DAKAR, 12 JUNE 2025 – The variety of individuals forcibly displaced or stateless throughout West and Central Africa has reached a document 12.7 million, reflecting a 48 per cent improve since 2020. Amongst them are 8.2 million internally displaced individuals, 2.9 million refugees and asylum-seekers, and practically 1million stateless people, in accordance with new knowledge launched by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Company.
These figures affirm that West and Central Africa stays a displacement-affected area with overlapping crises in Sudan, the Central Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin persevering with to drive inhabitants actions. Within the first quarter of 2025 alone, greater than 1.1 million individuals have been newly displaced, primarily as a result of ongoing battle in Sudan.
“Displacement on this area shouldn’t be solely deepening, but additionally evolving,” mentioned Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, UNHCR’s Regional Bureau Director for West and Central Africa. “From battle to local weather shocks, safety dangers are rising–particularly for girls and kids, who signify 80 per cent of the the forcibly displaced. However the knowledge additionally highlights options to pressured displacement persons are returning dwelling in growing numbers the place circumstances enable. We should reinforce these optimistic developments.”
Returns gaining momentum amid persistent dangers
Regardless of complicated challenges, returns of internally displaced individuals (IDPs) are considerably outpacing refugee returns. As of April 2025, near 194,200 IDPs had returned in Mali and 64,700 within the Central African Republic, the 2 largest IDP return actions within the area. In distinction, 11,000 refugees returned to international locations together with Nigeria, CAR, and Mali throughout the identical interval.
UNHCR continues to work with governments to strengthen authorized frameworks for voluntary repatriation. Beneath the Yaoundé Declaration and its regional platform, as much as 300,000 refugee returns to CAR are projected by 2028, with 40,000 anticipated in 2025 from Cameroon and DRC.
Chad stays epicentre of refugee disaster
Almost half of all refugees within the area are hosted in Chad, together with over 779,500 Sudanese who’ve arrived since April 2023. Extra arrivals are anticipated all year long, inserting important pressure on humanitarian and native assets. Cameroon and the Central African Republic are additionally seeing rising refugee populations from Sudan and CAR, respectively.
Inside displacement pushed by violence and local weather shocks
Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon alone account for over 80 per cent of IDPs within the area. Armed violence, flooding, and continual meals insecurity proceed to uproot communities and problem humanitarian entry. Safety monitoring knowledge from Venture 21 reveals that displacement, motion restrictions, and meals insecurity intersect to intensify safety dangers and restrict entry to providers, particularly training, healthcare, and civil documentation.
Migration developments and safety challenges
West and Central Africa stays a serious transit area towards North Africa and Europe. Whereas irregular arrivals within the Canary Islands decreased by 34 per cent in early 2025 in comparison with the identical interval in 2024, severe safety dangers persist alongside the West Atlantic and Central Mediterranean routes, together with trafficking, abuse, and deaths at sea. Between January and March 2025, 10,500 people arrived within the Canary Islands, with Malians comprising the biggest share. In line with Eurostat, greater than 10,000 Malians sought asylum in Europe in 2024, the bulk through this route, citing battle and insecurity as the principle drivers of their displacement. The Route-Primarily based Method, operational in Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, goals to reply to these wants by reinforcing asylum methods, strengthening entry to safety, and offering secure options alongside this hall.
To handle these dangers, UNHCR and IOM are scaling up the Route-Primarily based Method in Niger, Chad, and Mali. In 2024, this included border monitoring, community-based referrals, asylum help, and 1,370 refugee youth accessing increased training scholarships.
Resettlement and funding below pressure
Join free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the newest in African information delivered straight to your inbox
Success!
Nearly completed…
We have to affirm your e mail deal with.
To finish the method, please observe the directions within the e mail we simply despatched you.
Error!
There was an issue processing your submission. Please strive once more later.
Whereas resettlement departures rose by 34 per cent in 2024(4,000 people), this progress is now in danger. The regional resettlement quota has been lower by 64 per cent in 2025. Total, UNHCR’s regional funds has been decreased by 50 per cent between 2024 and 2025, resulting in a prioritization of life-saving help.
Purposeful and regionally grounded response wanted
As underlined in UNHCR’s international developments reportthe overwhelming majority of forcibly displaced individuals stay in their very own area or nation. In West and Central Africa, this holds very true. It reinforces the necessity for stabilization of communities, native options and sustainable responses to foster to self-reliance, priorities that information UNHCR’s strategic strategy within the area.
“We urge the worldwide neighborhood to stay engaged,” mentioned Gnon-Konde. “This area is at a tipping level. With the suitable help, we are able to construct on progress and assist uprooted individuals reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives.”
