Famines have existed in Africa for ages, but they persist due to environmental factors, political unrest, colonial legacies, violence, civil wars and economic injustices. One of the most severe humanitarian problems facing Africa today is starvation; as a result, millions of people on the continent are suffering.
Historical Background of African Famine
Africa has a long history of famine, ascribed to several causes, including but not limited to the region’s natural moisture deficits, biological factors like insects, diseases, and other conditions brought on by political instability. Famines in pre-colonial Africa were less common and restricted in the region. However, the colonial era altered farming practices by planting commercial crops instead of food crops, which reduced food security in many countries. For example, colonialists encouraged the export of tea, coffee, and cotton while devaluing products like sorghum and millet. Between 1983 and 1985, there was a well-known famine that had a devastating impact on Ethiopia and may have killed around 400,000 people.
Contemporary Condition of African Famine
Food insecurity still exists in Africa today, primarily in the Horn of Africa, East Africa, and the Sahel, due to conflict, political instability, and climate-related calamities.
1. The Sahel Crisis: There are severe food shortages in several Sahelian nations, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad, to name a few. Livestock cultivation has decreased due to rising desertification brought on by global warming. Additionally, millions of people are now homeless due to internal wars, sub-tribal clashes, riots, and refugee situations, which have also made marketing and agriculture inefficient.
2. East Africa and the Horn of Africa: Due to climate change, droughts are growing more common and severe. Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are among the nations that have seen numerous unsuccessful rainy seasons, which have decreased food supplies and made livestock herds vulnerable to starvation-related deaths. One of the worst drought conditions in over 40 years has been brought on by these occurrences, and many communities face the possibility of catastrophic levels of food insecurity. The food scarcity severely impacts seven and a half million Somalians, or half of the country’s population.
3. Nigeria and South Sudan: South Sudan’s crops and food availability have been impacted by conflict and political unrest, while Nigeria’s northeastern Boko Haram insurgency has displaced millions. Humanitarian aid and more or less sustainable food production are both hampered by the recent and intensifying violence in both nations.
4. Ethiopia’s Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions: Strife and disturbance. Because of the battle between federal forces and the TPLF, the previous ruling party of the area, which began in November 2020. Thousands of locals lost their lives as a result of the fighting, and as of early 2008, more than two million had been displaced. The administration was condemned at the time for not helping individuals. People lost their jobs and their resources as a result.
Data on Food Crisis in Africa
According to a report by Statista, food insecurity is divided into four categories: Minimal, Stressed, Crisis, Emergency, and Famine. The data shows that compared to other countries of the African Continent and other Asian/South Asian countries, Nigeria ranks highest in acute food insecurity worldwide, i.e. in Minimal (in person)- 85,902.67 people, Stressed- 82,684.95 People, Crisis- 30,758.81 People, Emergency- 999.33 People. South Sudan ranks lowest, i.e. Minimal- 2,015 People, Stressed- 3,501 People, Crisis- 4684 People, Emergency- 2336 People and Famine- 79.
Source: Statista
The Role of Politics in African Famines
Famine crises are often caused by political issues throughout the continent. Rural people’s marginalisation, resource sectionalism, and the leadership/stewardship issue are to blame. Political systems determine the distribution of resources at the national and international levels, including access to raw materials for infrastructure and food distribution. Furthermore, particularly in areas where there is violence, some governments are accused of using food aid as a weapon or a form of punishment.
1. Internal Conflicts and Governance: Despite Sudan’s potential for agricultural productivity- poor governance, trial clashes, internal conflicts, weak government, and unsuccessful agricultural policies hinder the efforts of food security operations.
2. Weaponization of Food: Food supplies have been placed in specific locations as part of the war arsenal. For example, both government and rebel troops have been accused on occasion of purposefully obstructing humanitarian supplies in the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia to control population densities and prolong an already-existing famine. This usually occurs in areas beset by conflict, where other factions may be disarmed by nutrient access.
3. Dependence on Food Aid: Most African nations rely on regional and international food aid, which has a detrimental effect on local food production even while it is crucial for post-disaster food needs. Some contend that food assistance creates unfavourable incentives for regional farming. Governments may create disincentives to invest in sustainable structures in areas where they have made robust agri-food systems. 4. Climate Change and Policy Inaction: As climate change intensifies its effects, Africa is seeing severe and frequent droughts and weather changes. Many African nations lack the resources or will to set up protective measures, such as irrigation systems, or to grow crops that can survive these conditions. Because of this lack of innovation, nations risk starvation whenever environmental conditions worsen.
International and Regional Responses
By offering food assistance, development and disaster assistance, and climate change adaptation, the international community has stepped in to address Africa’s food crisis. While NGOs are primarily focused on contemporary farming, the FAO and WFP provide emergency food for the most part. However, these solutions are not always successful and are hampered by insufficient finance, implementation problems, and a lack of local government support.
Other historic regional institutions, like the African Union (AU), have also recognised the need to address food insecurity with a unified strategy. By investing in improved infrastructure and agricultural productivity, initiatives such as the African Resilience Initiative seek to achieve food security. Additionally, by funding rural technology and physical infrastructure, the AU’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) aims to encourage agricultural growth. Conflicts still impede the process, and implementation competence is lacking.
This demonstrates how historical and political considerations make famine in Africa more than natural. For millions, food insecurity is made worse by political unrest, conflicts, and climate change. They include effective governance, minimising our reliance on food aid, mitigating the effects of climate change, and fostering regional integration.
