A new report by the African Union has cautioned that Africa is not on track to eliminate child marriage by 2030, warning that the continent could account for nearly half of the world’s child brides by mid-century if urgent action is not taken.
The findings were presented in the African Union Presidential Champion Report on Ending Child Marriage in Africa, launched by Hakainde Hichilema during the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
Scale of the crisis
The report notes that one in three child brides globally lives in Africa. Nearly 130 million girls and women on the continent were married before the age of 18. Sub-Saharan Africa carries the heaviest burden, with West and Central Africa recording some of the highest prevalence rates worldwide.
In parts of the Sahel region, more than half of girls are married during childhood, with certain provinces reporting figures exceeding 80 per cent. While Eastern Africa has shown improvement over the past 25 years, reducing prevalence from 48 per cent to 31 per cent, progress remains uneven.
Climate and conflict worsening risks
The report highlights overlapping “polycrises” such as climate shocks, armed conflict and economic instability as key drivers of early marriage. A 10 per cent deviation in average rainfall is associated with a 1 per cent increase in child marriage rates, it states.
Droughts, loss of livelihoods and school disruptions are pushing vulnerable families to resort to early marriage as a coping mechanism.
Progress possible, but action needed
Zambia is cited as a positive example, reducing child marriage from 29 per cent in 2018 to 23.9 per cent in 2024 through legal reforms and education policies.
With just four years remaining to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 target, the African Union has urged member states to intensify coordinated, context-specific efforts to protect girls’ rights and futures.
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