It seems that today wars are a thing of the past: even recent studies show that in the third millennium less people dies during armed clashes. However, in many regions, the unstable situation remains, and now and then hot spots continue to appear on the map.
We have selected ten of the most significant armed conflicts and military crises that threaten the world right now.
Zones of military tension are marked in red on the maps
Iraq
Members
Government troops, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), scattered Sunni groups, the autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The essence of the conflict
The terrorist organization ISIS wants to build a caliphate, an Islamic theocratic state, on part of the territories of Iraq and Syria, and so far the authorities have not been able to successfully resist the militants. The Iraqi Kurds took advantage of the ISIS offensive - they freely captured several large oil-producing regions and are going to secede from Iraq.
Current situation
The ISIS caliphate is already stretching from the Syrian city of Aleppo to the border areas of Baghdad. So far, government troops have managed to recapture only a few large cities - Tikrit and Uja. The autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan has freely taken control of several large oil-producing regions and is going to hold a referendum on independence in the near future.
Gaza Strip
Members
Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Fatah, the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
The essence of the conflict
Israel has launched Operation Protective Wall to destroy the infrastructure of the terrorist movement Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza region. The immediate cause was the increased rocket attacks on Israeli territories and the kidnapping of three Jewish teenagers.
Current situation
On July 17, the ground phase of the operation began after Hamas militants violated a five-hour truce to organize humanitarian corridors. According to the UN, by the time the temporary truce was concluded, there were already more than 200 dead among the civilian population. The Palestinian President's Fatah Party has already stated that their people "will repulse Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip."
Syria
Members
Syrian Armed Forces, National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Syrian Kurdistan, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Islamic Front, Ahrar ash-Sham, Al-Nusra Front and others.
The essence of the conflict
The war in Syria began after a harsh crackdown on anti-government demonstrations that began in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring. The armed confrontation between the army of Bashar al-Assad and the moderate opposition escalated into a civil war that affected the entire country - now in Syria, about 1,500 different rebel groups with a total number of 75 to 115 thousand people have joined the conflict. The most powerful armed formations are radical Islamists.
Current situation
Today, most of the country is controlled by the Syrian army, but the northern regions of Syria have been captured by ISIS. Assad's forces are attacking moderate opposition forces in Aleppo, near Damascus, the confrontation between terrorists from ISIS and militants of the Islamic Front has intensified, and in the north of the country the Kurds are also confronting ISIS.
Ukraine
Members
Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the militia of the Donetsk People's Republic, the militia of the Luhansk People's Republic, the "Russian Orthodox Army", Russian volunteers and others.
The essence of the conflict
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia and the change of power in Kyiv in the South-East of Ukraine in April of this year, with the support of Moscow, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics were proclaimed by pro-Russian armed groups. The Ukrainian government and the newly elected President Poroshenko launched a military operation against the separatists.
Current situation
On July 17, a Malaysian airliner crashed over the territories controlled by the separatists. Kyiv called the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic fighters responsible for the deaths of 223 people - the Ukrainian authorities are convinced that the separatists have air defense systems that the Russian side handed over to them. The DNR denied any involvement in the plane crash. Representatives of the OSCE are currently working at the crash site. However, the separatists have shot down planes before, though not at such a height and with the help of man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. To date, the armed forces of Ukraine have managed to recapture part of the territories from the separatists, in particular the city of Slavyansk.
Nigeria
Members
Government troops, Boko Haram.
The essence of the conflict
Since 2002, the sect of radical Islamists Boko Haram has been operating on the territory of Nigeria, which advocates the introduction of sharia law throughout the country, while only part of the state is inhabited by Muslims. Over the past five years, Boko Haram adherents have armed themselves and now regularly carry out terrorist attacks, kidnappings and mass executions. The victims of terrorists are Christians and secular Muslims. The country's leadership failed negotiations with Boko Haram and is not yet able to suppress the group, which already controls entire regions.
Current situation
Some Nigerian states have been in a state of emergency for a year now. On July 17, the President of Nigeria asked financial assistance at international community: the country's army has too outdated and small weapons to fight terrorists. Since April this year, Boko Haram has been holding hostage over 250 schoolgirls who have been kidnapped for ransom or sale into slavery.
South Sudan
Members
Dinka tribal union, Nuer tribal union, UN peacekeeping force, Uganda.
The essence of the conflict
In the midst of a political crisis in December 2013, the president of South Sudan announced that his former associate and vice president had attempted to stage a military coup in the country. Mass arrests and riots began, which later escalated into violent armed clashes between two tribal unions: the country's president belongs to the Nuer dominant in politics and the composition of the population, and the disgraced vice president and his supporters belong to the Dinka, the second largest nationality of the state.
