SIHMA

Researching Human Migration across Africa

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08 Jul

Hunger and Displacement in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its neighbouring regions are facing a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis, driven by protracted conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability. The resurgence of armed violence, particularly involving Le Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), has triggered mass displacement, exacerbated food insecurity, and strained already fragile support systems across the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa.

 

Conflict and Displacement: The Epicentre in Eastern DRC

The eastern provinces of North and South Kivu remain at the heart of the DRC’s displacement crisis. Renewed clashes between M23 rebels allegedly backed by Rwanda and FARDC forces have displaced over 3.7 million people, contributing to a national total of more than 7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) (Damian Uebersax & IDCM, 2024). According to the Global Conflict Tracker, 80% of recent displacement is directly linked to armed conflict, with grave violations against children increasing by 30% in 2024 alone (IOM, 2025).


Despite some returns, the reintegration of 1.78 million individuals by early 2025 remains fraught. Rising inflation, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to basic services have hindered recovery (ReliefWeb & IOM, 2025). Among both displaced and returning populations, food remains the most urgent need, followed by health services and cash assistance. Disease outbreaks, particularly typhoid and cholera, have been reported in nearly half of the assessed locations, while 79% of shelters are damaged and 78% of communities lack a sufficient water supply (ReliefWeb & IOM, 2025). The impacts of displacement and return directly affect individuals and families in North and South Kivu in deeply personal and destabilising ways. For those still displaced, the lack of adequate shelter exposes them to harsh weather, insecurity, and overcrowding, which erodes privacy and dignity. Women and children, who make up the majority are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, exploitation, and malnutrition. The scarcity of clean water and the prevalence of disease outbreaks mean that even basic hygiene becomes a daily struggle, increasing the risk of illness and death, especially among young children and the elderly. Hunger is a constant threat, with food insecurity undermining physical health, mental well-being, and the ability to focus on rebuilding lives.

 

Food Insecurity in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes regions 

The crisis in the DRC is part of a wider regional emergency. The Horn of Africa and Great Lakes regions now host approximately 5.6 million refugees and asylum seekers, alongside 20.7 million IDPs (UNHCR, 2024). The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has displaced over 25 million people across Sudan and South Sudan, with more than 150,000 lives lost (UNHCR, 2024). These overlapping crises are compounded by climate-related disasters, including floods and droughts, which have devastated livelihoods and agricultural production.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has allocated over $2 billion for 2025 to support protection and durable solutions across the region (Food Security Cluster, 2024). However, humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources, particularly in the areas of food security and nutrition.

A 2024 Cadre Harmonisé analysis reveals that over 40 million people in West and Central Africa are currently food insecure, with projections indicating this number will rise to 52.7 million by mid-2025 (World Food Programme, 2024). Of these, 3.4 million are expected to face emergency hunger (IPC Phase 4). Despite marginal improvements in rainfall and security in parts of the Sahel, food insecurity has worsened, with emergency hunger levels rising by 70% post-harvest and 22% during the 2025 lean season (World Food Programme, 2024).
High food prices, currency devaluation, and trade barriers have compounded the crisis. In countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mali, staple grain prices have more than doubled in five years, while cereal production for 2023–2024 shows a 12 million tonne deficit. These increases are not accompanied by economic growth (stagflation), leading to a decrease in purchasing power. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), six million people have been affected by floods, further disrupting food systems (World Food Programme, 2024).

The nutritional crisis is particularly acute among children and women. In 2024, an estimated 16.3 million children were expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, including 5 million severely (Unicef, 2024). In northern Nigeria, 31% of women aged 15 to 49 are acutely malnourished (United Nations, 2024). UNICEF Regional Director Gilles Fagninou emphasised that “good nutrition in the early years of life is the bedrock of child survival,” noting that every dollar invested in nutrition yields up to $16 in economic returns (Unicef, 2024). Despite collaborative efforts by FAO, UNICEF, and WFP to scale up resilience-building and sustainable food systems, over two-thirds of households in the region remain unable to afford healthy diets. The crisis underscores the need for integrated, multisectoral interventions that strengthen education, health, water and sanitation, food, and social protection systems.

