-
Fighting in Sudan since April 2023 has displaced nearly 12 million people, with recent territorial gains by RSF forces and ongoing violence hindering aid efforts. UN officials report severe shortages of supplies, increased civilian suffering, and limited access for humanitarian workers amid escalating conflict.
-
The UN World Food Programme warns that 318 million people will face crisis-level hunger or worse in 2026, more than double 2019 figures. Funding shortfalls threaten aid efforts, with only half of the $13 billion needed likely to be received. Conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability drive the crisis, with famine declared in Gaza and Sudan.
-
Recent fighting in Darfur has displaced over 100,000 people, with many arriving in Chad lacking aid. Funding shortages and ongoing violence have worsened conditions, leaving children malnourished and traumatized. International support remains insufficient to meet urgent needs.
-
Since December 2024, nearly 2 million Syrians have returned home, including refugees from Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Despite progress, many face ongoing challenges due to destruction and limited infrastructure. International aid cuts threaten recovery efforts amid a fragile peace process.
-
Recent violence in Sudan includes drone strikes on hospitals and kindergartens, killing over 114 people, mostly children. The UN reports ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF, with thousands displaced and critical humanitarian needs unmet amid worsening conditions in Darfur and Kordofan.
-
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, sparked in 2023, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Over 100,000 people have fled Darfur's Al-Fashir due to RSF control, with famine, violence, and war crimes escalating. Aid efforts are hampered by logistical and security challenges, leaving millions in dire need.
-
On December 7, mutinous soldiers in Benin briefly seized state TV, declared a coup removing President Patrice Talon, and suspended the constitution. Loyalist forces, supported by Nigerian airstrikes and ECOWAS troops, swiftly regained control. Fourteen arrests were made; the coup leader remains at large. The incident highlights regional instability amid rising military takeovers in West Africa.
-
Ongoing conflict in Sudan's North Darfur has led to severe malnutrition among children, with 53% acutely malnourished, and a collapse of the education system, leaving thousands of children out of school amid ongoing violence and displacement. Humanitarian access remains critically restricted.
-
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have responded to the US travel restrictions by imposing reciprocal visa bans on US citizens. The US expanded its visa restrictions on December 16, citing security concerns, affecting 39 countries, mostly in Africa. The affected nations are led by military governments facing regional security challenges.
-
The US has announced new visa restrictions affecting 38 countries, mainly in Africa, requiring applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000. The policy aims to reduce overstays but raises concerns over affordability and fairness, especially for Nigerian travelers. It takes effect on January 21, 2026.
-
The UN warns of a deepening food crisis across West and Central Africa, driven by conflict, economic hardship, and reduced humanitarian funding. Over 13 million children face malnutrition, with communities in Nigeria, Mali, Cameroon, and Niger at increasing risk of famine. Urgent funding is needed to prevent catastrophe.
-
Multiple West and Central African countries face severe food insecurity, with Nigeria at risk of famine for the first time in nearly a decade. Conflict, climate change, and aid cuts have worsened conditions, with the UN and WFP warning of catastrophic consequences without urgent funding.
-
In 2025, Guinea worm cases dropped to 10 in humans, with animal infections declining. The eradication effort, led by The Carter Center, has reduced cases by over 99.99% since 1986, with only six countries remaining uncertified. Progress continues despite logistical challenges and funding shifts.
-
On January 28, 2026, a landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, controlled by the M23 rebel group, killed over 200 people, including miners, women, and children. The disaster highlights unsafe artisanal mining amid ongoing conflict and stalled peace efforts despite a US-brokered deal between DRC and Rwanda.
-
The UK imposed sanctions on Sudanese military leaders linked to ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The measures target commanders accused of atrocities, with calls for ceasefire and humanitarian access amid a humanitarian crisis. The conflict has displaced millions since April 2023.
-
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights faces severe funding cuts after Western donors, including the US, reduced contributions in 2025. This has led to fewer monitoring missions, job cuts, and diminished capacity to address global human rights violations amid mounting crises.
-
The UK has reduced its aid to the World Food Programme from $610m in 2024 to $435m last year, despite promises to fight hunger. Critics say the cuts risk lives, with rising starvation worldwide and the UK’s aid spending falling behind international commitments. The government defends the decision as part of budget reallocation.