Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly summary of events in global peacebuilding. 

For the first edition of 2024, we cover events in Gaza, Sudan, Mali, and the Horn of Africa. 

This series is also a weekly newsletter! You can sign up here to get future editions directly every week, and stay up to date on peacebuilding around the world. 

International focus on peace in Gaza

The new year did not bring an end to the war in Gaza. The monthslong conflict continues, with over 20,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed by Israeli airstrikes. Palestinians face an ongoing humanitarian crisis that has displaced nearly 2 million people, many of whom do not have regular access to food or medical care. Further complicating the outlook for peace is recent polls showing that a large majority of Israelis support the war, and a similar proportion of Palestinians support the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. However, there is hope for a long-term peaceful solution, shared by many peace activists and former international diplomats. The scale and brutality of the war, and the attack that began it, has drawn international attention to the crisis, and led to broad consensus that a postwar solution must include a separate and independent Palestinian state. The role of international actors will be crucial in promoting a peaceful resolution to the wider conflict, and help to ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians can live their lives in peace. 

You can read our past articles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here, as well as our recent video on peacebuilders working in Israel and the West Bank. 

An opening for peace in Sudan?

In a positive sign for the possibility of peace in Sudan, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, recently announced that it would consider an immediate ceasefire with the Sudanese military. Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has led the RSF in a monthslong civil war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), for control of the country. The RSF, which recently announced a joint declaration with a civilian group, has been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the Darfur region. A peaceful end to the destructive conflict is necessary, as millions of Sudanese have been displaced by the fighting, which has divided the country and the capital of Khartoum. While there is reason to doubt the RSF’s commitment to peace given it’s actions in the current war and in past conflicts, an immediate ceasefire is desperately needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis from worsening, and this statement could present an opening for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 

You can find our past stories on Sudan here. 

Mali faces an uncertain future

Tuareg separatist forces in Mali rejected calls to engage in peace talks with the military government. Colonel Assimi Goita, the leader of the military junta that has ruled Mali since a 2020 coup, announced the creation of a national dialogue intended to resolve conflicts throughout the country. A 2015 peace accord between the government and Tuareg groups fell apart last year, while UN peacekeepers and French troops withdrew from the country. The rebels have suffered some recent losses, but continue to fight. Mali also faces an ongoing insurgency by jihadist groups, and a return to peaceful relations between the central government and Tuareg group is needed to prevent further violence. 

You can read our past stories on Mali here. 

Ethiopia avoids another conflict in the Horn of Africa

Ethiopia recently reached an agreement with the self-declared state of Somaliland to grant diplomatic recognition in exchange for access to a Red Sea port.  This is a victory for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and for peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Abiy’s recent rhetoric regarding Eritrean ports used by Ethiopia had raised fears of a military conflict between the two longtime rivals, who recently fought together against separatists in Tigray in a brutal war. While Somaliland is functionally autonomous, its independence is not recognized by Somalia, and this move could destabilize the region. However, the end of the threat of war between Ethiopia, the largest country on the Horn of Africa, and Eritrea, ruled by a highly militarized and repressive regime, is a positive development for peace in the region. Further diplomatic engagement to resolve issues such as the status of Somaliland is necessary to prevent future conflicts. 
You can find past Peace News stories on Ethiopia here.

Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly summary of events in global peacebuilding. 

This week, we continue to cover peace negotiations aiming to implement a ceasefire in Gaza. Russia continues to reject a negotiated peace in Ukraine, and Venezuela and the US exchanged prisoners as part of an agreement to reduce tensions and promote peace., 

We now offer this series as a weekly newsletter! You can sign up here to get future editions directly every week, and stay up to date on peacebuilding around the world. 

No progress on a ceasefire in Gaza 

Talks are ongoing in Cairo and New York to find an agreement to implement a ceasefire, or at least implement long pauses, in the fighting in Gaza. Israel and Hamas remain at odds about what the criteria should be for a complete ceasefire. However, some progress has been made in talks aimed at freeing some hostages still held by Hamas, and in allowing more aid to reach Gaza, where an escalating humanitarian crisis continues amid Israel’s ongoing military operation. As Gaza’s medical system continues to experience extreme strain, an increase in aid and an end, or a pause, in the violence can save lives and prevent the crisis from worsening. In a positive sign for a post-war resumption of the peace process, a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated for the first time that Israel could be open to the Palestinian Authority playing a role in governing Gaza. Whatever post-war solution takes shape, it is essential that a lasting peaceful resolution is found, which can meet the needs of both sides – Palestinian self-determination and Israeli security – without infringing on the rights of the other. Most important in the short-term, however, is ending the violence in Gaza, preventing further Palestinian civilian casualties, and releasing the remaining hostages. P

We recently published a video on organizations working to build peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. You can also check out our past and future stories on Israel and Palestine are available here. 