Current situation
The rebels control the main oil-producing areas - the basis of the economy of South Sudan. The UN sent a peacekeeping contingent to the epicenter of the conflict to protect the civilian population: more than 10 thousand people were killed in the country, and 700 thousand became forced refugees. In May, the warring parties began negotiations for a truce, but the former vice president and head of the rebels admitted that he could not fully control the rebels. The settlement of the conflict is hampered by the presence in the country of the troops of neighboring Uganda, who are on the side of the government forces of South Sudan.
Mexico
Members
More than 10 drug cartels, government troops, police, self-defense units.
The essence of the conflict
For several decades, there was a feud between drug cartels in Mexico, but the corrupt government tried not to interfere in the struggle of groups for drug trafficking. The situation changed when, in 2006, newly elected President Felipe Calderon sent regular army troops to one of the states to restore order there.
The confrontation escalated into a war of the combined forces of the police and the army against dozens of drug cartels across the country.
Current situation
During the years of conflict, drug cartels in Mexico have turned into real corporations - now they control and divide among themselves the market for sex services, counterfeit goods, weapons, and software. In the government and the media, the big cartels have their own lobbyists and agents who work on public opinion. The war of the cartels specifically for drug trafficking has become secondary, now they are fighting among themselves for control over communications: major highways, ports, border towns. Government forces are losing this war primarily due to widespread corruption and the massive defection of the armed forces to the side of the drug cartels. In some particularly crime-prone regions, the population has formed a militia because they do not trust the local police.
central Asia
Members
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan.
The essence of the conflict
The tense situation in the region is supported by Afghanistan, which has been unstable for decades, on the one hand, and Uzbekistan, which has entered into territorial disputes, on the other. The main drug traffic in the Eastern Hemisphere also passes through these countries - a powerful source of regular armed clashes between criminal groups.
Current situation
After the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the presidential elections in the country, another crisis erupted. The Taliban launched a large-scale offensive against Kabul, while the participants in the election race refused to recognize the results of the presidential election.
In January this year, on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began armed conflict between border services - each of the parties is sure of violating the border of the other. Until now, there is no agreement between the countries on a clear demarcation of borders. Uzbekistan also presented its territorial claims to neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - the country's authorities are not satisfied with the borders that were formed as a result of the collapse of the USSR. A few weeks ago, the next stage of negotiations began to resolve the conflict, which from 2012 can at any moment develop into an armed one.
China and countries of the region
Members
China, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines.
The essence of the conflict
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the situation in the region escalated again - China again started talking about territorial claims against Vietnam. The disputes concern the small but strategically important Paracel Islands and the Spratly archipelago. The conflict is exacerbated by the militarization of Japan. Tokyo decided to revise its peace constitution, begin militarization and increase its military presence in the Senkaku archipelago, which is also claimed by the PRC.
Current situation
China has completed the development of oil fields near the disputed islands, which caused protests from Vietnam. The Philippines sent its military to support Vietnam and carried out an action that angered Beijing - the troops of the two countries played soccer in the Spratly archipelago. There are still Chinese warships a short distance from the Paracel Islands. Among other things, Hanoi claims that the Chinese have already deliberately sunk one Vietnamese fishing boat and damaged 24 others. However, at the same time, China and the Philippines are opposed to Japan's course towards militarization.
Sahel region
Members
France, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea and other neighboring countries.
The essence of the conflict
In 2012, the Sahel region experienced its biggest humanitarian crisis, with the negative impact of the crisis in Mali coinciding with acute food shortages. During civil war most of the Tuareg from Libya emigrated to the north of Mali. There they proclaimed the independent state of Azawad. In 2013, the military of Mali accused the president of being unable to cope with the separatists and staged a military coup. At the same time, France sent its troops to the territory of Mali to fight the Tuareg and radical Islamists who joined them from neighboring countries. The Sahel is home to the African continent's largest markets for arms, slaves, drugs, and the main havens for dozens of terrorist organizations.
Current situation
The UN estimates that more than 11 million people in the Sahel region are currently suffering from hunger. And in the near future this number may increase to 18 million. In Mali, clashes between government troops and the French army against Tuareg partisan detachments and radical Islamists continue, despite the fall of the self-proclaimed state of Azawad. And this only increases the unstable situation and the humanitarian crisis in the region - in 2014, the presence of terrorist groups increased in almost all countries of the Sahel.
