Bell...
I have a ffiend much like you describe. Our friendship has lasted throughout our lives, and I'm 56. He's married and I respect that, have met his wife when they visited from far away a couple of years ago. We still exchange emails as friends, sharing thoughts about our childhood together, and, like your male friend, I feel no one else really knows me as he does. At the same time, I've had to distance myself from feeling any emotional attachment to him, though I'm still grateful for our continued communication.

Since you hadn't communicated with this fella for two years, and he is in a very challenging situation there in Africa, he met someone and went on with his life...much as my friend did so many years ago. Try to be happy for him, and tell him so.
Patty