Africa: All of Africa Today - February 25, 2026
AllAfrica
by info@allafrica.com (allAfrica)February 25, 2026
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The escalating hunger crisis in Somalia has reached alarming levels, with acute food insecurity doubling to affect 6.5 million people since last year. Worsening drought, ongoing conflict, and soaring food prices are the primary drivers of this dire situation. The IPC food security monitoring platform highlights that over 1.8 million children under five are at risk of severe malnutrition between now and June, with 483,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) already reported. Experts warn that nearly two million people are facing emergency-level food insecurity, particularly vulnerable groups like poor farmers, pastoralists, and internally displaced persons.
Meanwhile, MSF has closed its hospital in El Tina, Chad, due to renewed fighting along the Sudanese border. The facility was forced to shut as clashes escalated near Sudan's North Darfur region, displacing over 400 families. MSF has relocated operations to a new, underused site where they treated 40 patients and provided shelter for eight displaced families. Local reports indicate severe shortages of food, water, and healthcare in the area, urging urgent international intervention to establish safe aid delivery corridors.
In Nigeria, the government denies paying a ransom to Boko Haram to secure the release of over 200 abducted school staff and pupils from St Mary's School in Papiri last November. Information Minister Mohammed Idris dismissed these claims as "false and baseless," emphasizing that no ransom was paid and no Boko Haram commanders were released. The allegations come amid heightened scrutiny from the U.S., which has filed a report on Nigeria's handling of religious persecution amidst ongoing insecurity.
Additionally, Malawi has announced a fresh investigation into the Chikangawa military plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others in June 2024. Minister of Justice Charles Mhango stated that previous inquiries failed to provide clear explanations for the cause of the crash, prompting a thorough review of all findings and reports.
These developments underscore the critical need for sustained international attention and aid to address humanitarian crises across Africa. From the worsening food insecurity in Somalia to conflicts displacing communities along the Sudan-Chad border and allegations of ransom payments in Nigeria, the situation demands urgent action to prevent further loss of life and ensure vulnerable populations receive the support they desperately need.
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Originally published on AllAfrica on 2/25/2026