The most terrible period in the history of mankind are world wars, which entailed huge losses of human lives. The last such war died down in 1945, but local armed conflicts still flare up in the world, because of which certain regions turn into hot spots - places of confrontation with the use of firearms.
Iraq
There are as many as 11 hotspots in Asia. Separatism, terrorism, civil war, interethnic and interreligious conflicts have led to the fact that a number of countries have armed conflicts on their territory. Among them:
But the fiercest fighting is taking place in Iraq, a hotspot where terrorism thrives. Government troops are trying to resist the infamous ISIS (formerly ISIS), which intends to create an Islamic theocratic state on the territory of the country. The terrorists have already included a number of cities in the caliphate, of which the government managed to recapture only two. The situation is complicated by the fact that at the same time scattered Sunni groups are operating, as well as Kurds, seizing large regions in order to secede from the country and create autonomy for Iraqi Kurdistan.
ISIS controls not only Iraq, but parts of Syria, which has practically freed itself from the influence of the group, as well as small occupied territories of Afghanistan, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia and Congo. They claim responsibility for a range of terrorist attacks, from an artillery attack in 2007 to an attack on police officers and a hostage-taking in a supermarket in Treba in March 2018.
In addition, the militants do not disdain the killing of civilians, the capture of the military, the destruction of culture, human trafficking and the use of chemical weapons.
Gaza Strip
The list of hotspots of the world continues in the Middle East, where Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories are located. The civilian population of the Gaza Strip is under the yoke of the terrorist organizations Hamas and Fatah, whose infrastructure is trying to destroy the defense army. Rocket attacks and kidnappings of children take place in this hot spot of the world.
The reason for this is the Arab-Israeli conflict, which involves Arab groups and the Zionist movement. It all started with the founding of Israel, which captured several regions in the Six Day War, among them was the Gaza Strip. Subsequently, the League of Arab States offered to settle the conflict peacefully if the occupied territories were liberated, but no official response was received.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamist movement began to rule in the Gaza Strip. Military operations were regularly carried out against him, the loudest of the last was called "Indestructible Rock". It was provoked by a terrorist act involving the kidnapping and murder of three Jewish teenagers, two of whom were 16 and one 19 years old. The terrorists responsible for this resisted during the arrest and were killed.
Currently, Israel is conducting operations to counter terrorists, but the militants often violate the terms of the truce and do not allow humanitarian assistance to be provided. The civilian population is heavily involved in the conflict.
Syria
Another one of the hottest spots in the world is Syria. Its inhabitants, along with Iran, suffer from the seizure of territories by IS militants, and at the same time, the Arab-Israeli conflict operates in it.
Syria, along with Egypt and Jordan, was at enmity with Israel immediately after its creation. There were "guerrilla wars", attacks were carried out on sacred days, all proposals for peace negotiations were rejected. Now there is a “ceasefire line” between the warring states, instead of an official border, the confrontation continues to be sharp.
In addition to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation inside the country is also restless. It all started with the suppression of anti-government uprisings, which escalated into a civil war. It involves about 100 thousand people as part of various groups. The armed forces confront a huge number of opposition formations, of which radical Islamists are the strongest.
In this hotspot of the world, the army currently controls most of the territory, but the northern regions are part of the caliphate founded by the terrorist organization IS. The Syrian President authorizes attacks on the city of Aleppo, controlled by militants. But the struggle is not only between the state and the opposition, many groups are at enmity with each other. Thus, the Islamic Front and Syrian Kurdistan actively oppose ISIS.
East of Ukraine
The CIS countries did not escape the sad fate either. The aspirations of certain territories for autonomy, interethnic conflicts, terrorist acts, the threat of civil war endanger the lives of the civilian population. Russian hotspots include:
- Dagestan;
- Ingushetia;
- Kabardino-Balkaria;
- North Ossetia.
The most fierce battles took place in Chechnya. The war in this republic claimed many human lives, destroyed the infrastructure of the subject, and led to cruel acts of terrorism. Fortunately, the conflict has now been resolved. There are no armed uprisings either in the Chechen Republic or in other regions, so we can say that at the moment there are no hot spots in Russia. But the situation is still not stable.
Also conflicts arise in the following countries:
- Moldova;
- Azerbaijan;
- Kyrgyzstan;
- Tajikistan.
