Armed Conflicts in the World Since the End of the Cold War (1989-Present)

CRS Report for Congress
Armed Conflicts in the World Since the End of
the Cold War (1989 - Present)
August 2, 2000
Shawn Waddoups and Samuel Wolfe
Research Associates
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division


Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

Armed Conflicts in the World Since the End of the Cold War
(1989 - Present)
Summary
This report contains a compiled list of wars and armed conflicts in the world –
both civil and inter-state – that began after 1989 or were in progress at that date.
Because of definitional problems related to classifying wars, this information should
be used with some caution. This report includes lists arranged both chronologically
and alphabetically.



Contents
Background .................................................... 1
Wars (Chronological)............................................3
Wars (Alphabetical)..............................................6
Sources ....................................................... 9
List of Tables
Table 1. Civil Wars (1989 to Present)................................3
Table 2. Inter-State Wars (1989 to Present)...........................5
Table 3. Civil Wars (1989 to Present)................................6
Table 4. Inter-State Wars (1989 to Present)...........................8
This report has been prepared in consultation with Richard F. Grimmett, Specialist in
National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.



Armed Conflicts in the World Since the End of
the Cold War (1989 - Present)
Background
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was the most dramatic signal that the Cold
War between the world’s two superpowers was coming to an end. During the Cold
War, most wars were considered an extension of the conflict between the United
States and the Soviet Union. However, the end of the Cold War did not bring the end
of armed conflict. Despite the termination of the Cold War, nations continue to fight
wars, both internally and with their neighbors. The following tables are a listing,
compiled from several sources (see attached source list), of post-1989 civil and inter-
state wars, including those conflicts that began prior to that date.
Sources differ as to what constitutes a war. For the purposes of this compilation,
a civil war is a conflict contained within the borders of one country where national
government military forces were actively involved in fighting, the opposing side
offered effective resistance, and there were at least 1,000 combatant casualties. An
inter-state war is a military conflict between two entities that are commonly
recognized as sovereign states where at least 1,000 battle deaths occurred.
Various discrepancies exist among the sources used in this compilation regarding
data on casualties, onset and termination dates, and the nature of some conflicts:
!A common definition of war includes conflicts with at least 1,000
casualties. However, reliable casualty figures – especially for smaller
conflicts – often do not exist. It is not unusual for different sources
to report conflicting casualty figures.
!Fixing dates as to when a war began or ended is also problematic.
!Flare-ups or resumptions of fighting pose one problem. For
example, a renewal of fighting after a break in hostilities is
sometimes classified as a continuation of a previous war and at
other times as a new war.
!In some conflicts, the participants disagree about when the conflict
is resolved. One may claim victory while the other vows to carry on
the struggle.
!In some cases, delineating between wars where one party is fighting
several others is a point of disagreement among sources. Some



sources consider such a case to be multiple wars, but other sources
consider it to be one extended war.
!Since most wars include aspects of both civil and interstate conflict,
definitional problems also extend to classifying wars as either civil or
inter-state. Because of these difficulties, credible sources often differ
in what they include in their listings of current wars.
In compiling this list, the authors loosely followed the definition of civil and inter-state
wars offered by the University of Michigan’s Correlates of War Project. However,
when questions arose about a conflict’s exact identifying characteristics, the most
expansive estimates were used.



