As 2024 comes to an end, the global geopolitical stage remains engulfed by a myriad of conflicts ranging from armed conflicts and to all types of domestic crime and delinquency. 

Each reflects the deep fractures in international relations, governance, and societal cohesion, leaving millions displaced, vulnerable, or trapped in cycles of suffering. The interwoven nature of these crises underscores the urgent need for renewed focus on sustainable peacebuilding and conflict resolution, as trivial as that sounds.

Our annual review of global conflict and the use of force is intended to provide a snapshot of the international landscape as it stands in 2024.

Middle East

The Middle East remains a critical hotspot. The Israel-Hamas war, ignited in late 2023 following Hamas’ terrorist attack, has led to catastrophic humanitarian consequences in Gaza, where it is estimated that over 44,000 lives have been lost and infrastructure devastated. The conflict has spilt over into Lebanon, with Hezbollah engaging Israeli forces, creating an atmosphere of volatility across the region. 

Syria, long thought to have transitioned into a period of “uneasy calmness,” experiences renewed violence as anti-Assad-regime rebels have retaken power in the decade-long-tortured country. Shifting power dynamics, with Russia distracted by its war in Ukraine and Iranian-backed militias weakened, have reignited the issue of an emerging Kurdistan, an existential security threat for Turkey. 

Yemen continues to exemplify a protracted humanitarian tragedy; despite intermittent ceasefires, the Houthi-Saudi conflict persists, leaving millions teetering on the brink of famine and disease. 

Also read:  2022 – Armed Conflicts | Full review of armed conflicts and the next day

Africa

Africa grapples with widespread unrest, with Sudan descending further into chaos as the Sudanese Armed Forces clash with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The war has displaced millions and deepened food insecurity in a nation already teetering on the edge of collapse. In South Sudan, peace agreements have done little to quell ethnic rivalries and localised violence, while the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains entangled in conflicts fuelled by armed groups like the M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces. These militias exploit the country’s mineral wealth, perpetuating cycles of violence and displacement of local populations. 

Across the Sahel, jihadist insurgencies aligned with ISIS and al-Qaeda destabilise nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Local militias and self-defence groups often exacerbate the violence, creating an increasingly fragmented and lawless region. Somalia’s decades-long battle against al-Shabaab militants continues unabated, highlighting the resilience of extremist networks despite international efforts to suppress them.

Moreover, South Africa sees persistent violence tied to urban crime syndicates and drug trafficking.

Latin America

In Latin America, drug wars and organised crime have become a permanent backdrop to daily life. Mexico’s cartel violence continues to escalate, with rival groups battling for control of lucrative drug routes, leaving thousands dead each year. Brazil’s urban slums, or favelas, remain gripped by violence between drug gangs and paramilitary milícias that operate with impunity. 

Also read: SIPRI | Wars and Regional Conflicts Fuelled the Rise in Sales of the Largest Arms Industries in 2023

Paramilitary groups and gang violence add another layer of instability. In Haiti, gangs wield unchecked power, displacing tens of thousands and plunging the country into what many describe as an apocalyptic state. Central America’s Northern Triangle—Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala—remains besieged by gang violence, with groups like MS-13 and Barrio 18 controlling vast swaths of territory. Further on, in Colombia, dissident factions of the FARC and the ELN continue to fight over territorial control, undermining a fragile peace agreement.

Asia

In the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia, encompassing Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, the methamphetamine trade flourishes under the control of armed groups, fostering corruption and violence. Similarly, Afghanistan’s opium trade has surged following the Taliban’s return to power, fuelling domestic conflicts over narcotics profits.

In Central Asia, India and Pakistan maintain their tense standoff over the disputed Kashmir region, with periodic skirmishes along the Line of Control. Myanmar’s post-coup civil war has left the nation fractured, with ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces resisting the military junta’s brutal rule. The South China Sea is another flashpoint, as China asserts its territorial claims through military posturing, provoking confrontations with Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other neighbouring states.

Europe – Caucasus

In Europe, the war in Ukraine grinds on, with devastating human and economic costs. The Crimean Peninsula remains under Russian occupation, symbolising a broader failure to address territorial aggression. The South Caucasus has seen a precarious calm after Azerbaijan’s seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh, yet ethnic tensions and territorial disputes remain unresolved. 

Also read: Review | Looking into 2023 major conflicts

Tensions, frozen conflicts, and 2025 in the long term

Armed conflicts and the use of violence alike reflect broader geopolitical fault lines. The South China Sea dispute mirrors growing U.S.-China tensions, while the alignment of authoritarian regimes in conflicts like those in Syria, Ukraine, and Sudan signals the deepening divide between democratic and autocratic states. These clashes are compounded by underlying religious doctrines, resource shortages, historic elements, and financial interests, and the ever-growing impact of climate change, which acts as a driver for violence in regions like the Sahel and the Amazon Basin.

Frozen conflicts and territorial occupations, like the Cypriot issue and the Turkish occupation, persist after 50 years, whose unresolved nature is a constant reminder of global inaction.

Let’s hope that in 2025 a collective effort involving the major powers will lead to an end to the most serious (at least) conflicts like the war in Ukraine, since without such efforts, the world risks becoming more and more entrenched in vicious cycles of war and suffering.

Also read: SIPRI | Nuclear arsenals are growing again