Africa’s Displacement Crisis Triples Amid Conflict and Disasters

A new report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center reveals that the number of internally displaced people in Africa has surged to 35 million, tripling since 2009, VOA reported yesterday.

Of these, 32.5 million have fled their homes due to conflict and violence, primarily in five countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan, which account for 26 million displaced individuals.

The report highlights that 93% of displacements are conflict-related, exacerbated by poverty, inequality, and the exploitation of grievances by armed groups. Additionally, disaster displacements have increased significantly, now reported at six times the rate from 15 years ago, driven largely by climate change impacts such as floods and droughts. Experts warn that without substantial investments to address the root causes of displacement, these numbers are likely to continue rising, particularly with ongoing conflicts and environmental challenges across the continent.