There’s a glimmer of good news in the latest UN Hunger Hotspots report for June to October 2025. Several African countries have, for now, escaped the grim classification of “hunger hotspots,” largely thanks to improved weather conditions. This positive shift is particularly notable in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya), Southern Africa (Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe), and West Africa’s Niger.
However, the report carries an important caveat: these gains are fragile. It warns that any future shifts in weather patterns or the persistence of other factors driving food insecurity could easily reverse this progress.
Ethiopia’s Shifting Sands of Hunger
In Ethiopia, conditions have seen some improvement since the devastating drought and war, especially the violent Tigray conflict, that plagued the nation from 2020-2023. Yet, this alleviation remains tenuous. While parts of the country have benefited from mixed Belg rains in 2025, regions like eastern Amhara, Afar, and far-northern Somalia have experienced below-average precipitation. This raises concerns about potentially poorer agricultural and pastoral harvests throughout the upcoming season.
Despite a projected seasonal increase from the 2025 crop, the UN report highlights persistent challenges. Market pressures from restricted supplies and high prices continue to limit food access for many households.
Malawi’s Pricey Predicament
Malawi’s acute food insecurity is expected to continue. This is mainly due to record-high maize prices, a direct consequence of an El Niño-related harvest reduction in 2024, compounded by a weakening national currency. While the upcoming 2025 harvest might offer some seasonal relief through increased supply, price pressures are anticipated to endure, even with a minor rebound in output.
Between October 2024 and March 2025, monitoring revealed that a staggering 5.7 million people, or roughly 28% of Malawi’s population, experienced acute food insecurity.
Mozambique’s Enduring Conflict
Similarly, food insecurity is likely to remain a severe problem in Mozambique. The primary driver here is the ongoing armed violence in Cabo Delgado, which continues to disrupt livelihoods, hamper agricultural productivity, and create extremely high limitations on access to food and resources.
Notably, the report did not issue similar warnings of a feeble outlook for the other countries where hunger situations have improved.
Global Hotspots of Utmost Concern
The report also underscores the dire situations in other parts of the world. Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali are identified as hotspots of utmost concern, with their populations facing famine, famine danger, or catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. These dire conditions are primarily attributed to ongoing or escalating conflict, severe economic shocks, and devastating natural disasters.
