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South Korean Agency Joins UNDP to Tackle Extremism in Somalia

By
Peace News Staff
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A group of friends playing football in Somalia, photo by Mo Liban via Pexels.

Somalia has been embroiled in armed conflict ever since the regime of its former president Siad Barre collapsed in 1991.  Since then, various armed groups have fought for power, and the country has struggled with weak government authority. Somalia’s clan violence and rivalries have worsened the crisis. The Ireland-based NGO Concern Worldwide in 2025 ranked Somalia as the second poorest country in the world, stating that roughly 60% of Somalis live below the poverty line. Meanwhile, terrorist organizations such as Al-Shebab hold power and influence in parts of the country. 

A number of international organizations and initiatives have been working to help promote peace, stability, and development in Somalia. One South Korean agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is playing a key role in peacebuilding in Somalia. KOICA has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2006, with a strong focus on governance and peacebuilding. 

A recent joint effort is the regional program Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) in East Africa. The project began in 2024 and will continue until 2027, with a budget of US$18 million.

On September 18, 2025, the UNDP published an interview with KOICA Country Director Wankyu Park. Park spoke with Kamal Sigdel, Head of Communications at UNDP Somalia, about the Peacebuilding and PVE program. Park also discussed the connection between community-level peace efforts and national dialogue.

Park said the initiative is designed to make youth and marginalized groups more resilient against extremism through dialogue, peer-to-peer exchanges, and multimedia peace campaigns. “Importantly, women will be engaged as active leaders in peacebuilding, reflecting their unique role in reconciliation,” he added.

The program also emphasizes reintegration for those leaving extremist groups, combining psychosocial support with livelihood training to reduce the risk of re-recruitment. The program, Park said, will work to enhance early warning systems and regional cooperation for  a stronger, more cohesive East Africa.

Park stressed that success at the grassroots level feeds into broader political solutions. “In my view, higher-level mediation becomes more relevant and legitimate when it reflects real local concerns,” he said. Community dialogue and reintegration successes, he argued, demonstrate that peace is possible and help shift mindsets at the national level. Park noted that by investing in locally driven prevention, KOICA is creating platforms that connect grassroots, civil society, and national actors. This, he says, forms stronger foundations for “sustainable political settlements.”

The project is still in its early stages, but Park said it is already bearing fruit. Communities, youth and women leaders, and government institutions in Somalia are engaging in peace dialogues, while six local action plans on preventing violent extremism have been developed.

These efforts “will lead to strong local ownership that will ultimately contribute to the sustainability of the project,” Park noted, while cautioning that adapting programs through continuous community feedback remains crucial.

Somalia has often seen short-term stabilization prioritized over institution-building. Park believes the two must go hand in hand. Short-term stabilization “creates space for governance and institution-building to take root, while long-term development ensures short-term gains are not lost when donor support declines,” he said.

This, Park stressed, means investing in local governments in newly recovered areas through delivering capacity-building, budgeting, service delivery and accountability.

KOICA and UNDP are also exploring new partnerships in digital innovation and climate action. Park said Somalia offers opportunities for climate-smart livelihoods and digital solutions for inclusive service delivery. For Park, Korea’s experience of overcoming war and poverty is central to its solidarity with Somalia. “Korea knows from its own history what it means to overcome hardship through resilience and partnership,” he said.

In August 2024, Peace News Network (PNN) published an article about efforts to build peace amidst clan violence in the Somali city of Galkayo. To read the article, click here.

Keywords: Somalia, South Korea, Korea, peace, extremism, preventing, peacebuilding, conflict, conflict resolution, Somali

This Week in Peace #99: September 26

By
Tara Abhasakun
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The flag of South Sudan's Upper Nile State. Photo by Vexella Mundi via Wikipedia.

This week, on International Day of Peace, UN chief calls for end to wars everywhere. South Sudan’s fragile peace continues to rupture. Trump’s Gaza peace plan. 

