May 30, 2023
Ethiopia: How a Lucky Village in Tigray Survived the Devastating War
The war waged by the Ethiopian Federal Government and Eritrea against the Tigray regional government, which lasted from November 2020 to November 2022, caused massive devastation.… Read more »
May 28, 2023
Africa: What Makes Peace Talks Successful? The 4 Factors That Matter
Peace talks that seek to end armed conflicts are underway in several African countries. Because very few conflicts are resolved on the battlefield, negotiations are fundamental.… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Pact With Russia - and Its Actions - Cast Doubt On Its Claims of Non-Alignment
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 South Africa has proclaimed a policy of non-alignment in that conflict. This position was placed in doubt when US Ambassador… Read more »
May 25, 2023
South Africa: Arms-to-Russia Row Raises Doubt About South Africa's Compliance With Arms Control. It Could Face Tougher Scrutiny in Future
The recent furore over accusations by the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that South Africa was supplying arms to Russia despite its declared policy of… Read more »
May 24, 2023
Sudan: Peace in Sudan Depends On Justice for the Darfur Genocide
I asked the pilot to deviate from our approved flight path and go low over Darfur. It was 2003 and I was the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sudan… Read more »
May 23, 2023
Sudan: Sudan's Peace Mediation Should Be Led By the African Union - 3 Reasons Why
Questions about who mediates in a conflict - and when - are crucial. Mediation is about trust, an awareness of regional realities and insights into complex politics. It should… Read more »
May 22, 2023
Sudan: Khartoum - the Creation and the Destruction of a Modern African City
Khartoum is - was - a city that did not know war or fighting in its recent history. Now it is in the grip of a civil war between rival military forces. Read more »
May 15, 2023
Sudan: Sudan Is Awash With Weapons - How the Two Forces Compare and What That Means for the War
Armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has escalated following an outbreak of violence in April 2023. There is intensive… Read more »
May 14, 2023
East Africa: Most East African Refugees Are Hosted Close to Borders - It's a Deliberate War Strategy
There are close to 4 million people living in refugee camps across Africa. Of the more than 300 camps, nearly 70% are situated within 30km-50km of an international border. They… Read more »
May 11, 2023
Sudan: Sudan Refugee Crisis - Aid Agencies Face Huge Challenges As Hundreds of Thousands Flee Violence
Sudan stands on the brink of yet another civil war sparked by a confrontation between two generals: the head of Sudan's Armed Forces, General Abdelfatah El-Burhan, and the head of… Read more »
West Africa: West Africa Has a Small Weapons Crisis - Why Some Countries Are Better At Dealing With It Than Others
Research has found that globally, small arms and light weapons increase the likelihood, intensity and longevity of conflict. Read more »
May 07, 2023
Ghana: Ghana's Regions - Why Creating New Territories Has Caused Problems
Ghana split four administrative regions between June 2017 and February 2019 to create six new ones. The process proceeded calmly in some regions, but was so contentious in others… Read more »
May 05, 2023
East Africa: Sudan Conflict Will Have a Ripple Effect in an Unstable Region - and Across the World
Sudan, Africa's third largest country by land mass, shares borders with seven countries in an unstable region. This means that Sudan's current conflict will have economic, social… Read more »
May 04, 2023
Sudan: The Longer the Conflict Lasts, the Higher the Risk of a Regional War
The 2019 Sudan uprisings that ousted long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir and installed a military-civilian transitional government gave hope that the northern African country could… Read more »
April 27, 2023
Sudan: Questions About Wagner Group Involvement As Another African Country Falls Prey to Russian Mercenaries
After more than a week of intense fighting between Sudanese government troops and paramilitary forces in Khartoum, many western countries - including the US and UK - are evacuating… Read more »
April 28, 2023
Sudan: Plunge Into Chaos Has Geopolitical Implications Near and Far - Including for U.S. Strategic Goals
The sight of diplomats fleeing Sudan amid chaotic scenes reflects the gravity of the situation, but also the extent of international interest in the strife-torn nation. Read more »
April 27, 2023
East Africa: East Africa Has Deployed Troops to Combat M23 Rebels - Who's Who in the Regional Force
The East Africa Community (EAC) has completed the deployment of its regional force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to oversee the withdrawal of the rebel group, M23,… Read more »
April 26, 2023
Sudan: Sudan's Conflict Has Its Roots in Three Decades of Elites Fighting Over Oil and Energy
Sudan stands on the brink of yet another civil war sparked by the deadly confrontation between the Sudan Armed Forces of General Abdelfatah El-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces… Read more »
April 18, 2023
Africa: Europe Outsourcing Asylum to African Countries Is a Terrible Idea - There Are Alternatives
For 40 years, western governments have entertained ideas of outsourcing asylum processing and refugee hosting to the global south. It is not a new idea. And neither are the… Read more »
April 17, 2023
Sudan: Sudan Crisis Explained - What's Behind the Latest Fighting and How It Fits Nation's Troubled Past
Days of violence in Sudan have resulted in the deaths of at least 180 people, with many more left wounded. Read more »
Sudan: Hemedti - The Warlord Who Built a Paramilitary Force More Powerful Than the State
Dozens have been killed in armed clashes in the Sudanese capital Khartoum following months of tension between the military and the powerful paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces… Read more »
East Africa: East Africa's Peace Mission in the DRC - Why It's in Burundi's Interest to Help
Burundi was the first country to offer troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2022 as part of east Africa's peace drive after a wave of attacks from the rebel group… Read more »
April 16, 2023
Africa: Africans in World War 1 - Artist William Kentridge's Epic Theatre Production Restores Forgotten Histories
South African artist William Kentridge became world famous for his charcoal drawings and hand-drawn animated films, but his work continued to grow in scope and he began staging… Read more »
April 13, 2023
Ethiopia: Ethiopia Was Feted for Expanding Education Rights for Refugees, Then Politics Got in the Way
Ethiopia is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. It hosts more than 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers. For decades, refugees were sheltered primarily in 26… Read more »
April 11, 2023
Africa: Why Some Terror Campaigns Escalate to Civil War and Others Don't - Study Reveals Surprising New Answers
Most terrorist campaigns - where a group targets civilians to achieve political objectives - are short-lived. But some aren't. In some cases, terror campaigns (low-intensity… Read more »