This week, African Union (AU) holds meeting to review Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) peace mediation. South Sudanese youth lead “Hear Us Now, Act Now” campaign for peace. Hopes for peace drift further away as Pakistan strikes Afghanistan.
African Union Holds Meeting to Review DRC Peace Mediation
On June 7, the African Union (AU) held a meeting in Lome, Togo, to review peace mediation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The two-day meeting gathered key stakeholders in the AU-led facilitation process, MedAfrica reported.
This development follows another meeting in Lome held in January. The June 7 meeting revolved around implementing previous recommendations, and obstacles to the peace process in conflicted areas of DRC.
Attendees stressed the importance of continued collective action by African countries, the AU, and international partners, to achieve peace and reconciliation.
After the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is urging an immediate ceasefire in the country’s conflict-devastated eastern region. Despite being under government control, insecurity is worsening in eastern DRC’s Ituri province, with the UN humanitarian office reporting nearly 1 million displaced in the province.
South Sudanese Youth Lead ‘Hear Us Now, Act Now’ Campaign for Peace
Amidst an uptick in violence, South Sudanese youth are leading a new UN initiative called “Hear Us Now, Act Now for a Peaceful World.” The initiative aims to amplify the voices of young people on issues impacting them and their communities including conflict, limited access to education, economic opportunities, and leadership roles. The initiative has now spread to most of South Sudan’s states.
Thousands attended the initiative’s launch event in Wau, including authorities, chiefs, women, media, artists, forces, civil society, and religious figures. Several South Sudanese musicians performed at the event. Stakeholders, including South Sudanese elites, warmly welcomed the initiative.
Progress has stalled on implementing South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalized Agreement. The agreement includes five key points, which are: security-sector reform; the formation of unified forces; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; arms and ammunition management; and efforts to address conflict-related sexual violence.
A global outcry is taking place now that South Sudan’s president unilaterally made changes to the agreementl. On May 19, the embassies of Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and the United States released a joint statement urging South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit immediately return to dialogue.
Pakistan Strikes Afghanistan Amidst International Peace Efforts
Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan on June 10, causing hopes for peace to drift further away. Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said 13 people, including 11 children, one woman, and an elderly man, were killed, Associated Press reported.
Pakistan said it targeted militant hideouts and infrastructure linked to recent attacks inside Pakistan, and that it killed 26 militants.
This development comes after other countries have tried to negotiate peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In April, the two countries confirmed they were holding talks in Urumqi, China, in an attempt to secure a ceasefire.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban in Afghanistan of harboring militants who attack Pakistan. Meanwhile, Afghan officials claim that that Pakistan harbours hostile groups and does not respect its sovereignty, RTL Today reports. The UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Afghanistan posted on X on April 7 that the conflict had displaced 94,000 people.
Keywords: DRC, Congo, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Sudan, peace, ceasefire, efforts, African Union, AU, conflict, conflict resolution
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.
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