This week, Bougainville president urges parliament to follow peace process. Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan consults about national dialogue. UN desperately works for calm after deadly attack in South Sudan. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) releases prisoners to M23 as part of peace deal.
Bougainville President Urges Parliament to Follow Peace Process
The president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is urging PNG’s national parliament to back the 2019 referendum result, or else risk undermining the peace process, RNZ reported on August 11. The referendum was a part of the Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001, which came after Bougainville’s civil war in the 1990s. The referendum saw 97.7 per cent of respondents vote in favor of independence.
Bougainville’s president Ishmael Toroama said, “We are compelled by legal, political and moral responsibilities to respect, accept and adhere to the report and implement the framework.” He also called the national parliament’s recent position on what is calls a “non-affirming decision” a “masterpiece of bureaucratic evasion and historical revisionism.” Taroama accused the parliament’s decision of being contrary to the peace agreement.
Sudan’s Army Chief Consults About National Dialogue
Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan is consulting with civil society groups about the possibility of a national dialogue. This development comes after the country has been ravaged by a civil war since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RS).
Talks could begin as early as August, and will aim to focus on three main areas: ending the war, determining the future structure of the Sudanese state, and agreeing arrangements for a transitional period.
Political sources told Al Jazeera that consultations include proposals to drop charges punishable by death against opposition leaders, and to form a preparatory committee for the proposed conference.
UN Desperately Works for Calm After Deadly Attack in South Sudan
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is desperately working to bring calm to the country after an armed group killed over 60 people and wounded over 50 others in Warrap state on August 9. Several cattle have also been stolen.
UNMISS is now sending a long-term peacekeeping patrol to the area. Peacekeepers will assess the security situation, investigate human rights violations, and help deter further conflict. They have also added patrols to parts of eastern Upper Nile state as civilians return to their villages following intense clashes between government and opposition armed groups.
DRC Releases Prisoners to M23 as Part of Peace Deal
On August 6 and 7, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) handed back 15 prisoners to the M23 armed group as part of last year’s Qatar-mediated peace deal.
The DRC government and M23 signed a protocol on releasing detainees in September 2025. In April 2026, they agreed on a list of nearly 500 prisoners to be exchanged and set a deadline for their transfer by 28 April. On the list were 311 prisoners held by AFC/M23 who were expected to be handed over to the Congolese government, and 166 prisoners held by the DRC government who were due to be transferred to AFC/M23.
Keyword: Bougainville, Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Congo, peace, conflict conflict resolution, peacebuilding
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. 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.
