Africa's Dual Challenge: Democratic Erosion and Humanitarian Strain in 2025
Mounting Democratic Backsliding and Humanitarian Crises Cast a Shadow Over Africa in Mid-2025
NAIROBI, KENYA – As mid-2025 approaches, a concerning trend of democratic regression and persistent humanitarian crises is dominating discussions across Africa, with various reports highlighting a complex and challenging landscape for the continent. While some nations strive for progress, the overall outlook reveals significant hurdles in achieving peace, stability, and equitable development.
A recent report by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), the Global Peace Index 2025, launched in Nairobi, paints a grim picture for Sub-Saharan Africa. The report indicates a deterioration in peacefulness across the region, with three of the ten least peaceful countries globally – South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – located within Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Dan Odaba, IEP’s East & Southern Africa Director, emphasized the critical need for sustained investment in peacebuilding and strengthening institutions that foster peaceful societies, as reported by Vision of Humanity on July 4, 2025. The DRC, in particular, saw a significant decline, driven by the ongoing conflict between government forces and the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda.
This rise in conflict is exacerbating already dire humanitarian situations, particularly in West and Central Africa. UNICEF projects that an estimated 46 million children in the region will require humanitarian assistance in 2025 due to protracted conflicts, displacement, public health emergencies, and natural disasters. A June 2025 report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), highlighted on ReliefWeb, details the devastating impact, including over 2,700 newly displaced people in Burkina Faso following security incidents and civilian casualties.
Nigeria, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also facing severe challenges, with increased internal displacement and attacks on vital infrastructure like health facilities. The March update of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2025 from HumanitarianAction.info also noted that humanitarian funding requirements for West and Central Africa have consistently increased, reaching an estimated $8.44 billion in 2025, yet a study from Al Jazeera on June 3, 2025, points to “donor fatigue” and reduced aid funding as significant challenges, leaving millions of people without adequate assistance.
Beyond the immediate crises, a deeper concern is the retreat of democratic practices in East Africa. An analysis by Al Jazeera on May 26, 2025, titled “Democracy in East Africa is retreating. Here is how it can be saved,” points to the weakening of legislatures, diminished electoral integrity, and the undue influence of money in politics. The article highlights cases in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, where political opposition faces increasing reprisals and citizen participation in governance is being eroded.
The Democracy Forum 2025, held in Nairobi and reported by ICJ Kenya on July 3-4, 2025, brought together civil society leaders and legal experts to discuss these challenges. Discussions centered on safeguarding civic space, the role of justice, and protecting democracy from illicit financing, with Chief Justice Emeritus Dr. Willy Mutunga emphasizing the global crisis of leadership and the urgent need for integrity and accountability in governance.
While the African Development Bank (AfDB) projects overall economic growth for the continent in its 2025 African Economic Outlook, highlighted by Africa-Newsroom on May 28, 2025, noting 21 African countries achieving growth exceeding 5% in 2025, regions grappling with instability are expected to see more modest gains. Southern Africa, for instance, is projected to grow at a slower rate, with South Africa’s GDP growth remaining subdued at 0.8%, according to a Deloitte report from June 27, 2025. This underscores how political instability and humanitarian crises directly impede economic progress and development across the continent.
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