The number of conflicts in the world has increased significantly in 2024, with 56 conflicts and 92 countries involved in international disputes, the highest since the Global Peace Index’s inception in 2008. The growing number of minor conflicts also increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future, as seen with Ukraine and Gaza, which were considered minor conflicts in 2019.
According to the GPI, Iceland remains the most peaceful country, a position it has held since 2008, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Singapore. Yemen has replaced Afghanistan as the least peaceful country in the world. It is followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Yemen
Yemen faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with 4.5 million displaced people and 21.6 million in dire need of assistance as of March 2024. The risk of a large-scale famine is high, with more than 17 million people in need of food assistance and “a growing portion of the population coping with emergench levels of hunger,” according to UNICEF.
The conflict in Yemen began in 2011 after the Arab Spring—a wave of pro-democratic protests, revolutions and civil wars in some Arab nations—led to the handover of power to Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Despite the transition aiming for stability, Hadi faced issues like militant attacks, corruption, and food insecurity. In 2014, the Houthi Shia Muslim rebel movement took control of northern Saada province, capturing the capital Sanaa and forcing Hadi into exile abroad.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44466574
https://www.unrefugees.org/news/yemen-crisis-explained
Sudan
On April 15, 2023, violent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan led to the displacement of over 11.5 million people, including internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and refugees. Sudan has been grappling with violence and displacement since the Darfur crisis in 2003. The conflict occurs during Sudan’s highest humanitarian need in a decade, exacerbated by severe weather events linked to climate change. Since the clashes, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated, with famine confirmed in the Darfur region and over half of Sudan’s population facing extreme food shortages.
https://www.unrefugees.org/news/sudan-crisis-explained
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59035053
South Sudan
South Sudan is facing a severe human rights and humanitarian crisis, with conflict between the government, opposing forces, and militias causing thousands of civilian deaths and displacement. The government has failed to meet key milestones set by the peace deal, including legislative and institutional reforms. The conflict in Sudan forced over 300,000 people to flee to South Sudan, with limited options for settlements and returnees. Refugees and returnees face poor living conditions and limited access to food, water and sanitation, putting them at risk of disease.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/south-sudan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s crisis, now in its fifth decade, is a major crisis in Central Asia, with deteriorating human rights, economic instability, food poverty, and severe climate events posing greater uncertainty in 2025.
The Taliban controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. In 2001, the U.S. and allied forces invaded and ousted the Taliban. They moved to southern Afghanistan and Pakistan, where they waged an insurgency against the Western-backed government, Afghan national and security forces, and international coalition troops. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces faced challenges in holding territory and defending population centers, and the war remained mostly a stalemate. After U.S. troop withdrawal in August 2021, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan and the government. Despite initial promises of respecting human rights, they imposed strict Shariah, or Islamic law, including public executions and flogging. This has led to a regression in liberal and democratic rights over the past two decades.
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-afghanistan
Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 escalated the eight-year conflict, causing a turning point for European security, with analysts blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for a strategic mistake. In 2014, Russia claimed Crimea and began arming separatists in the Donbas region, marking the first European state to annex another’s territory since World War II. The conflict between 2014 and 2021 resulted in over 14,000 deaths, marking a shift in global security. Feb. 24 marks three years since the Russian invasion in 2022, with no end to the conflict in sight.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9vx01evp9o
header image: pexel by Eugenia Sol
About The Author:
Emily Haas is a freshman from Hildesheim, Germany. She is a journalism major and a member of Milligan’s swim team. She enjoys traveling, reading, and finding geocaches.
maps by Emily Haas