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DR Congo + 15 more

West and Central Africa: Latest events at a glance (10–16 December 2024)

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Africa
Record levels of flooding in Africa compound stress on fragile countries

In 2024, 27 countries in Africa’s tropical zone experienced unusually heavy rainfall compared to historical norms, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Approximately 11 million people across the continent were affected by flooding caused by the heavy rains, with an estimated 4 million displaced, thousands killed, and widespread infrastructure destruction. The rainy season in West and Central Africa typically runs from June to September; however, severe flooding persisted into November in central and southern Chad, northern Cameroon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, central and southern Mali, southern Niger, northern Nigeria, Senegal, and northern Sierra Leone. The affected populations faced additional health risks linked to the heavy rains and contaminated water supplies, including a rise in malaria, pneumonia, and cholera cases.

Niger
Libiri village attacked and burned by NSAG elements

On 12 December, non-state armed groups (NSAGs) targeted the village of Libiri, in Gothèye commune, Tillaberi region. The village, home to 217 households, was set on fire after its inhabitants were forced to flee. These incidents reflect the growing influence of NSAGs in the tri-border area, particularly in the departments of Téra and Gothèye. According to several sources, NSAGs have intensified their attacks on civilians, reportedly in retaliation for ongoing military operations. Humanitarian actors are assessing the extent of the resulting large-scale displacement.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
At least 48,000 newly displaced people in Lubero territory since early December

Humanitarian sources report the displacement of an estimated 48,000 people between 1 and 9 December in Lubero territory, North Kivu, due to continued clashes between armed groups. Large movements have been observed from areas directly affected by violent attacks, including Matembe, Hutwe, and Katwa. These displaced populations urgently require emergency assistance. However, insecurity has forced several humanitarian organizations to suspend operations and relocate their teams to safer areas, including Kanyabayonga, Kiwanja, Goma, Butembo, and Beni, further limiting the delivery of aid to those newly displaced.

West Africa
More than 3.2 million people displaced in Central Sahel, Mauritania and coastal countries

As of November 2024, IOM’s Displacement Monitoring Matrix reported 3,265,401 displaced people in the Central Sahel, including 2,669,652 internally displaced persons and 595,749 refugees, driven by conflict and the climate crisis. Burkina Faso recorded the highest number of displaced people (64 per cent of the total), followed by Mali, Niger, and Mauritania. In recent years, there has been a growing movement of people toward the coastal countries of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. As of November, these four countries hosted more than 150,000 displaced people, including 25,830 internally displaced persons.

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