What is the Biggest Problem in Africa Right Now? Unveiling Africa’s Major Issue

Africa is a complex region. Countries in this region have varied economic growth. Also, its environment has diverse ecosystems and geographical conditions. This continent also faces various challenges. What is the biggest problem in Africa right now?

Problems in Africa can be found in various sectors, such as political, social, economic, and environmental. However, a particular challenge is getting more alarming. This problem has haunted many African countries for decades.

What is the Biggest Problem in Africa Right Now?

The current major problem in Africa is a food crisis. Food insecurity is not a new challenge in this region. Still, the hunger crisis has increased steadily since 2010. In 2024, about 307 million people experienced food insecurity. This number made Africa the largest contributor to the worldwide food crisis.

In 2025, 340 million Africans will witness food insecurity. Also, over 280 million people in this region are suffering from malnutrition this year. In other words, one in five people in Africa is experiencing this crisis. Another report stated that up to 45% of children’s deaths in Africa are due to hunger.

The hunger crisis also causes other problems, e.g., stunted growth in children, children dropping out of school, and vulnerability to diseases. Accordingly, more people in Africa are threatened of losing their lives due to this problem. 

The food crisis will keep growing if governments in African countries do not take any action to alleviate this problem. WHO predicted that over 300 million people in this region will suffer from chronic malnutrition by 2030.

African countries that are exceptionally vulnerable to the food crisis are Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Humanitarian organizations have supported those countries in fighting this extremity. Still, this challenge remains persistent. 

The Causes 

The food crisis in Africa is caused by various issues that have lasted for a long period. Below are the causes of the hunger crisis in this region.

1. Africans’ Diets

According to research, Africans’ diets correspond to the food insecurity in Africa. Africans’ main diets consist of eight staple foods, i.e., cassava, wheat, rice, maize, poultry, meat, and fish.

On the other hand, yam is the only food source that is extensively produced, specifically in Nigeria. Moreover, fish in African coasts are mostly exploited by foreign traders. Accordingly, many African countries rely on food imports.

This condition can worsen food insecurity in Africa because importing food is expensive. In addition, global conflicts, such as the Ukraine-Russia war, can cause an obstruction in food import and increase imported food prices.

2. Extreme Weather 

Some people may consider extreme weather as the answer to the question of “What is the biggest problem in Africa right now?” However, this condition is only one of the biggest problems in Africa today.

Extreme weather events, particularly long droughts, have triggered a food crisis in this region because they cause crop failure. In 2024, a severe drought occurred in Morocco and Southern Africa. Moreover, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia have endured severe drought for decades.

Severe floods, tropical cyclones, and heatwaves also contribute to the food crisis in Africa. Those weather events may occur more frequently in the future due to climate change.

3. Poverty

Another big problem in Africa that triggers the hunger crisis is poverty. Some African countries experience slow economic growth. This condition, combined with extreme weather and a high level of unemployment, causes many people to live in poverty.

According to a report, over 460 million people in Africa live in extreme poverty. Most of them live in rural areas. Also, more than half of them are children under 18. Thus, it is not surprising that millions of Africans suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition.

4. Regional Conflicts

Regional conflicts and political instability are common issues in Sudan, Congo, Somalia, and other African countries. These circumstances last for many years, even decades in some regions.

Moreover, they cause humanitarian crises, such as a food crisis. During these conflicts, civilians are afraid to go to the market to buy food, to go to the field to grow crops, or to go to work to earn money. Consequently, they cannot have enough food to meet their needs.

Early Warning System to Mitigate Challenges in Africa

The food crisis in Africa requires comprehensive solutions. One of these solutions is establishing an early warning system for food crises. This system allows governments to anticipate droughts, conflicts, skyrocketing food prices, and other factors that cause food insecurity.

Thus, governments can prepare for those circumstances. For example, they can intervene in food prices, recommend communities to plant drought-resistant food crops, or request humanitarian assistance to prevent a food crisis.

What is the biggest problem in Africa right now? The food crisis has become a major problem in this region for several years. Due to this issue, many African children suffer from stunted growth, hunger, and even death. However, governments can reduce food crisis risk by having an early warning system. To establish this system, governments need cell broadcasters from smsbroadcaster.com.