During the last 30 to 40 years, and on into the 21st Century, an astounding portion of the African continent has been at war -- whether one defines the conflict in a certain region as "civil war" (e.g., as during the atrocities in Rwanda, or the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict), or in another as due to outside agression (e.g. as argued for Angola).

     The shaded portions on the following map mark countries that have experienced war or significant violent conflict during the last 30 years.  Clearly, labeling something "war" is a matter of definition and degree of conflict; but "mere" coups and much associated violence are not represented here.

     This map is a small attempt to comprehend the scope of the conflict Africa has faced in these recent years.  To understand the magnitude of the violence, it may help to realize that the geographical region comprising the United States of America fits three or four times into the geographical region comprising Africa.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Ayittey, George B.  1998/1999. Africa in Chaos.  New York:  St. Martin's Griffin.

Gourevitch, Philip.  1998. We Wish to Inform you that Tomorrow We will be Killed with our Families: Stories from Rwanda.  New York:  Picador.

Kaplan, Robert.  1994.  "The Coming Anarchy."  Atlantic Monthly, February, 44-76.

Contemporary Conflicts in Africa. http://www.synapse.net/~acdi20/welcome.htm