Welcome to the April issue of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project’s (ACLED) Conflict Trends report. Each month, ACLED researchers gather, analyse and publish data on political violence in Africa in realtime. Weekly updates to realtime conflict event data are published through our research partners at Climate Change and African Political Stability (CCAPS) and also on the ACLED website.
This month’s issue focuses on the intervention of French Military Forces in West Africa, Islamist Militancy and Counter Insurgency strategies in North Africa, an analysis of violence surrounding the recent elections in Nigeria, and student-led protests in South Africa and targeted violence against foreign nationals. A special focus topic explores the targeting of children in conflict zones.
Elsewhere on the continent, the Democratic Republic of Congo witnessed a slight spike in conflict events and on-going violence continued in Kenya after Al-Shabab militants carried out a deadly assault on Garissa University. Fatalities decreased in Cameroon in March and fighting with Islamic State affiliates renewed across Libya.