The hottest point is the East of Ukraine. Dissatisfaction with the rule of President Yanukovych in 2010-2013 led to numerous protests. The change of power in Kyiv, the annexation of Crimea to Russia, which Ukraine perceived as an occupation, the formation of new people's republics - Donetsk and Luhansk led to an open confrontation with the use of firearms. Military operations are constantly carried out against the militias. The armed forces, the National Guard, the Security Service, the Russian Orthodox Army, Russian volunteers and other parties are taking part in the conflict. Air defense systems, anti-aircraft missile systems are used, ceasefire agreements are being violated, thousands of people are dying.
Periodically, the armed forces manage to recapture individual cities from the separatists, for example, the last success was Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka.
central Asia
The geography of the hot spots of the world affects a number of Central Asian countries, some of which belong to the CIS. The place of armed conflicts are Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan (South Asia). But the leader among these countries is Afghanistan, in which the Taliban regularly arrange explosions as terrorist acts. In addition, the Taliban shoot children. The reason can be anything: from the study of the child of English language before accusing a seven-year-old boy of espionage. It is common to kill children as revenge on their uncooperative parents.
In the meantime, Uzbekistan is fiercely contesting the territorial borders with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, formed after the collapse of the USSR. When the union was formed, the ethnic and socio-economic nuances of the territories were not really taken into account, but then the borders were internal, and troubles could be avoided. Now disagreement with the division of the territory threatens an armed conflict.
Nigeria
Africa holds the record for the number of hot spots on the planet. In addition to terrorism and separatism, it is a zone of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, as well as piracy, civil and liberation wars flourish in it. This has affected a number of countries, including:
- Algeria;
- Sudan;
- Eritrea;
- Somalia;
- Morocco;
- Liberia;
- Congo;
- Rwanda;
- Burundi;
- Mozambique;
- Angola.
In Nigeria, meanwhile, inter-ethnic conflict breaks out every now and then. The Boko Haram sect is fighting to turn the state into a Muslim one, while a significant part of the population professes Christianity. The organization has managed to arm itself, and it does not disdain any means to achieve its goal: terrorist actions are carried out, mass executions are carried out, people are kidnapped. Not only confessors of other religions suffer from them, but also secular Muslims.
Entire regions are under the control of Boko Haram, government troops equipped with outdated weapons cannot suppress the rebels, negotiations do not give a positive result. As a result, a state of emergency has been established in some states, the president is asking for financial assistance from other countries. Among the latest high-profile crimes of the sect, the kidnapping of 2014 stands out, when 276 schoolgirls were taken hostage for sale into slavery, most of them remain in captivity.
South Sudan
Sudan in Africa is also considered a hotspot of the world. The political crisis that arose in the country led to an attempted military coup by the vice president belonging to the Nuer tribal union. The president announced that the uprising had been successfully suppressed, but later began to reshuffle the leadership and removed almost all representatives of the Nuer union from it. A revolt broke out again, followed by mass arrests carried out by supporters of the incumbent from the Dinka tribe. The riots escalated into armed clashes. The initially stronger Dink alliance lost control of the oil-producing territories captured by the rebels. This inevitably affected the economy of the state.
As a result of conflicts, more than 10 thousand people died, 700 thousand became refugees. The UN condemned the actions of not only the rebels, but also the government, since both sides resorted to torture, violence and brutal killings of representatives of another tribe. To protect the civilian population, UN peacekeeping forces sent assistance, but the situation has not yet been resolved. On the side of the official government are the troops of Uganda, located in the neighborhood. The rebel leader has expressed a willingness to negotiate, but the situation is complicated by the fact that many of the rebels are out of control of the former vice president.
Sahel region
The people of the tropical savannah of the Sahel, unfortunately, are used to starving. Back in the 20th century, large-scale droughts occurred, due to which the population was severely lacking in food. But the terrible situation has repeated itself now, statistics say that 11 million people are starving in the region. Now it is linked to the humanitarian crisis that has erupted in Mali. The north-eastern part of the republic was captured by the Islamists, who founded the self-proclaimed state of Azavad on its territory.
The president was unable to remedy the situation, and a military coup was carried out in Mali. The Tuareg and the radical Islamists who joined them operate on the territory of the state. Government troops are assisted by the French army.
Mexico
AT North America the hotspot is Mexico, where herbal and synthetic drugs are not only produced, but traded and shipped to other countries in huge quantities. There are huge drug cartels with a history of forty years, which began with the resale of illegal substances, and now produce them themselves. They mainly deal in opium, heroin, cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine. At the same time, corrupt state structures assist them in this.
At first, conflicts arose only between warring drug cartels, but the new president of Mexico decided to rectify the situation and stop illegal production. Police and army forces were involved in the confrontation, but the government still cannot achieve significant improvements.
