| ACLED | Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project |
| AfDB | African Development Bank |
| AFDL | Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo |
| ANN | average nearest neighbour |
| AQIM | Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb |
| CC | conflict concentration |
| CI | conflict intensity |
| CMA | Coordination of Movements of Azawad |
| CTJF | Civilian Joint Task Force |
| ECOWAS | Economic Community of West African States |
| ESRI | Environmental Systems Research Institute |
| FEWS NET | Famine Early Warning Systems Network |
| FLN | National Liberation Front (Algeria) |
| GATIA | Imghad Tuareg Self-Defence Group and Allies |
| GHSL | Global Human Settlement Layer |
| GNA | Government of National Accord (Libya) |
| GNU | Government of National Unity (Libya) |
| HCUA | High Council for the Unity of Azawad |
| HRW | Human Rights Watch |
| IDP | internally displaced person |
| IED | improvised explosive device |
| IOM | International Organization for Migration |
| IS-L | Islamic State-Libya |
| ISWAP | Islamic State West Africa Province |
| JNIM | Group for Supporting Islam and Muslims |
| JTF | Joint Task Force |
| LGA | Local Government Area |
| LNA | Libyan National Army |
| LURD | Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy |
| MAPTA | Mapping Territorial Transformations in Africa platform |
| MINUSMA | United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali |
| MNLA | National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad |
| MUJAO | Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NTC | National Transitional Council (Libya) |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |
| SCBR | Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries |
| SCDi | Spatial Conflict Dynamics indicator |
| SWAC | Sahel and West Africa Club |
| UAE | United Arab Emirates |
| UEMOA | West African Economic and Monetary Union |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNOCHA | United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
Urbanisation and Conflicts in North and West Africa
