Violence in Africa (IMAGE) University of Rochester Caption The graphic shows data covering the period from the year in which a country became independent -- until 2013. Up to end of the Cold War in 1989 the numbers are especially striking: 30 of the 32 major civil wars in Africa occurred in countries with a precolonial state -- despite the fact that countries without PCS groups accounted for only 39 percent of observations in the data set. In short, almost every major civil war in sub-Saharan Africa during the Cold War era occurred in a country with a PCS, or precolonial state, group. Credit Jack Paine and Stephen Dow/University of Rochester Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.