LAGOS, Nigeria
Africa faced unprecedented crises in 2024, as climate change, migrant accidents, mpox outbreaks, and armed conflicts devastated the continent and threatened the lives and livelihoods of millions.
With rising temperatures, droughts and floods, many were killed and displaced in various countries. For instance, a burst dam in northeastern Nigeria in September affected 1 million people, claiming at least 37 lives and displaced no fewer than 400,000, according to the Maiduguri state government.
In Somalia, 6.9 million — almost two in five Somalis, need humanitarian assistance due to the worst drought that has left many helpless as the country ranks as the hungriest in the world per the 2024 Global Hunger Index.
Besides, many African countries also experienced numerous migrant accidents as many try to run from conflicts and economic hardship. Recent data by Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders), a Spanish migration rights group, show 10,457 deaths were recorded up to Dec. 15 of migrants while trying to reach Spain by sea this year.
The development highlights the need for safer migration pathways and humane border management policies.
There was also an increase in the number of mpox cases in Africa since the beginning of 2024 and urgent measures have been taken at the continental level.
Congo is the worst hit and World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency of global concern in August.
More than 1,300 suspected deaths due to mpox were reported in Africa.
Amid the above challenges, the continent continues to battle endless wars and armed violence which have caused the deaths of thousands, displaced millions, destroyed economies and created humanitarian crises.
Africa has a high number of armed conflicts per region with more than 35 non-international armed conflicts taking place in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Many armed groups are fighting government forces or each other.
Kazeem Olalekan, a security and climate researcher, argued that the governments of African countries have not been faithful to their investment on the challenges of climate and other security challenges.
“The issue of proliferation of light and small arms is a major challenge that political office-holders have not seen a need to address and it is eating deep in our daily life. Generally, one will realize that the governments haven’t done enough in fulfilling the terms of the social contract they willingly entered into with the people,” he told Anadolu. “The health challenge is also there. Yet, authorities are not providing any form of health insurance for the people and they are also not investing in the health sector which is complicating health problems. Going forward, the governments need to sit up and start seeing the need to make living affordable for the people. The security and welfare of the people must be prioritized”
Experts have also urged the international community to redouble efforts to broker peace, support conflict resolution and address the root causes of the conflicts through climate-resilient agriculture, humane border management policies, promotion of community engagement to prevent and respond to outbreaks like mpox.
