Welcome to this week’s edition of This Week in Peace, where we highlight recent events in global peacebuilding.
This week, we highlight positive developments in Sudan, where the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have agreed to return to talks in hopes of ending a destructive months-long civil war. We continue to cover the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and international efforts to protect civilians and encourage a post-war peace process. Armenia and Azerbaijan are close to a peace treaty, which could end decades of conflict between the two nations. And finally, Venezuela and the United States announced an agreement which could help reduce tensions and lead to an open, democratic 2024 election.
Sudan
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to return to peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The talks are brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia, and will involve representatives of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional group led by Kenya. As the war enters its seventh month, the United Nations estimates that 9,000 people have been killed during the fighting. The fighting has displaced ore than 5.6 million Sudanese in what the UN calls the “largest internal displacement in the world”. A return to peace talks is a positive development, as an end to the fighting is desperately needed as fears persist of renewed crimes against humanity in the Darfur region.
You can read past Peace News stories on Sudan here. A previous edition of This Week in Peace also covered the potential for peace talks in Sudan.
Israel-Palestine
Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis inside the besieged territory has drawn global attention. Over 1.4 million people have been displaced, with over 6,000 reportedly killed. The medical system is nearing collapse, and a lack of fuel is endangering aid convoys intended to alleviate shortages of water, medicine, and other crucial item Amid doubts about Israel’s long-term plan for its war against Hamas, even its most vocal allies have been emphasizing the importance of a lasting peace in the region.
U.S. President Joe Biden, who has vocally supported Israel since the October 7 attacks, recently publicly called for a two-state post-war solution. Biden emphasized the need for a future Palestinian state to ensure peace following the end of the war, drew a firm distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people, and condemned attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. While the U.S. continues to supply Israel with its military aid and supports its offensive in Gaza, this shift in tone reflects growing concern over civilian casualties. Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve peace and security, and international peacebuilding efforts will be crucial in renewing the peace process.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited Israel and the West Bank, and spoke about the need to protect civilians and restart the peace process. France, another close ally of Israel, is sending a ship from its navy to support medical care in Gaza, as well as a plane full of medical supplies. Leaders from Arab States, Europe, and Africa attended a peace summit in Cairo this week. Although the the U.S. and Israel did not attend and the summit failed to agree a joint statement, the messages from all leaders in attendance reflected the broad global support for peace and protection of civilians.
You can read more of our coverage of this topic here. Keep an eye out for future Peace News stories covering peacebuilding in the region.
Armenia-Azerbaijan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this week that he hopes to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan in the coming months. Pashinyan unveiled a “Crossroads for Peace” plan which would open transport connections between the two former Soviet republics. The two countries have fought two wars over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, home until recently to an unrecognized breakaway republic. In September, Azerbaijan invaded and occupied the region, which led to a massive exodus of Armenians. Azerbaijan has denied speculation that it aimed to attack Armenia to capture the Zangezur corridor which separates Azerbaijan and its exclave of Nakhchivan. Azerbaijani officials also echoed Pashinyan’s optimism about an eventual peace deal.
Peace News recently published an article on the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. You can also read our past coverage of this conflict here.
Venezuela
Venezuela and the United States recently announced a deal to ease U.S. sanctions in exchange for a free and fair election next year. The deal would include the presence of international observers, and the participation of all qualified candidates. Tensions have been high between the two states in recent years, especially since Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro won reelection in 2018 in an election widely seen as rigged. Widespread unrest has been met with a harsh government response, including the detention and disqualification of political opponents.
The deal is a positive step towards reducing tensions in the region, and towards a peaceful future for Venezuela, which has dealt with an economic crisis, political violence, and massive emigration in recent years. Following the announcement of the deal, the opposition held a presidential primary to select a candidate. The winner, Maria Corina Machado, is currently banned from running for office, and concern that the deal could be short-lived grew after the government announced an investigation into the primary. However, Venezuela released five political prisoners, and there are hopes more could be freed in the near future.
Read our past coverage of Venezuela here. In 2022, we published an article on post-sanctions peacebuilding, which discussed American sanctions on Venezuela.
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