Developed under the guise of state institutions, the cartels are well connected, they have their own people among the top leadership, they buy out the armed forces, they hire public relations agents to influence popular opinion. As a result, in various states of the state, self-defense units were formed that did not trust the police.
Their sphere of influence extends not only to the drug business, but also to prostitution, counterfeit products, arms trafficking, and even software.
Corsica
Europe's hotspots are represented by several countries, including Serbia, Macedonia and Spain. Corsican separatism also causes a lot of trouble. An organization operating in the south of France is fighting for the independence and recognition of the political independence of the island. According to the demands of the rebels, the inhabitants should be called the people of Corsica, and not the French.
Corsica is considered a special economic zone, but it has not achieved full independence. But the rebels do not abandon attempts to achieve what they want and carry out active terrorist activities. Most often, their victims are foreigners. The financing of the National Liberation Front is carried out through smuggling, robbery, and drug trafficking. France is trying to resolve the conflict through compromises and concessions.
These 10 hotspots of the world are still a threat. But besides them, there are many other regions in which the life of the population is endangered. For example, the constantly flaring conflict in Turkey between the capital and the military political party, dating back to 2015, and the periodic terrorist attacks in Istanbul are dangerous for the indigenous population and tourists. It also includes the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, the political crisis in the Republic of the Congo, and the armed conflict in Myanmar.
Short periods of calm at these points give way to even more violent clashes. The worst thing is that civilians are dying in this confrontation, people are being deprived of their homes and a peaceful life, turning into refugees. However, hopes for the settlement of conflicts remain, because the military forces of many countries are thrown into this.
Terrorism in the world is becoming deadlier: over the past year, the number of victims of terrorist attacks was 30% more than the average for the previous five years.
Last year, 18,668 people were killed in terrorist attacks, according to research firm Maplecroft, and average over the past five years is 14.433 thousand.
At the same time, the number of terrorist acts itself decreased to 9,471 thousand compared to an average of 10,468 thousand.
"It is significant that terrorist methods have become deadlier over the past year," the study notes.
And all this affects the lives of citizens. different countries, the state of infrastructure, and also causes very serious economic damage.
Maplecroft names 12 countries as extremely high risk, which is the result of high levels of instability and weak governance.
Hot spots of terrorism
Iraq tops the list, with three times as many terrorist attacks as Pakistan, which has the second highest number of terrorist attacks.The government in Baghdad is incapable of fighting the paramilitary group and has already lost control of many key cities and districts in the north and center of the country.
Followed by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia, but in Nigeria, which ranks fifth according to Maplecroft, the attacks are the most dangerous.
Africa's fastest growing economy in 2013 faced a huge number of terrorist attacks. Their number reached 146, and the death toll was 3.477 thousand people.
Economic consequences
"Libya, Kenya and Egypt are among the few countries that have recorded a significant increase in risks - said Jordan Perry, chief risk analyst at Maplecroft. - Key industries, including tourism and oil and gas, have been significantly affected."Oil production in Libya is declining, which was the result of several attacks last year. This in turn raises terrorist risks in Egypt, whose tourism sector is already suffering from recent shocks.
This sector accounts for 11% of the country's GDP, and the fall in the first quarter of this year in annual terms amounted to 43% at once.
A similar story is seen in Kenya, which is ranked 12th on Maplecroft's list. After the terrorist attack in mall the tourism sector is facing a significant decline, while it accounts for 12% of the country's economy.
Nevertheless, Kenya has successfully placed Eurobonds for $2 billion, which underlines the interest of investors.
The report also highlights the rapid rise in terrorist attacks in China. In 2014, their number reached 76 compared to 16 in the first six months of 2013. However, the economic impact of them is still very small.
The well-known American magazine Foreign Policy has published a list of countries where conflicts are expected in 2017. In addition to Syria, Ukraine, Iraq already known to us from this side, the list also includes, for example, Turkey, Yemen and Mexico.
1. Syria
The war in Syria, which has been going on for almost six years, has claimed about 500,000 lives, and another 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes. President Bashar al-Assad has so far failed to end the armed conflict and regain control over the entire territory of the country. However, the takeover of eastern Aleppo by government forces in December marked a turning point in the Syrian crisis. After Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement, it was possible to carry out the evacuation of civilians. While Moscow, Ankara and Tehran have many challenges to overcome, this new diplomatic path offers the best opportunity to reduce violence in Syria. However, no one even talks about the end of the war in Syria in 2017.
My photo collection "Daily life in Aleppo" - .