On International Day of Peace, UN Chief Calls for End to Wars Everywhere

September 21 marked Internaional Day of Peace. UN Secretary-General António Guterres commemorated the day by stating that the “warring world” is “crying out for peace.” Guterres said, “We must silence the guns. End the suffering. Build bridges. And create stability and prosperity.”

International Day of Peace, established in 1981, has a different theme each year. This year, the theme is “act now for a peaceful world,” encouraging collective action to fight hatred and misinformation and support peacebuilders, particularly women and youth. 

Guterres’s remarks come in the midst of several major conflicts across the globe including in Israel and Palestine, Ukraine and Russia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Thailand and Cambodia, and more. 

Guterres stressed the relationship between development and peace, noting that nine of the ten countries struggling most with development are also suffering conflict. 

South Sudan’s Fragile Peace Continues to Rupture

South Sudan’s fragile peace is continuing to rupture amidst conflict between government and opposition forces. On September 21, at least 48 people were killed and over 152 injured in fighting between South Sudan’s army and opposition forces in Burebiey. 

The fighting began on September 20 when the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) attacked a base belonging to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Upper Nile State Governor James Koang told local outlet Eye Radio. 

The government claimed that, according to reports they received, more than 48 members of the SPLM-IO and the allied White Army militia were killed and over 148 injured, while the SSPDF suffered no deaths and only four soldiers were injured. Koang called for calm, and for the opposition forces to stop attacking the SSPDF.

South Sudan experienced a civil war in 2013 which killed over 400,000 people. Despite a peace agreement signed in 2018, Amnesty International on May 28 reported that violence had killed 180 people between March and mid-April amid deepening divisions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. In September 2025, Machar was charged with treason, murder, and crimes against humanity. A trial over the allegations has begun.

Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

On September 23, US President Donald Trump presented a 21-point peace plan for Gaza to Arab leaders. In addition to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire, the plan also includes a framework for how Gaza can be governed without Hamas and included a proposal for Israel gradually withdrawing from the Gaza strip, a source told CNN. 

Other points in the plan included: no annexation of the West Bank by Israel, maintaining the current status quo for Jerusalem, ending the war in Gaza and bringing back all the hostages held by Hamas, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and addressing Israeli’s illegal settlements. 

A diplomat described the meeting as “super useful,” and the Arab leaders agreed to meet again with Trump to address the ongoing process. One European diplomat said the plan could prevent Israel from further annexing the West Bank.

Keywords: United Nations, Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Trump, South Sudan, peace, conflict, conflict resolution

UN-Developed Network Supports Youth Peacebuilding in Ethiopia

By
Tara Abhasakun
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Ethiopian boy, photo via Pexels.

The Ethiopian Peacebuilding Network, established by the United Nations (UN), is a multi-stakeholder, open platform made up of non-governmental organizations, civil society, UN agencies, and development partners. The United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) says this network is a part of “supporting the Ethiopian government in taking meaningful steps to ensure young people are at the heart of peacebuilding initiatives.”

Ethiopia has a complex history of various political and ethnic conflicts, notably the Tigray War from 2020 to 2022, and the ongoing War in Amhara which began in 2023. Both of these conflicts involve regional groups challenging the central government’s authority. 

Over 75 percent of Ethiopia’s population is under the age of 30, according to the UNSDG. Therefore, Ethiopian youth have “immense power” to shape the country’s future, it says. 

In July 2025, the UNSDG reported that under the umbrella of the Ethiopian Peacebuilding Network, youth, peace and security networks had been established at both national and local levels, creating spaces for young leaders. The country’s Ministry of Women and Social Affairs is now leading a movement to lay the groundwork for developing a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.

In schools, peace clubs are training youth to mediate and de-escalate conflicts. Nearly 300 youth peacebuilders in Asosa and Gambella were trained in conflict mediation with the UN Refugees Agency’s (UNHCR) Peacebuilding Manual, under the Regional Youth Peacebuilding Programme. These youth have already taught their skills to over 1,000 of their peers. 

Meanwhile, Government institutions, civil society organizations, and international agencies are now being trained in youth, peace, and security studies, which have been carried out to incoporate these issues into Ethiopia’s peacebuilding efforts. 