Russia rejects peace in Ukraine

Russian president Vladimir Putin has ruled out peace negotiations with Ukraine, insisting that Russia’s war will only stop once it has achieved its objectives. As we approach the two-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s goals remain the same as they were in February 2022 – the “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine – essentially calling for Kyiv’s unconditional surrender. As long as Russia and Putin refuse to compromise, peace appears unlikely, as Ukraine will not agree to a peace that would essentially deprive it of its sovereignty, and Russia will not positively engage in peace talks. A change in approach from Moscow is necessary to prevent further bloodshed in a war that has seen civilians targeted, mass mobilizations on both sides, and caused economic hardship across the world. 

You can find our past stories on Ukraine here, and we will continue to cover this conflict and any further developments in the peace process.  

Venezuela and the US find common ground

Venezuela and the United States conducted a prisoner exchange, with 10 imprisoned Americans released, and one wanted criminal extradited, in exchange for the release of Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Maduro also released 20 political prisoners, in line with a previous agreement with the US. That previous deal had involved the lifting of sanctions in exchange for the release of the prisoners and a commitment to free elections next year. Whether or not that will take place remains to be seen. The deadline for the prisoner release was missed, arrest warrants were issued for aides to the opposition’s presidential candidate, and a member of the opposition’s organizing commission was arrested on treason charges, although he was released and the warrants were suspended following this latest exchange. Continued diplomatic engagement on both sides is essential to a peaceful future to Venezuela, which has dealt with high crime, government repression, and consistent political and economic turmoil for close to a decade. Peaceful relations with the US, which has supported various attempts to overthrow Maduro, will be crucial to that effort. 

You can read our past stories on Venezuela here. 

Welcome back to This Week in Peace, our weekly summary of events in global peacebuilding. 

This week, international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza continues to grow. The conflict continues to threaten peace throughout the entire region, as the peace process in Yemen grows increasingly strained. Armenia and Azerbaijan took positive steps towards a peace treaty that could prevent further conflict in the Caucasus. And Myanmar’s military government participated in Chinese-mediated peace talks with rebel groups, which could help to end the country’s long civil war. 

In case you missed it, we are now offering this series as a newsletter! You can sign up here to get future editions directly every week, and stay up to date on peacebuilding around the world. 

International pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza

Israel continues to reject international calls to pause or end its military operation in Gaza, where over 1.8 million Palestinians have been displaced and over 18,000 estimated to have been killed. According to the UN, the healthcare system has collapsed, and there is growing concern over the spread of infectious diseases. The UN General Assembly voted this week to call for an immediate ceasefire, with only 10 countries voting against. There is broad international consensus that the end of the war must lead to a renewed peace process and a full Palestinian state, an aim endorsed even by strong supporters of Israel, including U.S. President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron. Urgent action is needed to prevent further suffering in Gaza, and continued international pressure is necessary to help to find a long-term solution once the fighting ends. 

We recently published a video on the long-term prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which you can see here. You can also check out our past and future stories on Israel and Palestine are available here. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to an exchange of prisoners of war this week, in a further step towards a lasting peace between the two rivals. Azerbaijan’s September takeover of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the ensuing exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians, led to fears that another full-scale war between the two neighbors could take place. Since then, discussions on a peace treaty and the normalization of relations have been troubled and marred by mutual distrust. This latest development, accompanied by progress in talks hosted in iran, is a positive sign that boosts hopes of a future peaceful relationship between the two rivals. The normalization of relations, and a formal peace treaty, will help to officially end one of Europe’s most destructive and enduring conflicts. 

You can read our story on the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh here, as well as our past stories on the region. 

Yemen

In Yemen, the Houthis, an Iranian-allied rebel group that controls much of the country, have continued their attacks on ships in the Red Sea, endangering a peace plan with Saudi Arabia, their most prominent opponent. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, the Houthis have launched missiles at Israel and attacked shipping they believe is tied to the country, hijacking some merchant vessels and launching missiles at others. American and French warships have attempted to protect ships in the area, sometimes coming under attack themselves. There is some pressure in the US to designate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, which would further complicate the peace process. In a positive sign for peace, talks to create a multinational force to protect shipping in the Red Sea may lead to cooperation between the US and China. 

You can read our past stories on Yemen here. 

Myanmar

In Myanmar, the military government announced that they had participated in Chinese-brokered talks with an alliance of rebel armed groups, who launched a major offensive in October 2023. The fighting, which poses a serious threat to the junta that has ruled outright since a 2021 coup, has spread to over two-thirds of the country, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. None of the involved parties provided a great deal of public information about the meeting, although there are hopes that further talks could come within the next month. The Three Brotherhood Alliance, made up of a number of armed groups, many of which draw support from ethnic minorities near the Chinese border, reaffirmed that they aimed to overthrow the junta, even after the military publicized the talks. China remains positive relations with both sides, and could act as a mediator in future talks, which could prevent further civilian suffering in a country that has been under brutal military rule for much of its existence, and where minority groups like the Rohingya have experienced significant state-sanctioned discrimination and oppression. 
Peace News has written stories on Myanmar  in the past, and will continue to cover further developments.