World Sees Record 61 Conflicts in 2024 — Highest Since 1946

The world experienced 61 armed conflicts in 2024, the highest number since the end of World War II, according to the United Nations. The alarming figure was highlighted by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, during a Security Council debate on the future of global peace efforts.

Lacroix stressed that peacekeeping is “not a luxury, but a lifeline” for millions, noting that over 60,000 peacekeepers from 115 nations are deployed in 11 missions worldwide to mediate disputes and prevent escalation. He urged stronger international backing for “durable political solutions” that would allow peacekeepers to withdraw without risking renewed violence.

The UN continues to push its Action for Peacekeeping agenda, focusing on smarter mission planning, gender parity, safety, accountability, and the use of new technologies. Lacroix emphasized that digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) must be harnessed to measure impact and improve crisis response.

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, warned that peace operations now face an increasingly fragmented world, with rising internationalised conflicts, non-state armed groups, and the weaponisation of AI and drones.

Reflecting on the UN’s history, she noted that its peace efforts have helped end wars and broker agreements in nearly 100 countries. “To draw lessons for the future, we must learn from the past,” she told the Council.