The Psychological Impact of Armed Conflict and Displacement on Children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Armed conflict and forced displacement remain persistent realities in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting millions of children across regions such as the Sahel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and the Great Lakes region. These contexts of violence, insecurity, and displacement have profound consequences for the psychological well-being of children, who often face the loss of loved ones, the destruction of their communities, and repeated traumatic experiences. The objective of this article is to synthesise existing knowledge on the psychological impact of armed conflict and displacement on children in sub-Saharan Africa, while identifying key resilience factors and research gaps.
The method adopted consists of a critical review of academic and grey literature published between 2000 and 2025. Sources include empirical studies, reports from international organisations (UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR), and analyses from community-based research. This comparative review highlights the high prevalence of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems among refugee and internally displaced children. These symptoms are often exacerbated by poverty, school dropout, family separation, and ongoing exposure to violence. However, several studies also reveal the presence of remarkable resilience mechanisms linked to social support, school reintegration, family stability, and culturally appropriate community-based mental health programs.
However, the results indicate significant methodological disparity and a lack of longitudinal research tracking the long-term evolution of children's psychological well-being. Furthermore, evidence-based psychological interventions remain limited, particularly in rural areas and refugee camps.
In terms of implications, this review highlights the need to integrate child mental health into humanitarian and development policies, strengthen community-based and intersectoral approaches, and invest in training local stakeholders. Ultimately, a holistic and contextualised response is essential to mitigate the psychological impact of conflict and displacement on children and promote their lasting resilience in sub-Saharan Africa.

Children, Armed conflict, Displacement, Psychological impact, Trauma, Resilience

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