Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read  | 23 December 2025

📸 Rising insecurity and humanitarian crises continue across the Sahel, Central Africa, and Sudan, as civilians bear the brunt of militant activity, rebel advances, and conflict-driven collapse of basic services.

The Sahel region is currently facing heightened insecurity as Al-Qaeda-linked groups escalate their activities across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Humeyra Mayet, PhD candidate and seasonal lecturer at FITS University, told Radio Islam International that the Association of Sahel States (AES) has been formed to curb terrorism in the region. “What’s massive there at the moment is Jamet Nusrat al-Islam al-Muslimin, commonly known as Shanim, and they are blocking supplies, particularly fuel, from entering Mali,” she said.

Observers have linked the surge in militant activity to these countries’ recent steps to distance themselves from France, including downgrading the French language in schools and curbing French influence in governance. While other international actors, such as Russia and China, maintain interests in the region, local jihadi-based insurgencies remain active, posing severe risks to stability.

Central Africa is similarly under strain as M23 rebels continue to advance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite a peace agreement brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump. “M23 is moving further into northern Kivu, particularly Uvira, wreaking havoc,” Mayet explained. She highlighted allegations of Rwandan support for M23, which Kigali denies, noting that civilians continue to suffer from executions, sexual violence, and the seizure of valuable minerals. The region’s fragile peace remains jeopardised by these persistent insurgencies.

Meanwhile, Sudan faces an acute humanitarian crisis under the ongoing power struggle between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Conflicting reports suggest casualties ranging from 20,000 to as many as 400,000. “The RSF has seized al-Fashr and other regions, while the healthcare system has collapsed,” Mayet said, noting famine, malnutrition, and outbreaks, including cholera, are devastating civilian populations. Foreign actors, including the UAE, which purchased almost 99% of Sudan’s gold this year, further complicate the conflict dynamics.

Mayet concluded by emphasising the heavy toll on ordinary people. “It is obviously the civilians who are paying the price,” she said. The worsening crises in the Sahel, Central Africa, and Sudan underscore the urgent need for regional cooperation, humanitarian intervention, and accountability for armed groups.

Listen to the full Africa Report on Sabahul Muslim with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Humairaa Mayet.