Global conflicts reach highest levels since World War II, data shows

Researchers at the Uppsala Conflict Data Program released findings showing global armed conflicts have reached their most severe levels since World War II ended in 1945.

The data reflects a sharp rise in one-sided violence, particularly across Africa. Massacres carried out in El Fasher, a city in Sudan's Darfur region, contributed significantly to the increase. The Uppsala program identified these killings as a primary factor pushing one-sided violence on the continent to heights not seen since the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

One-sided violence refers to deliberate killings by organized armed groups targeting civilians who cannot effectively resist. The metric differs from battle deaths between combatants and provides a distinct measure of civilian harm.