10 Ongoing Wars You Thought Were Over

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today well be discussing the longest running international conflicts that are still ongoing at the time of this writing.

Jamaican Political Conflict (1943-)

The background and activities behind any conflict are likely to have multiple players with their own agendas and motivations. The history of conservative and liberal clashes within Jamaican political history dates back to 1943, with both sides still occasionally rising up with violence against their opposition. There have also been accusations of major world economies clandestinely funding the two major Jamaican parties. Specifically, its been surmised that Americas CIA organization is somehow involved with the conservative Jamaican Labour Party, while the Democratic Socialist beliefs of the Peoples National Party have been said to have been backed by the government of Cuba, as well as the former Soviet Union.

Somali Civil War (1991-)

Its not entirely rare that a major military conflict ebbs and flows over the years, with certain phases waxing and waning on through an eventual end. The civil war in Somalia is still ongoing at the time of this writing, however, despite possessing origins that date back to 1991, and the ousting of former Somali President Siad Barre. The latter had himself taken power via a military junta back in 1969, but there was growing unrest and resistance to the Barre regime that further fueled the fires of war. Today, clashes between the al-Qaeda loyalist Al-Shabaab militants, Somali Federal forces and various peacekeeping groups still erupt, with Al-Shabaab territory holding a large influence within southern areas of Somalia.

The Papua Conflict (1962-)

The large island of New Guinea has been the home of this conflict thats been largely centered over its Indonesian-controlled western half. The Free West Papua Campaign has been involved in small-scale guerilla warfare against Indonesian officials as well as civilians. The Papua Conflict stands in the shadow of Papua New Guinea in the east, an autonomous country free from Indonesian administration. There have also been accusations against Indonesia with regards to their treatment of West Papua citizens, the suspension of their human rights and of violent, targeted killings. Active skirmishes have been reported throughout 2025, including a killing of two Indonesian police officers as recent as May 16th of that year.

The Cabinda War (1975-)

Angola was officially declared an independent country after a peaceful coup ended its War for Independence back in 1974. The Republic of Cabinda was a protectorate prior to this time, when Angola was still under control of the Portuguese. The Cabinda War officially kicked off a year later, with the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda seeking to reestablish itself away from its current status as an unrecognized state. Violent skirmishes have been reported as recently as 2022, while accusations of human rights violations have been laid at the feet of Angolan authorities.

Kurdish Separatist Insurgencies (1918-)

There are a number of important examples of Kurdish uprisings within areas like Iran and Iraq that are still ongoing at the time of this writing. The longest lasting are the Iraqi-Kurdish Conflict that emerged in the aftermath of World War I in 1918, Kurdish separatism in Iran from around the same time and the Kurdish-Turkish Conflict that dates back to 1921. The Iraqi-Kurdish Conflict has seen a decrease in violence over the years following the Iraq War in 2003, while less intense uprisings and violent clashes have also been reported in Iran since 2016. Meanwhile, a tentative and complicated ceasefire agreement between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers Party was announced in March of 2025.

Korean Conflict (1948-)

The Korean War may have ended in 1953, but conflict within that region has been ongoing since 1948, and remains a very active and volatile proposition. The War actually exists as a frozen conflict, since no peace treaty was officially signed, and both North and South Korea still lay claims to sole sovereignty. Koreas former status as a Japanese colony may have ceased after World War II, but Cold War-era attempts to unify that country by both the United States and the Soviet Union were failures that led directly into the Korean Conflicts legacy in the modern day. Its unsure at this point whether Koreas Demilitarized Zone will ever be a thing of the past, or whether North and South Korea will ever be united.

Indo-Pakistani Wars (1947-)

The Partition of India in 1947 divided this former British colony into two separate states: the Dominion of Pakistan and whats now known as The Republic of India. Conflict over land and territories such as the Kashmir region have been ongoing since 1947. There have also been reports of terrorist activity related to this conflict within both Pakistan and India over the course of the last fifty years. Worry surrounding the possible usage of nuclear weapons remains a valid one for those living in these regions, since the history of Indo-Pakistani warfare has ebbed and flowed for over seventy-five years at the time of this writing.

Afghan Conflict (1978-)

Far more intelligent folks than us have weighed in upon the seemingly endless amount of combustive political tensions that have dominated Afghanistan. Conflict within this region has existed in one form or another since 1978, specifically within the power vacuum that emerged in the wake of the Saur Revolution of 1978. The removal of former Afghan President Mohammad Daoud Khan, who also took autocratic power after a coup d'etat five years earlier, pushed the region into a socialist direction that tied itself with the Soviet Union. Since then, notable events such as the September 11th terrorist attacks upon the United States, American retaliation in the region and the Talibans return to power have ensured that life in Afghanistan remains unstable.

Arab-Israeli Conflict (1948-)

This long standing and seemingly never ending conflict between The State of Israel and The Region of Palestine is one that has spilled over into the political discourse of countries all over the world. Its a conflict of many sides, stories and opinions, as supporters from both sides plead cases for homeland and heritage. The Gaza War is the most recent example of violence between Israel and Palestinian forces, but the central focus of the Arab-Israeli Conflict primarily has to do with ancestral claims of territory. These claims have often escalated to the point of violence, although various moments of tenuous peace have existed in the aftermath of events such as the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty in 1979.

Myanmar Conflict (1948-)

It was known as Burma prior to the 8888 Uprising of 1988, the protests and riots that eventually resulted in the establishment of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. And it was back in 1948 that what was then Burma saw the onset of its internal conflict involving armed ethnic groups within the region. Ceasefire attempts within Myanmar have been attempted, but failed, with fighting and human rights violations continuing to be a problem within the region. Accusations have been levied against both Myanmars armed forces divisions, the Tatmadaw, as well as resistance groups. Charges which include, but arent limited to, the usage of landmines against civilians, as well as child labor for soldier recruitment.

Are there any historical conflicts that fascinate you? Let us know in the comments!