Wars (Chronological)
Table 1. Civil Wars (1989 to Present)
Name Begin End Notes
Burma1950OngoingBurmese (Myanmar) gov. vs. ethnic
guerrilla armies, political opposition groups
and narcotics dealers.
Basque Separatist1958OngoingBasque Fatherland and Liberty Group vs.
Movementboth Spain and France.
India1967OngoingVarious ethnic and separatist conflicts.
Guatemala19691996Gov. of Guatemala vs. UNRG (coalition of
anti-government forces).
Northern Ireland19691999Political conflict with religious overtones.
Philippines (Moro1969OngoingInternal ethnic and religious conflict.
Rebellion)
Philippines (New19721995Philippines gov. vs. NPA (includes
People’s Army)communist, Muslims, and other rebels).
Indonesia19741999Indonesian gov. vs. East Timor. Ended by
international intervention.
Angola1975OngoingAngola gov. and Namibia (since 1989) vs.
UNITA.
Lebanon19751990Conflict between Muslim and Christian
forces.
Afghanistan1978OngoingPower struggle between religious and
secular forces.
Ethiopia - Tigrean War19781991Ethnic conflict in Ethiopia.
Cambodia (Kampuchea)19791991Cambodian gov. vs. PDK (Khmer Rouge).
El Salvador19791985Gov. vs. National Liberation Front.
Mozambique (RENAMO19791992Mozambique gov. vs. opposition party
War)RENAMO.
Senegal (Casamance)1980sOngoingCivil war vs. southern rebels.
Israel (Lebanon conflict)19822000Israel and South Lebanese Army vs.
Lebanese gov., various Islamic militias and
Palestinian guerrillas.
Nicaragua19821998Sandinistas vs. Contras.
Peru1982OngoingPeruvian gov. vs. Shining Path guerillas.
Somalia1982OngoingFighting among rival faction leaders for
control of the state government.
Sri Lanka (Tamils)1983OngoingSri Lanka gov. vs. Tamil Tigers.
Sudan1983OngoingSudan gov. vs. National Democratic
Alliance.
Colombia1984OngoingColombia gov. vs. FARC and ELN.
Turkey (Kurds)1984OngoingInternal ethnic conflict.
Iraq (Kurds/Shiites)1985OngoingInternal ethnic conflict.
Indonesia (Aceh)1986OngoingInternal ethnic conflict.
Azerbaijan19881994Fighting over disputed territory (Armenian)
(Nagorno-Kharabak)with Russian involvement. Has inter-state
elements.
Liberia19891997Rebels vs. rebels vs. Liberian gov.



Name Begin End Notes
Mali19891994Internal conflict.
Romania19891989Violent overthrow of the Communist
regime.
Bougainville19901998Residents of Bougainville vs. Gov. of Papua
New Guinea for independence.
Chad1990OngoingGov. vs. various rebel groups.
Rwanda1990OngoingEthnic conflict between Tutsis and Hutus.
Sierra Leone1990OngoingSierra Leone gov. and ECOMOG vs. AFRC
and RUF.
Georgia19911991Struggle for power following collapse of
Communist government.
Haiti19911995Military vs. democratically elected
government.
Yugoslavia - Croatia19911995War securing independence for Croatia from
IndependenceYugoslavia following Communist collapse.
Algeria1992OngoingAlgerian gov. vs. Islamic rebels.
Egypt1992OngoingEgyptian gov. vs. Muslim rebels.
Georgia (Abkhazia)19921995Georgian gov. vs. Abkhazian separatist.
Georgia (Ossetia)19921995Georgian gov. vs. Ossetian separatists.
Moldova19921992Ethnic conflict following Communist
collapse.
Russia1992OngoingRussian gov. vs. Chechen rebel separatists.
Tajikistan19921997Tajikistan gov. vs. Muslim rebels.
Yugoslavia - Bosnia19921995Fighting for Bosnian independence with
(Serb rebellion)international intervention.
Burundi1993OngoingBurundi gov. vs. CNDD and Palipehutu.
Mexico1994OngoingMexico gov. vs. Zapatista rebels.
Uganda19941999Ugandan gov. vs. LRA and ADF.
Yemen19941994Gov. vs. secessionists.
Central African Republic19961997Military coup and civil war.
Cambodia 19971998Internal armed conflict.
Congo (Brazzaville)1997OngoingCongolese gov. vs. local ethnic militias.
Dem. Rep. of Congo1998OngoingFormerly Zaire. Gov. of Dem. Rep. of
Congo with support from Angola,
Namimbia, Zimbabwe and Chad vs. RCD
and MLC, supported by Rwanda, and
Uganda. Also has elements of an inter-state
war.
Guinea-Bissau1998OngoingGov. of Guinea-Bissau with Senegal and
Guinea vs. military faction.
Yugoslavia - Kosovo19981999Serb-led gov. vs ethnic Albanians with
inter-state intervention.
Indonesia (Moluccas/1999OngoingGov. of Indonesia vs. separatist forces.


