Africa: Conflicts without Borders,
January 2009–July 2009

U.S. Department of State

This map visualizes conflict in Africa as subnational and transnational areas of armed conflict, intercommunal strife, and political violence that occurred in the first six months of 2009. Areas of conflict were drawn around locations of reported conflict incidents in 2009, as well as around concentrations of internally displaced persons inside affected countries and cross-border rebel bases and refugee camps in neighboring countries. 

This depiction of areas of conflict more accurately displays where conflict has been occurring in Africa—demonstrating visually that (1) conflicts are usually not nationwide and (2) conflicts often cross borders into other countries. More than one conflict can affect the same area and population, as is the case in the intersecting conflict areas colored in dark red. 

Environmental pressures have exacerbated sporadic conflicts over water, land, and livestock between rival tribes, clans, and ethnic groups in east Africa. This localized intercommunal strife has resulted in killings and temporary displacement of affected populations, sometimes across borders. Locations of piracy incidents and targeted attacks in 2009 have also been depicted on the map.

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of State, Humanitarian Information Unit, Washington, D.C., 2009.

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