Overview

While Africa’s armed conflicts caused relentless civilian suffering, including increasing levels of sexual and gender-based violence, and death on a massive scale, international and regional responses remained woefully inadequate, with civilians feeling forgotten.

The cost-of-living crisis deepened as prices of food, fuel and other basic necessities spiralled. High taxation levels, unsustainable public debts, widespread and unchecked corruption, escalating conflicts and extreme weather events exacerbated the crisis.

Protesting meant putting one’s life in danger. Demonstrations were too often brutally and lethally dispersed and attacks on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association remained rampant. Repressive tactics used by governments included enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests and detentions of opponents, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and their critics.

Conflict and climate-induced shocks remained the main drivers of forced displacement, and Sudan continued to suffer the largest displacement crisis worldwide. The number of refugees from conflict zones continued to soar; many refugees lived in squalid conditions or in fear of forced return.

Discrimination and gender-based violence – fuelled by societal norms – remained a daily reality for women and girls.

High income countries with primary responsibility for causing climate change failed to make adequate funding available for loss and damage and for adaptation measures. Consequently, communities continued to bear the brunt of protracted droughts, recurrent floods and extreme storms and heat which were likely exacerbated by climate change.

A culture of impunity continued to embolden perpetrators of crimes under international law and other serious or gross human rights violations.

Read More