akandeolufelachristianah-cmyk/west-africa-conflict-analysis

Exploratory data anlysis of armed conflict in West Africa (2005-2025) using ACLED data, Python and Power BI # West Africa Conflict Analysis (2005-2025) # Project Overview This project provides a comprehensive data-driven analysis of armed conflict trends across 15 West African countries over a 20-year period. Utilizing data from the ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project), the study visualizes the evolution of political violence, identifying key actors, geographic hotspots, and the shifting nature of conflict events. # Dashboard Analysis and Insights ### Executive Overview ### Key Insights: 1. There was a stable trend in conflict events until 2018, followed by an exponential climb in both events and fatalities. 2. Total fatalities reached an all-time high between 2023 and 2024, nearly doubling the numbers seen in the 2015 Boko Haram peak. 3. The Military Forces of Nigeria appear as a top actor, reflecting both counter-insurgency efforts and the intensity of state-involved clashes. ### Conflict Dynamics ### Key Insights 1. The "Violence Against Civilians" chart shows a worrying trend where civilian targeting has become a consistent, high-volume event type, not just a byproduct of battles. 2. While Battles make up a large portion of events, Explosions/Remote Violence (IEDs, drone strikes) represent a growing share of the conflict landscape. 3. Nigeria accounts for the largest share of total conflict events, but Burkina Faso and Mali show higher density relative to their population sizes. ### Geographic Trends ### Key Insight 1. Borno (Nigeria) remains the deadliest state over the 20-year period, largely due to the long-standing insurgency in the Northeast. 2. The heatmap and table highlight a massive recent spike in Tillabéri (Niger) and Sahel (Burkina Faso), showing the shift of the conflict's "center of gravity." 3. States like Zamfara and Kaduna have seen rapid increases in the last 5 years, indicating the spread of banditry and communal violence beyond traditional "war zones." # Tools & Technologies Data Source: ACLED Visualization: Power …