2. Iraq
In Iraq, the fight against IS terrorists has undermined the authorities' ability to govern the country, caused massive destruction, and divided Kurdish and Shiite political parties into rival factions and armed insurgents who fight each other for resources. The US-backed operation to liberate Mosul could end in failure if the wrong move is made, writes FP. In addition to the fight against terrorists, there are endless terrorist attacks against civilians in Iraq, undermining security inside the country. In 2017, the situation can only get worse.
In the photo - the consequences of the terrorist attack in the east of Baghdad, 10 civilians were killed: 
War in the lens: Iraq - .
3. Turkey
This year, Turkey has become infamous due to the many unpleasant events taking place on its territory. The conflict between Ankara and the PKK has been flaring up since the end of the truce in July 2015. In addition, Turkey is regularly targeted by IS militants. The latest terrorist attack took place in Istanbul on New Year's Eve - the tragedy claimed the lives of 39 people. 
4. Yemen
Yemen was and remains the poorest country in the Arab Peninsula. The war has led to a humanitarian catastrophe: millions of people were on the verge of starvation, about four thousand civilians were killed, mainly as a result of airstrikes by the coalition led by Saudi Arabia. Political scientists and the authors of the article are convinced that if the conflict is not resolved, Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State can come to Yemen and sow real chaos in the country.
The photo shows the aftermath of the bombing of Yemen by Saudi Arabia. 
5. Sahel zone and Lake Chad basin
One of the few hot spots that not many people have heard of. Is that those who are in the subject. The Sahel zone and the Lake Chad basin remain one of the most dangerous hotspots in the world due to the terrorist groups that have settled there. So, in 2016, jihadists carried out several attacks in the west of Niger, in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. Al-Qaeda remains active in the region, in addition, the security forces of Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad continue to fight against Boko Haram militants. terrorism, which has yet to bear fruit, threatens to lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, which, in turn, could result in a bloody uprising, writes Foreign Policy.As a result of the activities of terrorists, almost four and a half million people were forced to flee their homes.
In light of such events, Chad is sometimes referred to as the "dead heart of Africa": 
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is suffering from a political crisis - President Joseph Kabila has not yet signed an agreement under which he must step down after the elections, that is, before the end of 2017. Clashes between DRC security forces and opponents of the incumbent head of state have claimed dozens of lives over the past few months. If the elections are again postponed, the violence will continue, the author of the material emphasizes. A new postponement of the elections can be expected at the end of 2017, because the last time, during speeches against President Kabila, police and security organizations shot 59 civilians. 
7. South Sudan
Can you show this young state on the map? Hint: first, find Sudan on the world map, then pinch off one third, and you get South Sudan. No wonder that for many people this is a difficult task - even some political maps hanging on the walls (from schools to cabinets of ministers) do not know about such a state. South Sudan seceded as a result of the conflict, and they continue to this day. After three years of civil war, the number of internally displaced persons has reached 1.8 million. About 1.2 million have left the country. The turning point was outlined in December 2015, when a peace agreement was signed, but already in July it was broken. The diplomatic efforts of the UN Security Council are aimed at deploying a corps of peacekeepers in the country, but this is unlikely to avoid further escalation. The Japanese armed forces stationed there are unable to prevent the development of the conflict. 
8. Afghanistan
Sadly, Afghanistan simply could not miss this list. Armed conflict and political instability in that country pose a serious threat to world security. The Taliban are strengthening their positions, and IS militants continue attacks on the Shiites. The weakening of the Afghan troops may lead to the fact that the militants will seize the territories left without control. 
9. Myanmar
Despite the well-known beautiful sunsets and dawns from Myanmar Bagan, in this country for many years there has been an armed conflict. The new government of Myanmar, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has promised that peace and national reconciliation will be its top priorities. However, recent outbreaks of violence have jeopardized efforts to end an armed conflict that has dragged on for almost 70 years. 
10. Ukraine
The original source about the conflict in Ukraine says the following: After almost three years of war and roughly 10,000 deaths, Russia’s military intervention defines all aspects of political life in Ukraine. Divided by the conflict and crippled by corruption, Ukraine is headed for even greater uncertainty. Trump’s professed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin scares Kiev, as do rumors that the United States may decide to scrap sanctions against Russia. Implementation of the February 2015 Minsk peace agreement is stalled, effectively bringing Russia closer to two of its goals in the Ukraine conflict: the establishment of permanent pro-Russian political entities in eastern Ukraine, as well as normalization of its annexation of Crimea that started the war in 2014.
