Africa’s humanitarian system taking strain
Dwindling funding, competing priorities and escalating needs all weigh heavily on the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts in Africa.
PSC Report asked International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice-President Gilles Carbonnier for his perspectives on Africa’s humanitarian challenges
How does the ICRC assess Africa’s humanitarian outlook and what are 2025’s greatest pressure points?
Africa is a continent of paradoxes. It is home to entrepreneurial cities such as Addis Ababa, which has a young and dynamic population, but it also faces unprecedented scales of conflict and displacement. It is home to more than 50 active armed conflicts — a 45% increase in the last five years — representing 40% of all global conflicts.
Thus, the outlook remains deeply worrying. In many parts of the continent, conflict, food insecurity and climate shocks are converging to create suffering that is pushing millions to the edge. From the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, the Great Lakes and Lake Chad Basin, violence continues to uproot communities while droughts and floods destroy livelihoods.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Sudan, which faces the world’s largest displacement crisis ― over 13 million people forced from their homes, including more than 3 million who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Inside Sudan, disease outbreaks, attacks on civilian infrastructure and food shortages are compounding what is already a catastrophe.
We are also alarmed by the escalation of conflict in South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where violence and collapsing basic services are leaving communities without healthcare, water or protection. In Somalia, a combination of climate shocks and declining humanitarian funding is threatening to undo years of progress.
The Sahel remains one of the most complex and volatile regions. Millions of people continue to grapple with armed violence, driving mass displacement and deepening humanitarian needs. Persistent droughts, floods and climate stress are eroding livelihoods and fuelling competition for scarce resources. The consequences have extended into the Gulf of Guinea, increasing demand for humanitarian aid.
Amid these crises, the ICRC continues to deliver assistance and protection alongside National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. But the key priority remains clear: preserving humanitarian space. Civilians must have safe access to essential services and humanitarian actors must be able to operate independently and impartially. Protecting people, upholding international humanitarian law and safeguarding essential infrastructure are vital to prevent further suffering.
How can the ICRC and the African Union (AU) reverse deteriorating compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) among both state and non-state actors?
Strengthening respect for IHL requires renewed political will and practical collaboration. The ICRC and AU have built a strong partnership over three decades, working together to embed IHL into policy frameworks, doctrines and peace support operation planning, capacity building and policy dialogue.
In response to widespread violations, ICRC launched a global initiative to renew political will for IHL
The African Humanitarian Agency brings new opportunities to reinforce adherence to IHL. The ICRC is supporting the agency technically, operationally and through strategic dialogue, ensuring that Africa’s humanitarian response remains anchored in one enduring principle ― humanity protected by law.
In addition, in response to widespread violations of IHL globally, the ICRC ― with states including South Africa, Brazil, Kazakhstan, China, France and Jordan ― launched a global initiative to renew political will for IHL. This effort ― culminating in the 2026 high-level meeting to uphold humanity in war ― aims to generate actionable recommendations for stronger compliance. This offers another opportunity to work with the AU to garner greater political support for IHL by member states.
Ultimately, ICRC and AU collaboration will continue to bridge law and practice ― through technical expertise, shared operational insights and sustained dialogue ― to ensure that humanitarian norms are upheld across Africa’s conflict landscapes.
How does the ICRC balance its humanitarian imperative with the political sensitivities of AU member states when advocating safe humanitarian corridors?
Africa is a priority. We maintain 40% of our operations and budget on the continent. At the same time, access to people in need is at the heart of the ICRC’s mission, even in the most complex and politically sensitive environments. In conflict zones, shifting frontlines, insecurity and violence make the delivery of aid extremely challenging. The ICRC navigates this by maintaining strict neutrality, impartiality and independence, engaging all parties to facilitate life-saving assistance without political bias.