In June 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that many youth remain on the margins of decision-making processes. Instability and limited economic opportunities, the UNDP said, have left many young people vulnerable. For these youth, peace means not only an end to violence, but access to education, quality jobs, fair representation, and a life of dignity and security. 

The UNDP noted that it is also important to address gender disparities for young women through “deliberate, gender-sensitive policies and programs.” 

Another issue to address in youth peacebuilding in Ethiopia is social media. The UNDP stresses that while social media can help build connnection and expose young Ethiopians to the world, it can also spread divisive narratives and worsen ethnic tensions. The institution recommends finding ways to promote positive and responsible use of digital platforms by youth.

In June 2024, Peace News Network (PNN) published an article about bottom-up peacebuilding in Ethiopia. Megersa Tolera argued that open and inclusive dialogue, which brings together various stakeholders, would help to empower local mediation and reconciliation efforts. Engaging communities and local leaders, he said, can lead to change at the grassroots level. Traditional and religious leaders can help to spread messages of peace and tolerance, while cultural exchange programs, joint projects, and educational initiatives can help build trust, understanding, and peace between communities.  Encouraging the participation of marginalized groups, especially women and youth, is also essential. To read the full article, click here.

Keywords: Ethiopia, Ethiopian, Ethiopian Peacebuilding Network, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, youth, youth peacebuilding

Pakistani Youth Stand Up to Terrorism With Youth Peace Champions Workshops

By
Tara Abhasakun
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Islamabad skyline, photo via Wikipedia.

Pakistan’s authorities struggle to control the country’s issues with terrorism, extremism, and religious violence. Studies from recent years have shown that Pakistani authorities, particularly in rural areas, act under pressure from extremist groups or fail to respond altogether.

Despite Pakistan’s struggles with terrorism and radicalization, youth in the country are standing up for peace. In August 2025, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), with support from the European Union (EU), collaborated to organize a four-day Youth Peace Champions (YPCs) training workshop in Islamabad. The workshop sought to empower young leaders with the skills to counter terrorism with communication, psychosocial support, and storytelling.

Forty youth leaders from across the country took part in interactive sessions teaching them to build communication skills and resilience, as well as how to promote community cohesion in areas hit by extremism and terror. Of the 40 youth who participated, 23 were women. 

The trainings opened with welcome remarks by UNODC and NACTA officials, who discussed the importance of youth in fostering resilient communities. The youth learned about the science of communication, exploring how mind, body, and health interact in dialogue. They also participated in mindfulness, mediation, and perspective-taking exercises.

The youth leaders studied how storytelling can be an impactful tool for peacebuilding. They then co-designed storytelling missions that they will bring to enhance peace and social cohesion within their communities.

Other exercises focused on role-playing and body mapping. These exercises taught the youth how to support peers impacted by terrorism.

The workshop ended with a community storytelling showcase, where participants presented group projects, showing how communication and narrative practices can combat violence and “rebuild social harmony,” the UNODC Pakistan reported. 

The workshop was part of the project Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan (CPTP). The project’s three components are: A. strengthening the capacity of criminal justice institutions; B. strengthening victim support through an effective legal system; and C. fostering community engagement via developing sustainable networks.

Despite the dangers, brave Pakistanis have spoken out for peace and against terrorism. In May 2025, Pakistan’s city of Narowal, located near the Indian border, was the scene of an important peace initiative, the Narowal Peace Dialogue Forum. Religious scholars, eduactors, media professionals, and policymakers gathered under the banner “Rejecting Hate, Rebuilding Peace.” This grassroots forum took place on the anniversary of the 2018 assassination attempt on Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, who survived being shot during a gathering.

In his op-ed for The News International, Minister Iqbal said that Pakistan “stands at a crossroads,” and the forum aimed to “transform pain into purpose.” He added that children will now grow up learning that “disagreement is not enmity,” and that diversity is a strength, rather than a threat. Iqbal said that educational curriculum reform would include lessons on tolerance, civic responsibility, and the shared history of diverse groups.

