Overview

The ACLED Africa Conflict Dashboard is an interactive spatial analysis and data visualization tool designed to track political violence, protests, and armed conflict dynamics across the African continent. Developed by the Africa Knowledge Platform (AKP) team, this application is powered by data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), providing policymakers, researchers, and field actors with a near-real-time, geographic overview of regional security environments.

About the Data

The dashboard leverages the ACLED database, recognized as a high-quality and reliable source for disaggregated conflict event data globally.

• Granular Detail: The data captures specific, localized events rather than broad conflict trends. Every entry includes precise geographic coordinates, dates, event classifications (e.g., armed clashes, remote violence, violence against civilians, peaceful protests), the specific actors involved (state forces, militias, rebel factions), and fatality estimates.
• Continuous Updates: Sourced directly from ACLED's weekly data releases, the dashboard functions as an up-to-date monitoring system for emerging crises and ongoing hostilities.

Purpose of the Tool

The primary objective of this dashboard is to transform millions of complex data points into accessible, actionable spatial intelligence. By providing a user-friendly interface with advanced geospatial mapping and temporal filtering, the tool allows users to easily visualize the spread of violence, track the trajectory of specific armed groups, and monitor the severity of conflicts in critical geographic hotspots like the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region.

Applications and Use Cases

As part of the Africa Knowledge Platform's mission to provide evidence-based insights, this dashboard supports a variety of strategic and operational needs:

• Policy Formulation & Peacebuilding: Supports EU and African policymakers in evaluating regional stabilization efforts, and aligning diplomatic or development strategies with ground realities.
• Early Warning & Security Analysis: Enables analysts to track the geographic diffusion of smaller, localized incidents—such as riots or militia activity—acting as an early warning system for broader regional destabilization before it escalates.
• Humanitarian Planning: Assists international organizations and NGOs in identifying areas where civilians are most frequently targeted, aiding in the safe routing of humanitarian convoys, risk assessment, and the strategic allocation of emergency relief.
• Thematic Research: Provides researchers with the spatial and historical data necessary to study complex conflict patterns, such as the fragmentation of rebel networks over time or the correlation between localized violence and natural resource competition.