In February 2025, significant violence plagued the Central African Republic, the DRC, Ghana, Niger, Somalia, and Sudan. The Central African Republic witnessed deadly attacks against Fulani, while DRC faced increased civilian targeting due to M23 advances. In Ghana, disputes over a chieftaincy escalated; Niger experienced fatalities from ISSP violence. In Somalia, US and UAE airstrikes targeted IS Somalia, and Sudan saw the SAF make strategic territorial gains amid ongoing regional unrest.
In February 2025, the ACLED Regional Overview highlighted significant incidents across various African nations. In the Central African Republic (CAR), violence surged against ethnic Fulani, largely driven by an Anti-balaka militia response to the theft of a motorcycle, leading to over 130 civilian fatalities, with 85% of victims being Fulani. This marked February as the deadliest month since March 2022, highlighting ongoing ethnic tensions and violence in the region.
Moving to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the M23 rebel group, backed by the Rwandan Defense Force, captured key areas in South Kivu, including the provincial capital Bukavu. This shift led to increased violence, with nearly half of civilian attacks attributed to the Congolese army, which often looted and attacked civilians during its retreat. The chaotic environment has exacerbated mob violence as locals take justice into their own hands.
Ghana experienced spillover violence from the Bawku chieftaincy disputes, escalating tensions in the North East region. Long-standing conflicts between the Mamprusia and Kusasi groups intensified following the return of chief Alhaji Seidu Abagre from exile in 2024. The resulting violence involved armed assaults on civilians by unidentified groups and military reprisals, contributing to increased insecurity and the potential for Islamist groups to exploit regional divisions.
In Niger, the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) launched offensives against military forces in Dioundiou, resulting in significant civilian casualties and an increase in fatalities. This uptick aligns with ISSP’s strategy to assert control over areas along the Niger-Benin pipeline, perpetuating its violent agenda in the region.
Somalia saw a rise in joint airstrike campaigns by Puntland forces, the UAE, and the US against the Islamic State Somalia Province. Targeted operations resulted in the elimination of key militant leaders. The intensity of these airstrikes, particularly by the UAE, and the counterstrategy employed by IS Somalia, including drone usage, point to a rapidly escalating conflict in the region.
Lastly, in Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) captured critical strategic locations in Khartoum amidst ongoing clashes with Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Their offensive campaign since September 2024 has yielded significant territorial gains, focusing on key infrastructure that facilitates logistical operations into contested regions such as Kordofan and Darfur.
The ACLED Regional Overview for February 2025 reveals critical escalating conflicts across several African nations, including intensified ethnic violence in the Central African Republic and complex military clashes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, widespread unrest stemming from civilian disputes in Ghana and the emergence of jihadist violence in Niger highlight regional instability. In Somalia, airstrikes against insurgent groups indicate a significant escalation in direct combat against the Islamic State, while Sudan’s ongoing military advancements show the SAF’s growing foothold in strategically vital areas. These dynamics reflect the continuing cycle of violence and instability across the continent.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
