The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that Africa now represents nearly 40 percent of all armed conflicts worldwide, with more than 50 ongoing clashes across the continent — a sharp rise driven by deepening insecurity and dwindling humanitarian resources.
“We now have more than 50 active armed conflict situations in Africa,” said Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President of the ICRC. “That’s a 45 percent increase since 2020, representing roughly 40 percent of total conflicts in the world.”
Home to 1.4 billion people, Africa boasts vast natural wealth and the world’s youngest population. Yet many of its regions remain trapped in cycles of poverty, violence, and instability, Carbonnier said.
A Humanitarian Crisis on an Unprecedented Scale
The ICRC estimates that 35 million people in Africa have been displaced by conflict — nearly half of the world’s displaced population.
“The humanitarian consequences are truly dramatic,” Carbonnier said, noting that widespread displacement has left health systems, economies, and social structures in ruins.
Compounding the crisis, the ICRC and other aid agencies are facing sharp funding cuts, particularly from the United States and Western donors, despite surging needs.
“We are forced to make very painful choices — reducing or even halting some operations to prioritize others,” Carbonnier warned.
A recent international study projected that the withdrawal of U.S. aid could cause more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, with children accounting for a third of that number.
Sudan: ‘The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis’
Carbonnier described Sudan as the most alarming situation on the continent. The country has been engulfed in a civil war since April 2023, as battles rage between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 12 million people, prompting the United Nations to label it “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”
“The health system is largely destroyed,” Carbonnier said, expressing concern over rising cases of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever.
Rising Violence in Somalia and the DRC
The ICRC vice-president also condemned renewed violence in Somalia, where the militant group Al-Shabaab continues its insurgency, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fighting has intensified in the east.
Since January, the Kigali-backed M23 armed group has captured several key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, displacing hundreds of thousands.
A Continent in Crisis, and a Call for Renewed Support
Carbonnier urged the international community to restore funding and engagement, warning that Africa’s conflicts — if neglected — could deepen instability beyond the continent.
“Africa’s suffering is immense,” he said. “But without sustained global solidarity, we risk seeing entire generations lost to war, hunger, and disease.”
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