In February 2025, the UNODC Pakistan, with support from Canada, organized a three-day training session on countering internet terrorism. Experts shared views on terrorist attack cycles, apps preferred by extremists, and case studies. Participants learned about tools such as advanced Google searching techniques that enabled people to discover sensitive internet information, capture essential security files, and explore vulnerabilities in systems.

Keywords: Pakistan, Pakistani, youth, peacebuilding, terrorism, conflict, conflict resolution, peace

The Push for Gender-Inclusive Peacebuilding in Kenya

By
Tara Abhasakun
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A woman in Nairobi, Kenya, photo by Jimmy Jimmy via Pexels.

For decades, Kenya has experienced ethnic and political conflicts, as well as terrorism in more recent years. From 2007 to 2008, the the country experienced post-election violence known as the Kenyan Crisis, which led to ethnic violence that killed up to 1,400 people. Ethnic and political tensions continue to impact Kenya to this day, along with terrorism from groups such as Al-Shabaab.

Kenyan women have played a vital role in peace processes, and authorities in the regional body the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are pushing for increasingly gender-inclusive peacebuilding in its East African members states including Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda . 

In July 2025, IGAD organized a three-day regional workshop on women’s involvement in peace processes in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi. The workshop focused on the UN resolution UNSCR 1325, which addresses the impact of war on women, and the importance of women’s participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The event gathered women peacebuilders from across the region. It also welcomed national stakeholders and regional experts.

The event aimed to ”assess progress, share innovative approaches, and develop practical recommendations to ensure women’s leadership and influence in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts,” IGAD reported. It also served as a platform for reflection on the barriers to women’s inclusion and leadership in formal negotiations and decision-making processes.

Amina Farah, IGAD’s gender program manager, delivered welcome remarks, stressing the crucial role of women’s full participation in peace processes as part of the momentum across the world created by UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions.

Opening sessions looked at an overview of UNSCR 1325 and its related resolutions. Attendees discussed IGAD’s Regional Gender Strategy 2023–2030, as well as its Peace and Security Strategy. At the end of the day, women mediators from the IGAD region shared their experiences on both the challenges and achievements in women’s inclusion in peace processes.

On the second day, discussions highlighted regional and international good practices that have effectively promoted women’s participation in peacebuilding. Attendees particularly focused on grassroots and civil society contributions. Other topics included institutional coordination mechanisms, highlighting the roles of gender ministries, national steering committees, and peace and security actors. The activities concluded with group work on the role of women mediators and peacebuilders within the IGAD region.

On the third day, attendees worked together on the development of a Regional Roadmap meant to strengthen women’s meaningful involvement in peace processes.

Some results of the event included: A validated draft of the Regional Roadmap on Women’s Engagement in Peace Processes; consolidated recommendations for enhancing institutional coordination on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS); and strengthened networks among IGAD mediators, women leaders, and regional actors.

Kenyan women have played important roles in leading dialogues between warring ethnic groups. In 2014, women led community dialogues in Kisumu and Nandi between groups that had halted trade with one another. These dialogues involved state security actors and religious leaders as well. 

Still, more remains to be accomplished on gender-inclusive peacebuilding in Kenya and other East African countries. Women who lead such dialogues often battle with patriarchal cultural norms in their communities in which women are marginalized and excluded from conversations about peace.

At the IGAD Regional Forum for Eminent Personalities and Leaders for Peace, also in July 2025, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, called on IGAD to institutionalize the inclusion of women and youth in regional peace processes. 

Cheptumo cited Kenya’s 2019 National Policy on Gender and Development, which has helped make gender equality more mainstream across political, economic, and security sectors. On women’s role in building trust and reconciliation during Kenya’s post-election recovery, Cheptumo said, as quoted in KBC, “These women-led interventions are textbook examples of how collective wisdom, grounded in community trust, can prevent future conflicts.”

Keywords: Kenya, Kenyan, women, Kenyan women, gender equality, peace, peacebuilding, conflict, conflict resolution, women peacebuilders

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