ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Non-International Armed Conflicts and Civil Wars: A Global Perspective

Non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) refer to conflicts that occur within a country's borders, involving both government and non-state actors. These conflicts can be characterized as civil wars, internal conflicts, or internecine wars, depending on the context.

The term "civil war" is often used interchangeably with NIAC, but it specifically refers to a conflict between different groups within a state, typically along ethnic, ideological, or regional lines. Internecine war, on the other hand, can be used in a broader sense to describe any conflict within a single state, regardless of the involvement of government forces.

Historically, the concept of NIACs has been applied retroactively to various conflicts beyond their original scope. For instance, the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) and the Paraguayan Civil War (1947) were initially considered part of larger regional conflicts but are now recognized as distinct examples of NIACs.

Recent examples of ongoing NIACs include the Kurdish Turkish conflict in Turkey since 1921, the Maoist insurgency in China since 1972, and the DHKP/C insurgency in Turkey since 1990. Other notable cases include the Colombian conflict (1964-present), the Laotian Civil War (1953-1975), and the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970).

The ICRC generally avoids using the term "civil war" when communicating with parties to an armed conflict or publicly, instead opting for terms like "non-international" or "internal" armed conflicts. This reflects a broader recognition of the complexities involved in these types of conflicts.

In addition to NIACs, various other forms of internal violence and unrest have been documented globally. These include sectarian violence in Cyprus (1963-1967), the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the ongoing insurgency in Mali since 2012.

The Nepalese Civil War (1996-2006) resulted in significant human losses, with an estimated 17,800 deaths attributed to the conflict. Similarly, the United States experienced a civil war during its Reconstruction period following the American Civil War (1861-1865), which led to the abolition of slavery and paved the way for the modern era.

The use of terms like "civil war" can be nuanced, as they often reflect broader historical contexts and power dynamics. Understanding these complexities is essential for developing effective strategies to