The ICRC maintains a strong operational presence in Africa, with activities focused on protecting and assisting people affected by armed conflict or other forms of violence. It also works to promote greater recognition and wider implementation of international humanitarian law throughout the continent.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia and Sudan feature among the organization’s largest operations worldwide. Despite international peace initiatives, the situation remains volatile in the North Kivu, South Kivu, and Eastern provinces in the DRC, in Sudan's western Darfur and southern regions and in central and southern Somalia. Large numbers of people, mainly civilians, suffer the consequences, including death, injury, displacement and economic hardship.

In the Central African Republic, the ICRC is stepping up efforts to meet the needs of people affected by conflict in the northern region. In eastern Chad, a region prone to chronic insecurity and localized violence, the ICRC assists displaced people, the wounded, the destitute and detainees. In the northern regions of Mali, Niger and Nigeria, the ICRC works closely with the countries’ national Red Cross Societies to help civilians forced to flee sporadic skirmishes between government forces and various armed groups.

In Ethiopia, activities have been reduced significantly owing to the government's expulsion of the ICRC from the Somali Regional State in 2007. In situations such as Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Liberia and Uganda, where displaced people are beginning to return home, the ICRC has scaled back emergency aid and focuses on helping communities rebuild their livelihoods and infrastructure – notably in the water-supply and health sectors.

Elsewhere, the ICRC continues to adapt its setup and operations, downsizing where appropriate in post-conflict contexts, such as Angola, the Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.

The initial ICRC 2009 budget for Africa amounts to 400 million CHF.