In February 2025, significant violence erupted in multiple African countries. The Central African Republic experienced escalated attacks against the Fulani, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo saw surging civilian targeting amid the M23’s advances. Ghana faced intensified disputes over chieftaincy, Niger reported rising fatalities linked to ISSP offensives, and Somalia observed increased military strikes against the Islamic State. Meanwhile, Sudan saw the SAF capture strategic areas amid ongoing conflicts with the RSF.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of significant conflicts and violence occurring in various African nations in February 2025. In the Central African Republic, violence against ethnic Fulani has sharply increased due to escalating tensions between the Anti-balaka militia and Fulani pastoralists, resulting in substantial civilian casualties. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, civilian targeting surged as the M23 militia and Rwandan forces advanced, leading to heightened disorder and violence against local populations.
In Ghana, disputes over the Bawku chieftaincy have spilled into the North East region, intensifying violence between the Mamprusi and Kusasi groups, as well as escalating attacks by armed groups against civilians. Niger witnessed a substantial rise in fatalities due to an offensive by the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) against military forces, reflecting their ongoing patterns of violence and expansion in the region. In Somalia, the US and UAE intensified their airstrike campaigns against the Islamic State, markedly increasing their military operations.
Sudan saw the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) manage to seize several strategic locations within Khartoum amidst ongoing battles with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SAF’s advancing campaign highlights a significant gain in their territorial control, marking continued fighting since the war’s onset in April 2023. Each region reflects individual complexities and escalating tensions that are contributing to widespread violence and civilian suffering.
The events in February 2025 underscore escalating violence in various African nations, driven by ethnic conflicts in the Central African Republic, ongoing insurgencies in Somalia and Niger, and civil unrest in Ghana. The advances made by the SAF in Sudan reveal a shifting power dynamic in the region, with significant implications for civilian safety and regional stability. Collectively, these issues highlight the persistent challenges and instability affecting numerous countries across Africa.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
