African inland fisheries face many challenges resulting from rapid population growth, and the abundance and demography of fish species have changed through fishing. Some stocks are overfished and the regulation of fishing effort is a management priority. The socio‐economic impacts of effort reduction necessitate the search for new solutions. These include the search for unexploited stocks or introducing non‐native species. Fisheries are affected by events in catchment areas, such as deforestation and soil erosion, and eutrophication and pollution. These affect fish population in various ways although eutrophication can increase productivity. Climate change may alter rainfall patterns that could reduce fish production in areas where rainfall is expected to decline. Existing management has been ineffective, and community‐based co‐management systems have yet to prove themselves. African fisheries have proved to be very resilient, and they should, if effectively managed, meet the future needs of the population.