Irian Jaya)

Table 2. Inter-State Wars (1989 to Present)
NameBegin EndNotes
Eritrea19581992For independence from Ethiopia.
Afghanistan19791989Soviet invasion.
Israel19822000Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Iran-Iraq War19801989Iraqi invasion of Iran led to protracted conflict.
Gulf War19901991U.S.-led coalition countering Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait.
Kashmir1991OngoingIndian and Pakistani border dispute.
Azeri-Armenian19921994An extension of the Nagorno-Kharabakh
dispute.
Nigeria19941995vs. Cameroon; border conflict.
Ethiopia1995Ongoingvs. Sudan; border conflict.
Sudan1995Ongoingvs. Uganda; border conflict.
Ethiopia1997Ongoingvs. Somalia; border conflict.
Dem. Rep. of Congo1998OngoingGovt. of Dem. Rep. of Congo, Angola,
(Zaire)Namibia, Zimbabwe, Chad vs. Congolese
Democratic Rally, Congolese Liberation
Movement, Rwanda, Uganda. Also has
elements of a civil war.
Eritrea1998Ongoingvs. Ethiopia; border conflict.
Kosovo19981999With NATO intervention vs. Serbia.



Wars (Alphabetical)
Table 3. Civil Wars (1989 to Present)
Name Begin End Notes
Afghanistan1978OngoingPower struggle between religious and
secular forces.
Algeria1992OngoingAlgerian gov. vs. Islamic rebels.
Angola1975OngoingAngola gov. and Namibia (since 1989) vs.
UNITA.
Azerbaijan19881994Fighting over disputed territory
(Nagorno-Kharabak)(Armenian) with Russian involvement.
Has inter-state elements.
Basque Separatist Movement1958OngoingBasque Fatherland and Liberty Group vs.
both Spain and France.
Bougainville19901998Residents of Bougainville vs. Gov. of
Papua New Guinea for independence.
Burma1950OngoingBurmese (Myanmar) gov. vs. ethnic
guerrilla armies, political opposition
groups and narcotics dealers.
Burundi1993OngoingBurundi gov. vs. CNDD and Palipehutu.
Cambodia (Kampuchea)19791991Cambodian gov. vs. PDK (Khmer Rouge).
Cambodia 19971998Internal armed conflict.
Central African Republic19961997Military coup and civil war.
Chad1990OngoingGov. vs. various rebel groups.
Colombia1984OngoingColombia gov. vs. FARC and ELN.
Congo (Brazzaville)1997OngoingCongolese gov. vs. local ethnic militias.
Dem. Rep. of Congo1998OngoingFormerly Zaire. Gov. of Dem. Rep. of
Congo with support from Angola,
Namimbia, Zimbabwe and Chad vs. RCD
and MLC, supported by Rwanda, and
Uganda. Also has elements of an inter-
state war.
Egypt1992OngoingEgyptian gov. vs. Muslim rebels.
El Salvador19791985Gov. vs. National Liberation Front.
Ethiopia - Tigrean War19781991Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia.
Georgia19911991Struggle for power following collapse of
Communist government.
Georgia (Ossetia)19921995Georgian gov. vs. Ossetian separatists.
Georgia (Abkhazia)19921995Georgian gov. vs. Abkhazian separatist.
Guatemala19691996Gov. of Guatemala vs. UNRG (coalition
of anti-government forces).
Guinea-Bissau1998OngoingGov. of Guinea-Bissau with Senegal and
Guinea vs. military faction.
Haiti19911995Military vs. democratically elected
government.
India1967OngoingVarious ethnic and separatist conflicts.
Indonesia (Moluccas/ Irian1999OngoingGov. of Indonesia vs. separatist forces.
Jaya)
Indonesia (Aceh)1986OngoingInternal ethnic conflict.