 

Amid the humanitarian crisis, a potential diplomatic breakthrough emerged in June 2025 with a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC. Signed in Washington by the countries’ foreign ministers in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the deal commits Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo within 90 days and to initiate a regional economic integration framework. “This is the best chance we have at a peace process for the moment, despite all the challenges and flaws,” said Jason Stearns of Simon Fraser University (Aljazeera, 2025). The agreement includes provisions for a joint security coordination mechanism and supports ongoing Qatar-hosted talks between the Congolese government and M23 rebels (Aljazeera, 2025).

However, the deal has drawn scrutiny. U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed credit for facilitating the agreement, stated that the U.S. would gain “a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it.” While Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe called the deal “a turning point,” Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner emphasised the need for “disengagement” Political analyst Trésor Kibangula noted that “securing the east also means securing investments,” but cautioned that “it remains to be seen whether this economic logic will suffice” to end the violence (Reuters, Daphne Psaledakis, Sonia Rolley and Ange Adihe Kasongo, 2025).

 

The humanitarian emergency unfolding across the DRC, the Horn of Africa, and West and Central Africa is not merely a consequence of isolated conflicts or climatic anomalies, it is the result of systemic fragilities exacerbated by poor governance, economic volatility, and insufficient international response. While humanitarian actors continue to provide critical support, the scale and complexity of the crisis demand a paradigm shift. As WFP’s Margot van der Velden aptly stated, “The vicious cycle of hunger in West and Central Africa can be broken, but it requires a fundamental shift in our approach” (World Food Programme, 2024). This shift must prioritise long-term resilience, equitable development, and conflict resolution anchored in regional cooperation and sustained global engagement. The U.S.-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, signed on June 27, 2025, in Washington D.C., represents a potentially significant diplomatic milestone in one of Africa’s most protracted and destabilising conflicts.

However, the agreement’s durability hinges on transparent implementation, genuine regional ownership, and a steadfast prioritisation of civilian protection over geopolitical or commercial interests. If these safeguards are absent, it risks becoming yet another symbolic gesture rather than a transformative step toward lasting peace. Without structural reforms and sustained accountability, the region may further entrench a cycle of displacement, deprivation, and despair. The path forward must be anchored in inclusive governance and a renewed commitment to human dignity.

 

Photo by Khalil Radi on Unsplash


References

Aljazeera. (2025, June 27). DRC and Rwanda to strike Trump-brokered peace deal: All to know. Retrieved from Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/27/drc-and-rwanda-to-strike-trump-brokered-peace-deal-all-to-know


IOM. (2025, March 03 - 11 ). DRC – Rapid Displacement Analysis, North Kivu and South Kivu. Retrieved from IOM: https://dtm.iom.int/reports/drc-rapid-displacement-analysis-north-kivu-and-south-kivu-3-11-march-2025


ReliefWeb & IOM. (2025, March 27 ). Democratic Republic of the Congo: Rapid Displacement Analysis, North Kivu and South Kivu. Retrieved from ReliefWeb: https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/democratic-republic-congo-rapid-displacement-analysis-north-kivu-and-south-kivu-3-11-march-2025

 

Reuters, Daphne Psaledakis, Sonia Rolley and Ange Adihe Kasongo. (2025, June 28). Rwanda, Congo sign peace deal in US to end fighting, attract investment. Retrieved from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rwanda-democratic-republic-congo-set-sign-peace-agreement-washington-2025-06-27/


UNHCR. (2024, December). East and Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes Region. Retrieved from UNHCR: https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/rbehagl

 

Unicef. (2024, December 20 ). West and Central Africa faces deepening food crisis – UN agencies call for enhanced humanitarian action and lasting hunger solutions. Retrieved from Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/wca/press-releases/west-and-central-africa-faces-deepening-food-crisis-un-agencies-call-enhanced


United Nations. (2024, April 12 ). Wave of increased food insecurity hits West and Central Africa. Retrieved from United Nations: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148516


World Food Programme. (2024). Country Level of Food Insecurity trend in West Africa. Retrieved from World Food Programme: https://analytics.wfp.org/t/Public/views/WestAfricaFoodSecurityTrends_Adm0/RBDFoodSecurityTrends?%3Aembed=y&%3Aiid=1&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y&%3Aorigin=card_share_link&_ga=2.121399564.56285968.1751617605-57917280.1751617605


World Food Programme. (2024, December 20). West and Central Africa faces deepening food crisis - UN agencies call for enhanced humanitarian action and lasting hunger solutions. Retrieved from World Food Programme: https://www.wfp.org/news/west-and-central-africa-faces-deepening-food-crisis-un-agencies-call-enhanced-humanitarian

 

 

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