Sudan and Nigeria top explosive death tolls in Africa, Report

The two countries ranked among the top ten worst-affected nations globally, the Explosive Violence Monitor 2024 by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) revealed.

Sudan saw 670 civilians killed by explosive weapons, while Nigeria recorded 463.

Most of these deaths occurred in populated areas, especially residential neighbourhoods and places where civilians sought shelter.

Sudan’s high numbers were linked to the brutal internal conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has devastated urban areas like Khartoum and Omdurman.

In Nigeria, the report highlighted an increase in airstrikes by the country’s military that often resulted in unintended civilian casualties.

These included incidents in rural markets and camps for displaced people, raising concerns over rules of engagement and accountability.

Somalia was the third most-affected African country, with 225 civilian deaths in 2023. Most of these casualties were caused by non-state actors such as al-Shabab, who often use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in busy urban centres.

Outside Africa, the highest number of civilian deaths was recorded in Gaza, where 4,518 civilians were killed in 2023. Ukraine followed, with 1,105 deaths, as Russia's invasion entered its second year with ongoing shelling in major cities.

Other countries with high civilian tolls included Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar, where long-running conflicts have made urban areas frequent targets of explosive attacks.

Background

The report, released annually by AOAV, monitors the impact of explosive weapons worldwide using data from English-language media sources.

In 2023, it recorded 6,883 civilian deaths and over 10,600 injuries caused by explosive violence across 66 countries and territories.

The majority of these incidents occurred in towns, homes, refugee camps, markets and streets, places where civilians live, work, or gather.

Explosive weapons used in populated areas were especially deadly, accounting for 90% of all civilian deaths recorded.

Airstrikes and shelling were the most lethal forms, with state actors responsible for 58% of civilian deaths globally. Non-state groups were linked to a third of the total.

The report also noted an increase in harm caused by air-launched weapons, drones, and long-range artillery, especially in countries like Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza.

AOAV called on governments and armed groups to respect international humanitarian law and to avoid the use of wide-area explosive weapons in civilian settings.

Below are the rankings by the respective countries as compiled by the AOAV

Civilian Deaths by Country (2023)

Country Civilian Deaths  Context

Gaza      4,518     Israeli airstrikes during ongoing conflict

Ukraine 1,105     Russian invasion and shelling of cities

Syria      717        Ongoing civil war and foreign interventions

Sudan    670         Internal war between army and RSF

Afghanistan        512        Attacks by Islamic State and Taliban

Nigeria  463        Military airstrikes and insurgent attacks

Myanmar             241        Conflict between military junta and rebels

Somalia 225        Attacks by al-Shabab using IEDs

Pakistan               198        Militancy and cross-border shelling

Israel     148        Hamas-led rocket attacks

Source: globalsouthworld.com