This week, the presidents of South Sudan and Kenya meet after stalled peace talks. What does the US election result mean for peace abroad, and at home?
Presidents of South Sudan and Kenya meet after stalled peace talks
The presidents of South Sudan and Kenya met in Juba, South Sudan on Wednesday, following stalled South Sudan peace talks, ABC News reported. Although the 2018 peace agreement ended a five-year civil war that killed over 400,000 people, talks stalled after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir’s former rival, Riek Machar’s party, withdrew in July. The party cited plans by mediators to replace the peace agreement.
Kiir and Kenyan President William Ruto called for the mediation team to resolve all issues within two weeks.
The Tumaini initiative peace talks sought to help non-signatory groups maintain peace. Participants in the talks, however, worried that a new security law would allow authorities to detain people without warrants.
This week, Peace News Network (PNN) published an article discussing the need to include women in national peace initiatives. Dr. Winnie Bedigen demonstrated how the role of women’s indigenous institutions’(Honyomiji) played a role in leadership, education, and social support. To learn more, read here.
What does the US election result mean for peace abroad, and at home?
Across the globe, many are wondering what the US presidential election of Donald Trump means for peace in the US, and abroad.
Following the election, Ukrainian president Voldymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped that Trump’s victory would bring his country a “just peace,” and that he appreciated Trump’s “‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs” in international affairs, The Telegraph reported. Trump has been vague on support for Ukraine, refusing to indicate whether he wants the country to win its war against Russia. Many suspect that Trump will attempt to hold talks between the two countries in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, war is also raging on in the Middle East. The war between Israel and Gaza following October 7 has left Gaza in a humanitarian crisis, with Israeli refugees still trapped there. It remains unclear whether Trump will be able to peacefully resolve the crisis. Trump has presented a peace plan largely viewed as favoring Israel, and settlement expansion in the West Bank boomed under his presidency. Trump also recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, supporting the country’s claim over the disputed city, Associated Press reported.
Many are also concerned with the state of peace in the US following the election. In the U.S., conspiracy theories targeting election workers have become widespread. False rumors about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have also emerged after the devastating hurricanes that affected the southern U.S. in October and September. Yesterday, PNN published an article about how media and technology can help prevent election violence. Experts discussed the topic at a panel, and one expert argued that the U.S. had a lot to learn from efforts to prevent election violence abroad.
Mohan said that young leaders and influencers are key to reaching out to young men, but that women leaders should also be integrated into violence prevention efforts. Too often, women, minorities, and people with disabilities are sidelined during anti-violence programming, he said. To learn more, read here.
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
