This week, Malawi’s former president to head Tanzania peace efforts following election violence. UN Security Council approves US’s Gaza peace plan. Ukraine seeks to revive peace talks.
Malawi’s Former President to Head Tanzania Peace Efforts Following Election Violence
Violence has swept through Tanzania following the country’s elections on October 29, 2025. Since the elections, there have been protests against the exclusion of opposition parties on the ballot, and the UN reports that hundreds of protesters have been killed and arrested. However, a collective of African organizations says that around 3,000 have been killed since the election.
Malawi’s former president Dr. Lazarus Chakwera will lead peace efforts in Tanzania. The Commonwealth announced on November 17 that Dr. Chakwera would undertake a four-day mission to Tanzania from November 18 to 21 as part of the organization’s Good Offices mandate. While there, he will meet with government officials, civil society groups, religious leaders, and diplomatic representatives, The Citizen reported.
The African Union (AU) says that Tanzania’s elections failed to comply with democratic standards. The AU sent a team of 72 observers from its election monitoring arm to Tanzania and Zanzibar for the October 29 elections. On November 19, the team pointed to ballot stuffing, the government-imposed internet blackout, allegations of excessive military force, and politically-motivated abductions as “compromising election integrity.”
UN Security Council Approves US’s Gaza Peace Plan
On November 17, the UN Security Council approved United States President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip. The 20-point plan includes an International Stabilization Force involving multiple countries, as well as a ‘Board of Peace’ to oversee the plan. The US has not, however, clarified which countries will be involved in these bodies. Financing for Gaza’s reconstruction will come from a trust fund backed by the world bank, according to the resolution.
Thirteen countries backed the proposal, with Russia and China abstaining, and no countries voting against the proposal.
UNWRA reports that in the last two years, almost 70,000 Palestinians have been reportedly killed in the Gaza Strip and another 170,698 have been injured. Gaza’s humanitarian situation is dire, with Gazans facing difficulties accessing food and health services.
Ukraine Seeks to Revive Peace Efforts to End War With Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Turkey on November 19 seeking to revive peace efforts to end the war with Russia. Zelensky was scheduled to attend talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, later in the day, Kyiv Post reported.
The Turkey talks are among a series of international meetings Zelensky had planned for this week, which will focus on intensifying diplomatic efforts and presenting Ukraine’s latest proposals to its partners. Zelensky says his top priorities are ending the war and securing the release of Ukrainian prisoners.
This development comes after Ukraine and Russia held three rounds of talks in Istanbul in May, June, and July 2025. Talks have stalled since then, largely due to Russia’s maximalist demands and refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
Keywords: Tanzania, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, Malawi, Trump, US
Tara Abhasakun
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.
