CrisisWatch September 2023 – World

CrisisWatch is our global conflict tracker, an early warning tool designed to help decision-makers prevent deadly violence by keeping them up-to-date with developments in over 70 conflicts and crises, identifying trends and alerting them to risks of escalation and opportunities to advance peace. Entries dating back to 2003 provide easily searchable conflict histories.

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Global Overview

Our monthly conflict tracker highlights one conflict risk in October.

• The fragile calm in northern Kosovo shattered as a group of heavily armed Serbs clashed with Kosovo police. The military-grade weapons seized from the attackers indicate Serbs in the north are preparing for a fight.

CrisisWatch identified seven deteriorated situations in September. Notably:

• Azerbaijan launched a military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming victory after 24 hours and ending the enclave’s de-facto self-governance. Fearful of their future under Baku’s rule, tens of thousands fled into Armenia (see “Conflict in Focus” in the PDF).

• Mali’s ruling junta postponed the presidential election due in February, further pushing back the timeline for a return to constitutional order. Meanwhile, violence escalated between 2015 peace deal signatories, and jihadists stepped up deadly attacks in the north.

• DR Congo-based rebels launched a deadly attack into Burundi for the first time since 2021, leading to deadly clashes with government and allied forces.

• In Pakistan, twin suicide bombings in the provinces bordering Afghanistan killed at least 59 people amid a spate of militant attacks. Deadly clashes between Pakistani and Taliban forces along the Afghan border temporarily closed the Torkham crossing.

• The Dominican Republic closed its border with Haiti over a canal dispute, which risks aggravating the country’s humanitarian crisis. Rampant gang violence in the capital triggered mass displacement.

Our tracker also assessed one improved situation.

• In a bid to revive the stalled political process, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura visited Morocco-controlled Western Sahara for the first time since his appointment two years ago.

Aside from the scores of conflict situations we regularly assess, we tracked significant developments in Benin, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Madagascar, Togo and Nile Waters