I will not translate, so as not to run all sorts here) 
11. Mexico City
Tensions between Mexico and the United States seem inevitable after US President-elect Donald Trump promised to build a wall on the southern border, deport millions of illegal migrants and end the North American Free Trade Agreement. I wonder how soon the Mexicans will learn to jump to a height of four meters? 
The “hot spots” of the planet are a kind of unhealed old wounds. From year to year in these places faded conflicts flare up for a while, bringing pain to humanity. The experts of the International Crisis Group (International Crisis Group) made the top ten major political crises, which, according to analysts, will continue this year
Afghanistan
The country's government, plagued by factional infighting and corruption, has been unable to keep the country safe since the 2014 withdrawal of US and NATO troops. Relations between Kabul and Washington deteriorated noticeably in 2012, especially after the assassination of a large number of people after reports that US troops burned dozens of Korans. The March events became the climax, when american soldier Robert Bales shot 17 villagers in the southern province of Kandahar, including 9 children. All this provoked a series of attacks by Afghan soldiers. After that, distrust arose between the military leaders of Afghanistan and the United States. Experts predict the continuation of disagreements in the ranks of the ruling elite, which the Taliban guerrilla movement will not fail to take advantage of.
Iraq
As the state of chaos in Syria intensifies, battle formations are being actively built in Iraq. The Shiite government led by Nuri al-Maliki is in conflict with other religious and ethnic groups in Iraq, increasing control over the political institutions of power, while violating the principle of an even distribution of power between the Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties. Given this state of affairs, and also taking into account the next elections scheduled for 2014, experts predict an intensification of violence, which will lead to a new round of internal strife.
Sudan
The "Sudan problem" with the secession of the South in 2011 was not resolved. The concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a small elite intensifies further disintegration in the country. The ruling National Congress party has not managed to get rid of intra-party disagreements, the country continues to grow popular discontent, primarily associated with the worsening economic situation. The growing struggle against the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, which has become an association of large rebel groups from the states of Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile, devastates the treasury and leads to numerous civilian casualties. Acting in exactly the same way as in the South, the government is using humanitarian aid as a bargaining tool, essentially turning mass starvation of the population into an element of its military strategy.
Turkey
Winter frosts in the mountains caused the suspension of hostilities of the rebel movement, which calls itself the PKK. But, according to experts, this will not affect the further development of the long-term confrontation, which looks threatening in the spring of 2013. Since the outbreak of hostilities, 870 people have already died. In addition, in mid-2011, Turkish security forces resumed counter-terrorism operations. These are the largest losses in this conflict since the 1990s. Political tensions in Turkey are also on the rise, as the legal Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party is increasingly siding with the PKK. In turn, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to deprive MPs from this party of immunity from prosecution. The state has already arrested several thousand Kurdish activists, accusing them of terrorism. The Turkish government has also ended the secret talks it has had with the PKK since 2005 and abandoned most of the "democratic initiatives" that held out hope of greater equality and justice for the 12-15 million Turkish Kurds, who make up 20% of the country's population. Most likely, in 2013, the rebels will continue to try to hold areas in the southeast of the country and carry out attacks on the symbols of the Turkish state.
Pakistan
Drone attacks in 2012 continued to create tension between the US and Pakistan, although the country reopened supply lines for NATO troops in early July after the United States apologized for a November 2011 fatal attack on Pakistani soldiers. . Elections are due in Pakistan in 2013 and the Pakistani government and opposition therefore urgently need to implement key reforms in the electoral commission to secure the transition to democracy. The ruling Pakistan People's Party, and its arch-rival parliamentary opposition Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League, should put political differences aside and focus on stopping the military from undermining democracy.
In 2012, instability intensified in sub-Saharan Africa. Tops the list of problem areas in Mali, where a military coup took place in March, as a result of which the government was overthrown. Power in the north of the country was seized by separatists associated with al-Qaeda. The year ahead will require a much-needed international intervention in Mali, and more importantly, the start of a political process of reunification. In terms of intervention, the ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States and the African Union have already approved a 3,300-troop mission to help that state wrest control of the northern part of the country from Islamist militants. The matter remains only with the official permission of the UN Security Council, which he must give to such actions. The Sahel region also has another troubling conflict that has unfolded in northern Nigeria. There, the radical Islamist group Boko Haram last years killed thousands of people. The government's response is lame and confusing about possible negotiations, while at the same time carrying out brutal security measures, sometimes acting indiscriminately. And this leads to an expansion of violence and to the arrival of more and more new recruits into the ranks of extremists. Without concerted and persistent action, and without decisive changes in public policy in 2013, more bloodshed can be expected in the northern part of Nigeria.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In April 2012, in the east, there was an uprising of rebels from the M-23 group - these are former rebels who became military, and then turned into rebels again. The country is fighting to prevent another regional war in the DRC. The consequences of a new wave of violence have been tragic for the civilian population, as there are increasing reports of widespread human rights violations, summary executions, and mass exodus of the local population. Now, thanks to the mediation efforts of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, the M-23 militants have left the eastern city of Goma and sat down at the negotiating table. However, the danger of a recurrence of rebellion and large-scale violence remains.
