Emergency presentations of colorectal cancer in Africa are variable and poorly understood, impacting surgical outcomes and patient management.

• Reported rates of emergency presentations range from 8.3% to 64.9%.
• Limited data on early mortality and no long-term outcome data post-surgery.

Surgeons should note the clinical signs: bowel obstruction, perforation, and peritonitis.

• Treatment largely relies on surgery; endoscopic stenting is rare and only in South Africa.