources to the G5 Sahel multinational force.
Quick action must be taken to address the root causes of these crises: political instability, governance issues, and the factors exploited by terrorist groups. Peace must be imposed in Sudan, and fragile countries must be stabilized so that they can assume their responsibilities in terms of security, protection, and minimum requirements.
Countries affected must show real political will. The current crisis in Sudan holds the seeds of a new large-scale crisis, the consequences of which would go beyond the borders of East Africa. This could lead to a Libyan-style scenario, with the fear of a security vacuum that could create another sanctuary for armed groups and traffickers.
The need for regional solidarity in the face of crises
What is happening in the Sahel must be a more significant concern for the coastal countries, which are within the jihadist crosshairs. There needs to be a synergy of action against the terrorist hydra that disregards borders. One should not wait for an attack to react. A collective approach is desirable at both the regional and continental levels. Security must be the primary concern for regional bodies such as ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), SADEC, (the Southern Africa Coordination Conference) , and IGAD, (The Intergovernmental Authority on Development) which initially had an economic mandate. But today, given the security threat, these institutions must reassess their priorities. It is hard to consider development projects without security.
Greater awareness is needed. This requires advocacy by NGOs and international media on the gravity and stakes of the humanitarian situation in Africa. The international community has an obligation to intervene, in line with international humanitarian law, to assist populations affected by these conflicts. They should give those who seek refuge and protection elsewhere a chance to find refuge and protection.
What happens in Africa is also a global security problem. The crisis in Sudan carries the seeds of a migration crisis that could affect Europe. The international community must learn from its failures, especially in Libya, which has become a sanctuary for traffickers, a transit route for thousands of migrants crossing the Sahara and the Mediterranean, risking their lives to reach Europe. Insecurity has turned certain areas of the Sahel into red zones deemed dangerous for Westerners.
Hope Despite Everything
It must be said that humanitarian crises are not a new phenomenon in Africa. The continent has faced them in the past and has been able to overcome them. Hope lies in the reaction of the populations: their resilience. Faced with epidemics, notably COVID-19, the predicted catastrophe did not materialize. In response to extreme weather, such as droughts, floods, and famines, the populations of the Sahel have been able to bounce back. There is also hope in the generosity that characterizes Africans. Most of the 45 million displaced people live on the continent. The suffering neighbour is welcomed with open arms on the other side of the border. This is seen in East Africa and elsewhere across the continent. Africa remains a land of welcome and hospitality.