VisionAfrique Weekly: Conflict casualties in Africa: Analyzing deaths across two decades (2002-2022)

This week, I’d like to share a visual that captures the staggering human cost of conflict across Africa over the past two decades. When we see numbers about conflict-related deaths, it’s easy to forget the pain and grief behind each statistic. Every death represents a shattered life, a grieving family, and a community left to pick up the pieces. I wanted to create something that goes beyond the numbers—a visual that brings to life the scale and impact of these tragedies, pulling at our emotions and reminding us of the deep scars left by these conflicts.

Context

Quantifying the human cost of conflict is a challenging endeavor, particularly when comparing different regions with varying degrees of conflict intensity and media coverage. However, by examining conflict-related deaths over time, we can begin to understand the profound impact of violence across the African continent. This visual representation delves into the number of conflict-related deaths by year from 2002 to 2022, offering insights into how different regions have been affected over two decades.

The Visual

The visual titled Bloodshed in Numbers: Conflict-Related Deaths (2002-2022) employs a striking and evocative design, utilizing blood drop icons of varying sizes to represent the scale of deaths per year in each region. The timeline spans two decades, and the regions are arranged from lowest to highest in terms of conflict-related deaths: Southern Africa, North Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, and East Africa. The larger the blood drop, the higher the number of deaths in that particular year and region.

Observations

• Southern Africa (5,637 deaths):?Southern Africa has seen relative stability over the past two decades, with minimal conflict-related deaths. Early in the timeline, Angola recorded 619 deaths between 2002 and 2004, a residual impact from its civil war. However, the most significant conflict in the region has been in Mozambique, where an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province since 2017 has resulted in over 4,200 deaths, particularly between 2018 and 2022.
• North Africa (24,559 deaths):?North Africa has been heavily impacted by conflicts stemming from the Arab Spring, which led to a significant surge in deaths beginning in 2011. Libya experienced the highest toll in the region, with 13,877 deaths, largely due to the prolonged civil war that followed the toppling of Gaddafi. Egypt also faced substantial losses, with 4,690 deaths linked to the political turmoil and violence that ensued after its 2011 revolution. Algeria, while less affected by the Arab Spring, accounted for 5,663 deaths over the two decades. The country saw a gradual decline in violence, dealing mostly with the aftermath of its civil war in the 1990s, with sporadic incidents of conflict-related deaths continuing through the period.
• Central Africa (82,488 deaths):?Central Africa has been consistently plagued by conflict over the last two decades, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) experiencing the most severe losses. The DRC accounted for 55,869 deaths, largely driven by ongoing conflicts in the eastern provinces. The Central African Republic also saw considerable violence, with 12,112 deaths, particularly during periods of civil war and sectarian strife. Cameroon has faced increasing conflict since 2014, resulting in 8,208 deaths, largely due to the Boko Haram insurgency and the Anglophone crisis.
• West Africa (84,828 deaths):?West Africa has seen significant conflict-related deaths, particularly in Nigeria, which recorded 52,296 deaths over the period, largely due to the Boko Haram insurgency and conflicts in the Niger Delta. Mali, with 11,336 deaths, has been another hotspot, primarily due to insurgent activity and the ongoing war in the north. Burkina Faso has faced increasing violence since 2016, resulting in 6,659 deaths, while Liberia experienced a brief but deadly conflict in the early 2000s, with 5,540 deaths recorded between 2002 and 2003.
• East Africa (240,026 deaths):?East Africa has endured the highest number of conflict-related deaths, with Ethiopia accounting for the majority, at 129,163 deaths. Ethiopia’s ongoing conflicts, including the Tigray War, saw a dramatic increase in casualties, particularly in 2022, when over 102,860 deaths were reported. Somalia, another major hotspot, recorded 36,460 deaths, largely due to the ongoing conflict with Al-Shabaab. Sudan, with 35,708 deaths, has faced multiple conflicts, including in Darfur. South Sudan, contributing 22,519 deaths, particularly during the Second Sudanese Civil War and the subsequent internal conflicts that have persisted.

Limitations

While this visual effectively highlights the trends in conflict-related deaths across African regions, it does not provide a detailed breakdown by individual countries. This aggregation can obscure the specific contexts and causes behind the fatalities, potentially limiting the depth of understanding. Additionally, the visual focuses on trends rather than providing exact numbers, which may be important for more detailed analyses.

Data

The data for this visual was sourced from Our World in Data's "War and Peace" section. The data is summarized yearly by region, offering a comprehensive overview of conflict-related deaths across the continent. You may find a summary of the data in the full article here.

Reflections

Visualizing conflict-related deaths by region offers a compelling perspective on the human toll of violence in Africa. While some regions like Southern Africa have experienced relative stability, others, notably East Africa, have faced devastating losses. The contrast between regions is stark, particularly when considering the disproportionate coverage in international media. East Africa’s staggering death toll, especially in Ethiopia, has garnered surprisingly little attention in comparison to conflicts in North Africa, such as Libya. This visual underscores the importance of not only documenting these tragedies but also ensuring that the world remains informed and engaged.

Reflecting on this data, it is evident that conflict continues to be a significant challenge across the continent, with profound implications for peace, stability, and development. As we analyze these trends, it is crucial to consider the underlying causes and work towards sustainable solutions that address the root drivers of conflict.

Check out this week's visualization and article here.

About the author

Dara Gbolahan is an Information Designer that believes in the power of visualized data to create meaningful social impact. Through VisionAfrique, she regularly publishes data visualizations on Africa, aiming to inform and inspire enthusiasts of the continent.