Kenya
Despite reforms to deal with the violence that took place in the 2007 elections in Kenya, the reasons for the continuation of the conflict in the country remain. Youth unemployment, poverty and inequality, the suspension of security reforms, land disputes - all this exacerbates the crisis in the country and increases inter-ethnic polarization. In addition, with the March 2013 elections approaching, the risk of political violence is growing. The two main contenders for the presidency, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, are charged with crimes against humanity and are due to appear before the International Court of Justice in April 2013. On the one hand, this gives rise to hope that serious attempts have finally been made in the country to eliminate years of impunity political elite On the other hand, these criminal cases can just as easily extinguish the hope of government accountability. In addition, the elections are likely to take place amid threats of attack from the Somali-based al-Shabaab militant group and protests by separatists from the Mombasa Republican Council. Both could provoke a backlash against Kenya's large Somali and Muslim community. And this threatens to further destabilize the country, which is waiting for an already difficult year.
Syria and Lebanon
The conflict in Syria continues, and with it the death toll is increasing. Experts do not exclude that this situation will continue. Although representatives of this region and other countries are talking about the impending fall of the regime, the first stage after the departure of Assad will be extremely dangerous, both for the Syrian people and for the Middle East as a whole. The actions of President Bashar al-Assad against those who oppose his rule are tearing Syrian society apart. In response, there has been a gradual radicalization of the opposition, further driving the situation into a vicious circle of violence, in which both sides increasingly rely on military force while abandoning political solutions. Syria's religious and political communities are increasingly polarized, with regime supporters stubbornly resisting with increasingly violent "kill or be killed" fears of large-scale retaliation if the Assad regime falls. The violence that burns Syria creates favorable conditions to strengthen the position of uncompromising Sunni Islamists, who managed to rally around themselves those who were disillusioned with the West. Last but not least, this increase is due to the funding they receive from the Gulf countries, and the military assistance and knowledge of jihadists from different countries. To reverse this pernicious trend, the opposition needs to present a more convincing and less nihilistic vision of Syria's future. And the members of the world community need to coordinate their actions, transferring the struggle in Syria from the plane of disastrous military operations to the plane of a political settlement.
The Syrian conflict inevitably crosses the borders of the country, flowing into Lebanon, especially in connection with the fact that it is acquiring the features of an inter-confessional war. The experience of history does not bode well, because Beirut has almost always been under the influence of Damascus. Under these circumstances, it is of paramount importance that the Lebanese leaders turn to address the fundamental flaws in their governance structure, which fuels factional strife and renders the country vulnerable to the chaos in its neighbourhood.
central Asia
A potentially dangerous region, in which countries that are on the verge of conflicts are represented. So, for example, Tajikistan moved to 2013 without showing anything good in the outgoing year. Relations with Uzbekistan continue to deteriorate, and internal disputes threaten to fuel separatist ambitions in Gorno-Badakhshan. This remote mountainous province does not like the central government in Dushanbe. Hostility originates in the 90s, when there was a struggle for power. From time to time, confrontation between government troops and local militants, many of whom are veterans of the civil war in Tajikistan, spills out. Dushanbe calls the militants members of organized crime. Some of them served in the Tajik border troops. In Kyrgyzstan, the situation is no better. In the south, inter-ethnic tension and problems with law and order are growing. The presidential administration is still turning a blind eye to problems in the field of interethnic relations. The power of the central government in the Osh region is gradually weakening. Human rights continue to be violated in Uzbekistan. The situation is aggravated by the lack of political continuity: it is still unclear who will come to power after the departure of 74-year-old President Islam Karimov from the stage. Experts believe that the country has the prerequisites for new unrest in the region. If the emerging trends continue, violence awaits in the coming year and Kazakhstan. In 2012, a record number of terrorist attacks by previously unknown jihadist groups were carried out in the western and southern parts of the country. Astana's attempts to present itself as a steadfast ship in a regional sea of unpredictability are doomed to fail as protesters are killed and activists jailed in the country. Socio-economic hardships can also hurt Kazakhstan.