Name Begin End Notes
Indonesia19741999Indonesian gov. vs. East Timor. Ended by
international intervention.
Iraq (Kurds/Shiites)1985OngoingInternal ethnic conflict.
Israel (Lebanon conflict)19822000Israel and South Lebanese Army vs.
Lebanese gov., various Islamic militias
and Palestinian guerrillas.
Lebanon19751990Conflict between Muslim and Christian
forces.
Liberia19891997Rebels vs. rebels vs. Liberian gov.
Mali19891994Internal conflict.
Mexico1994OngoingMexico gov. vs. Zapatista rebels.
Moldova19921992Ethnic conflict following Communist
collapse.
Mozambique (RENAMO War)19791992Mozambique gov. vs. opposition party
RENAMO.
Nicaragua19821998Sandinistas vs. Contras.
Northern Ireland19691999Political conflict with religious overtones.
Peru1982OngoingPeruvian gov. vs. Shining Path guerillas.
Philippines (New People’s19721995Philippines gov. vs. NPA (includes
Army)communist, Muslims, and other rebels).
Philippines (Moro Rebellion)1969OngoingInternal ethnic and religious conflict.
Romania19891989Violent overthrow of the Communist
regime.
Russia1992OngoingRussian vs. Chechen rebel separatists.
Rwanda1990OngoingEthnic conflict between Tutsis and Hutus.
Senegal (Casamance)1980sOngoingCivil war vs. southern rebels.
Sierra Leone1990OngoingSierra Leone gov. and ECOMOG vs.
AFRC and RUF.
Somalia1982OngoingFighting among rival faction leaders for
control of the state government.
Sri Lanka (Tamils)1983OngoingSri Lanka gov. vs. Tamil Tigers.
Sudan1983OngoingSudan gov. vs. National Democratic
Alliance.
Tajikistan19921997Tajikistan gov. vs. Muslim rebels.
Turkey (Kurds)1984OngoingInternal ethnic conflict.
Uganda19941999Ugandan gov. vs. LRA and ADF.
Yemen19941994Gov. vs. secessionists.
Yugoslavia - Kosovo19981999Serb-led gov. vs ethnic Albanians with
inter-state intervention.
Yugoslavia - Bosnia (Serb19921995Fighting for Bosnian independence with
rebellion)international intervention.
Yugoslavia - Croatia19911995War securing independence for Croatia
Independencefrom Yugoslavia following Communist
collapse.



Table 4. Inter-State Wars (1989 to Present)
NameBegin EndNotes
Afghanistan19791989Soviet invasion.
Azeri-Armenian19921994An extension of the Nagorno-Kharabakh
dispute.
Dem. Rep. of Congo1998OngoingGovt. of Dem. Rep. of Congo, Angola,
(Zaire)Namibia, Zimbabwe, Chad vs. Congolese
Democratic Rally, Congolese Liberation
Movement, Rwanda, Uganda. Also has
elements of a civil war.
Eritrea1998Ongoingvs. Ethiopia; border conflict.
Eritrea19581992For independence from Ethiopia.
Ethiopia1997Ongoingvs. Somalia; border conflict.
Ethiopia1995Ongoingvs. Sudan; border conflict.
Gulf War19901991U.S.-led coalition countering Iraqi invasion
of Kuwait.
Iran-Iraq War19801989Iraqi invasion of Iran led to protracted
conflict.
Israel19822000Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Kashmir1991OngoingIndian and Pakistani border dispute.
Kosovo19981999with NATO intervention vs. Serbia.
Nigeria19941995vs. Cameroon; border conflict.
Sudan1995Ongoingvs. Uganda; border conflict.



Sources
The tables in this report were compiled from the following sources:
Correlates of War Project. 2000. Available at [http://www.umich.edu/~cowproj/].
Federation of American Scientists. 2000. The World at War. Available at
[http://fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/war/index.html].
The History Guy. 2000. New and Recent Conflicts of the World. Available at
[http://www.historyguy.com/new_and_recent_conflicts.html].
International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2000. The Military Balance, (The 1999
Chart of Armed Conflict). London: Oxford University Press.
Peace and Conflict Studies. 2000. Current Armed Conflicts. Available at
[http://www.uni-muenster.de/PeaCon/linkall/conflict.html].
Peace Pledge Union. 1999. Wars 1900-1995. Available at
[http://www.ppu.org.uk/wars/facts/www00-95a.html].
Peace Pledge Union. 2000. Wars and Armed Conflicts 2000. Available at
[http://www.ppu.org.uk/wars/n-text/n-index.html].
Policy.com. 2000. Global Hotspots. Available at [http://www.policy.com/hotspots/].
Project Ploughshares. 2000. Armed Conflicts Report 1999. Available at
[http://www.ploughshares.ca/content/ACR/ACR99.html].
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. (various years). SIPRI Yearbook:
Armaments, Disarmament, and International Security. Oxford University Press.