Continuing conflicts in Africa

Abandoned villages, disputed cities, and families forced to leave everything behind remain a reality in several African regions in October 2026, as conflicts continue to have far-reaching consequences beyond the front lines. From Sudan to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa, fighting persists, peace agreements struggle to yield results, and civilian populations bear the heaviest burden.

Sudan's ongoing war

In Sudan, a war launched in April 2023 between the regular army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, remains one of the deadliest crises on the continent. The conflict has upended Khartoum, Darfur, and other regions, with a drone strike in the Blue Nile State in October killing 30 displaced people, most of whom were women and children.

Humanitarian crisis in Sudan

The human toll of this conflict is staggering: approximately 13 million people have fled their homes and more than 30 million Sudanese require humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to figures reported by the United Nations and the Associated Press. The number of deaths is believed to be in the range of 60,000 to 150,000 people at least, with hunger, forced displacement, and the collapse of essential services further exacerbating the crisis.

Eastern DRC conflict

In eastern DRC, peace remains a promise. In the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, fighting between Congolese forces and the M23 Alliance for the Congo (AFC/M23) continues despite diplomatic initiatives. The rebel movement, supported by Rwanda, controls vast territories, and recent efforts by the African Union and the United States have not ended the fighting.

Humanitarian impact in DRC

On October 9, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the DRC, Damien Mama, reported that more than 6.1 million people have been displaced by conflicts and violence in the country, and more than 26 million people are facing food insecurity. Over 4 million children under five suffer from malnutrition, with additional material damage including destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals.

Terrorist activity in the Sahel

In the Sahel, terrorist hotspots remain incandescent. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, national armies continue to fight terrorist groups, particularly the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda. On October 6, Mali's army regained control of Kidal after six months of rebel siege, marking a political success for the military authorities.

Displacement in the Sahel

The human cost of terrorism in the Sahel remains considerable, with nearly four million people displaced in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, including more than 818,000 refugees and asylum seekers. The dead are counted in the tens of thousands, and the conflict is spilling over the borders of the Sahel to coastal countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

Ethiopia's regional tensions

In Ethiopia, the specter of a new regional war looms. Since September 23, federal forces and fighters linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) are fighting again, with a single wave of nighttime aerial strikes in October causing at least 17 deaths. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of allowing troops to enter Tigray, which Asmara denies, raising concerns of a regional escalation.

Escalation risks in Ethiopia

On October 10, Eritrea submitted a request to the United Nations Security Council, asking for measures against what it considers Ethiopian threats. The issue of access to the sea, defended by Ethiopia, also constitutes a point of friction between the two countries. An escalation between these neighbors would pose an additional risk to this region already strained by the Tigray war from 2020 to 2022, with an estimated 100,000 to 600,000 deaths.

Common challenges in African conflicts

These conflicts have neither the same origins nor the same actors. Some oppose armies to rebel movements, others mix terrorist insurgencies, territorial rivalries, and tensions between states. However, they have one thing in common: military solutions alone have not succeeded in bringing about lasting security.