ICRC maintains 40% of its operations and budget on the continent
To remain effective, we have adapted our operations. We prioritise humanitarian dialogue, maintaining contact with all actors even when communication is difficult, and we invest in proximity and local presence by working closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In Sudan, for example, the Sudanese Red Crescent’s network of more than 9 000 volunteers across 18 states enables access to communities that few others can reach. In areas with non-functional health facilities, the ICRC deploys mobile surgical teams, supports frontline hospitals and provides cross-border assistance to ensure essential services continue.
Safety, dignity and protection underpin our work. This means securing guarantees from parties before moving aid or personnel, ensuring that humanitarian assistance is never politicised and embedding protection principles into all activities ― from safe access to healthcare to respectful management of the dead.
Amid hostilities, the ICRC also plays its neutral intermediary role among many actors to facilitate humanitarian dialogue. This status allows us to act as a bridge between conflicting parties, creating space where dialogue can occur and agreement can be reached to ensure the well-being of those affected.
By combining these strategies with trusted local partnerships, we reach the most needy while respecting the political sensitivities of AU member states. Principled humanitarian action and effective collaboration are not only compatible but essential in complex conflicts.
How will shrinking global humanitarian and development aid shifting to military financing affect humanitarian response?
These factors are exerting significant pressure. In 2025, needs continue to rise across Africa while funding remains uncertain. Millions are enduring the effects of protracted conflicts in places such as Somalia and South Sudan, alongside crises such as in eastern DRC. Recurrent droughts and floods are worsening food insecurity and living conditions, leaving communities trapped in overlapping crises.
ICRC will continue to advise the AU helping translate PSC mandates into concrete frameworks and field practices
Chronic underfunding continues to threaten and erode hard-won gains. It undermines both the effectiveness and the sustainability of humanitarian action, limiting the ability of organisations to respond swiftly, impartially and adequately. Without predictable and sufficient funding, the humanitarian system risks becoming increasingly reactive and fragmented, leaving millions without the protection and assistance they urgently need.
In response, the ICRC has refocused on areas most aligned with its mandate ― protecting people affected by conflict, promoting IHL and delivering impartial assistance. While our unique mandate allows us to add value in many places, we’re also strengthening local capacities and supporting sustainable livelihoods to help communities rebuild and regain resilience.
The ICRC is invited annually to brief the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Africa’s humanitarian situation. What tangible outcomes or policy shifts have emerged from this?
Since 2007, this annual, closed-door briefing, which forms part of the Council’s statutory programme, has provided a trusted platform to share field-based insights on contextual and thematic concerns. These engagements have deepened cooperation with the AU, supporting the implementation of certain Council decisions and giving the ICRC the opportunity to participate in the development of several key normative and policy developments.
These include the Common African Position on the Application of International Law to the Use of Information Communication and Technology in Cyberspace, influencing a dedicated chapter on IHL, and, the AU Peace Support Operations Doctrine with explicit references to IHL.
The ICRC also maintains regular dialogue with the PSC through monthly briefings to the rotating Council chairs. This ensures that humanitarian perspectives are systematically integrated into the Council’s deliberations on continental crises. This engagement has strengthened recognition of humanitarian concerns within the PSC’s agenda and reinforced the ICRC’s role as a trusted neutral partner in shaping law, policy and operational responses.
How can the ICRC and the AU enhance cooperation to ensure implementation of PSC decisions to alleviate humanitarian challenges?
We have achieved a great deal together, from promoting IHL to integrating and implementing it. The AU provides political leadership and policy frameworks, while the ICRC brings operational expertise, legal guidance and a neutral presence on the ground. Amid unprecedented violations of IHL, it is even more important that our organisations strengthen their engagement. This can be achieved through regular consultations to ensure that humanitarian perspectives are systematically integrated into decisions.
The ICRC will continue to support the AU with technical and legal advice on IHL, the protection of civilians and humanitarian diplomacy, helping translate PSC mandates into concrete frameworks and field practices. Capacity building and sustained field presence remain essential to ensure these decisions have real impact. Training peace support personnel on humanitarian norms, coupled with the ICRC’s direct work in conflict-affected areas, helps ensure civilians are protected and humanitarian space is preserved.
