No fewer than 126 by land and environmental defenders were killed or disappeared in Africa since 2012, with Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, accounting for almost two-thirds of these cases. Other cases are Kenya, six; Liberia, six; South Africa, six; Chad, five; Uganda, five, among several others.
The data were part of a report released by the Global Witness, titled “Roots of Resistance”, with DRC ranking as the deadliest country in Africa, and eighth in the world, as perpetrators to shut down dissent.
Published today, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Global Witness documented 146 cases worldwide in 2024, down from 196 in 2023. Meaning, on average, about three defenders are killed or disappeared each week.
Speaking at the Nigeria launch of the Global Witness 2025 report hosted by the Renevlyn Development Initiative, RDI, Global Witness Senior Advisor, Laura Furones, said: “These already chilling figures are most likely a gross underestimate.
“The continued difficulty in building an evidence base on the situation faced by defenders in Africa has led to the under-reporting of attacks and the under-representation of defenders in this region.
“Just because we are not recording as many cases in Africa, that does not mean it’s not dangerous for defenders.
“In fact, the opposite is true, with the severe repression of civic space leaving many defenders too scared to speak out in the first place.”
On his part, the Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, said the report has broken the norm of global reports with far-reaching impacts that exclude Africa.
With 78 cases between 2012 and 2024, DRC ranks as the deadliest country in Africa, and eighth in the world.
The new figures bring the total number of defenders killed or disappeared in Africa since 2012 to at least 126 – with DRC accounting for almost two-thirds of these cases. Other cases have been documented in Kenya (6), Liberia (6), South Africa (6), Chad (5), Uganda (5) over the last 12 years, among several others.
However, the report notes that these statistics are likely to be an underestimate, highlighting issues around data collection on lethal attacks across the region, with poor recognition of environmental and land rights, conflict, and restricted civil space all playing a role.
