Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent in the world. Located between the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the continent is home to 54 countries and nearly 1.4 billion people. Africa is best known for homing the Sahara Desert, the Nile River, and various other diverse ecosystems. However, the continent also faces several challenges, including food insecurity, poverty, violence, and political instability.
Sudan:
As of April 2023, Sudan has been involved in a power fight involving its army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and a powerful paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The war has led to famine and claims of genocide in the western region of the country. It is estimated that more than 150,000 have died in the conflict, and more than 12 million people have fled their homes. The UN has called it the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Here is what you need to know.
The conflict between the two parties emerged in 2019 after the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir and the collapse of the traditional civilian-military government. After the former president was removed from power, there were many attempts to introduce democracy to the country, all of which failed. In 2021, Burhan and Hemedti jointly led a coup but later split over differing opinions on whether the RSF should join the army.
As of 2025, the RSF has seized control over most of the Darfur region and parts of the Kordofan region in Sudan. The RSF has been accused of receiving support and weapons from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Libya. The Army has control over most of North and East Sudan, as well as Port Sudan.
Many organizations like Human Rights Watch have reported mass killings, rape, and ethnic cleansing by the RSF. A UN probe accused both the RSF and the Army of committing war crimes but stopped short of declaring it a genocide. However, in January, the U.S. formally declared that the RSF had committed genocide.
Due to the fighting, humanitarian aid access has been restricted, and around 24 million people in Sudan currently face acute hunger. The RSF recently agreed to a truce, but the army remains skeptical.
Nigeria:
Nigeria is experiencing a growing wave of violence; however, the conflict is not purely religious, as a number of sources claim. Instead, it is deeply connected with ethnic, political, economic, and environmental issues. According to many sources, like the Council on Foreign Relations and Yahoo, claiming that the violence is solely against Christian believers is a harmful oversimplification of what is happening in the African state.
Nigeria’s population of 220 million is close to an even split between Muslims and Christians. Nigerians of all religions face daily violence. However, violence in the Northern and Middle parts of the country has been highlighted in the news. This violence can be traced to the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram. The group has been carrying out its campaign for over two decades, and the stated goal of this group is to abolish the Nigerian state and replace it with a Sharia-based theocracy. Because of this, Boko Haram has been indiscriminate with its violence, targeting Muslims and Christians, Mosques and Churches, and even government buildings.
Attempts to stop or minimize the violence have had little success, but in 2024, the country experienced a significant decrease in kidnapping incidents, offering citizens some hope for a brighter future.
Opinions on U.S. involvement in the conflict vary. Some people feel that the distinction of Nigeria as a country of particular concern will help bring awareness to the violence that Boko Haram is inflicting on Nigerians. Others are concerned that the U.S.’s description of the violence is too narrow and could be based on a misleading narrative.
Sahel Region:
The Sahel Region of Africa is located just below the Sahara Desert and is home to many countries, including Mali, Chad, Niger, and many others. Many of these countries are facing serious challenges that are harming not only their citizens but the rest of Africa.
Since gaining their independence in the 1960s, many countries have faced violent extremism. Most of this violence can be linked to weak and illegitimate governance, economic decline, and the effects of climate change.
Over the last decade, violence in the region has had a significant surge, posing significant challenges to countries both in and out of the region. Currently, the major conflict zones are located in the border areas between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as the Lake Chad Basin.
The root causes of the violence include those listed above, but also involve weapons proliferation, socio-economic stress, and displacement. Since the collapse of the Libyan state authority in 2011, there has been a dramatic increase in weapons and fighters flowing into the region.
Many organizations are fighting against the violence in the region. The G5 Sahel Force is a regional task force including the countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and others, and was created to help undermine the extremist groups. However, counterterrorism efforts from other countries have been unsuccessful, and many security groups in the region have committed human rights violations.
At the moment, violence in the region is increasing, and the Council on Foreign Relations notes an increase in both attacks and civilian casualties.
