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PEACE & SECURITY REPORT
IPSI's Peace & Security Report (PSR) is a concise weekly e-publication intended to keep busy students, academics, advocates, and practitioners in the conflict management community briefed on pertinent global news, events, and trends. Meticulously researched and written by IPSI, the PSR empowers us all to take a step back from our immediate deadlines each Friday and gain a greater understanding of the week's global events. |
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Featured Article
AlertNet 
Accelerating climate change and competition for limited supplies of water, food and energy are poised to ignite long-simmering conflicts in fragile states, monopolising the world's military resources and hampering development efforts, security experts say.
Defusing these new 21st century conflicts - or at least preparing governments and citizens to cope with them - will require a broad range of innovative interventions, a gathering at Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) heard earlier this month.
Mitigation measures include borrowing business risk-management strategies, getting military officials to talk publicly about the constraints they face, building capable institutions in unstable countries, and ensuring billions in climate aid go to the right places and aren't lost to corruption, experts said. Read Full Article >> |
Africa
IVORY COAST: Forces clash in Abidjan
Fighting broke out this Wednesday in Abidjan when forces loyal to newly instated President Ouattara attacked the "Invisible Commandos" militia, a group led by Ibrahim Coulibaly, who aided Ouattara in gaining control of parts of Abidjan two weeks ago from pro-Gbagbo forces. The Associated Press suggests the clashes could be due to a simmering rivalry between PM Guillaume Soro and Coulibaly, which began in 2004 as they battled for leadership in the rebels' stronghold in the central city of Bouake. Comment: Uniting the disparate armed forces that helped him overthrow former president Gbagbo will be a major challenge for President Ouattara. On Wednesday, the government announced a criminal investigation into Gbagbo, his wife, and 100 other close associates over alleged human rights abuses. The International Criminal Court also launched a preliminary investigation into crimes committed by both sides. (BBC, AP, VOA)RWANDA: Rwanda bans exports of Congo conflict area minerals On Wednesday, the Rwandan government declared a ban on the sale of minerals from conflict areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in compliance with the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act requiring minerals to be certified conflict-free. The conflict minerals include tin, gold, tantalum, and tungsten (used in electronic products such as phones and laptops). Global Witness, a watchdog organization, reported in March 2011 that Rwanda is an exit route and laundering zone for conflict minerals, although government officials denied the allegations. Comment: Although the Dodd-Frank Act was passed and signed last year, it has not been implemented; on April 12, without any explanation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission postponed the adoption of rules to between August and December. The delay sharpened the divide between advocates of the legislation and high-tech manufacturers. (Reuters, New Times, VOA)
SUDAN: South Sudan clashes kill 165
Officials in Southern Sudan reported Monday that 165 people were killed in fighting during the past week between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and two separate rebel militias. According to SPLA officials, the forces led by Gabriel Tanginya surrendered late Sunday after a battle left 65 dead. More than 100 people died in separate clashes in the last several days between soldiers and a rebel group led by former general Peter Gadet. Comment: Hundreds have died in the fighting throughout Southern Sudan since January when the region voted to split from the north. Southern leaders have accused the north of backing rebellions to destabilize the region ahead of independence in July. The two sides have to negotiate the fate of the Abyei area on the north-south border; this week, south Sudan drafted a constitution that claims Abyei, while Bashir says Abyei belongs to north. (Reuters, Sudan Tribune, Sudan.net)
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Americas
GUATEMALA: Wanted drug lord captured
Tuesday, the Guatemalan National Police arrested Waldemar Lorenzana, a 71-year-old Guatemalan believed to be behind a large drug smuggling operation that traffics cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. for the Sinaloa Cartel. The investigation and eventual capture was carried out with the assistance of agents from the FBI and DEA. Mr. Lorenzana, wanted by the U.S. government since 2009, is likely to face extradition. Comment: In April 2010, the U.S. Treasury placed Mr. Lorenzana and his sons Eliu and Haroldo on a list of alleged drug kingpins. The U.S. is still offering $200,000 for information leading to the arrest of Mr. Lorenzana's two sons. (Reuters, Miami Herald, BBC)
MEXICO: Nearly 300 bodies found in mass graves in April
This month, 279 murder victims have been discovered in mass graves in northern Mexico. The graves are located in two states, Tamaulipas and Durango. The Mexican government blames Los Zetas for the Tamaulipas graves, but has yet to determine which gang is responsible for the graves in Durango. Comment: The excavations are ongoing but underline the violence of the drug war. The U.S. has expanded its travel warning, advising citizens to avoid non-essential travel to areas with high levels of drug-related violence, including Tamaulipas. (Reuters, AP, AFP)
VENEZUELA: Chavez meets with Libyan officials
President Chavez met with Libyan officials earlier this week to discuss peaceful options to end the conflict in Libya. Details regarding the delegation sent by Gaddafi are unclear, but their mission is to determine a non-violent solution to end the conflict in Libya. Chavez has called the bombings in Libya "madness" and blamed them on the U.S.'s desire for Libya's water and oil. Comment: Chavez, along with leaders from Cuba, Bolivia, and Nicaragua, has been critical of NATO's intervention in Libya. As early as February, he suggested the formation of a peace commission to aid in negotiation between the government and rebels, but this idea failed to gain international support. (AP, Reuters, The Guardian)
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East Asia
THAILAND: Government shuts down 13 opposition-linked radio stations
Thai authorities shut down operations at 13 radio stations linked to the opposition "Yellow Shirts," a political movement comprised mostly of urban and rural working class Thais. Authorities say the radio stations were shut down at the request of telecommunications officials who accused the stations of operating without licenses. Opposition leaders accused the government of attempting to silent dissent just months before expected parliamentary elections in July. Comment: Political tension in Thailand is rising in anticipation of summer elections. Yellow Shirt candidates seek to reclaim the government after being overthrown in a military coup by the rival Red Shirts, comprised of urban middle and upper class Thais, took to the streets. (BBC, CNN, Herald Sun)THAILAND/CAMBODIA: Truce reached on Thai-Cambodia border after renewed fighting The governments of Thailand and Cambodia announced a truce on Thursday after seven days of renewed violence around two temples in a disputed border area. It is unclear what started the new round of violence, but both sides have blamed the other for firing first. An Indonesian-brokered peace deal was reached after the previous round of violence in March, but Indonesian border monitors never deployed to the disputed region due to objections from the Thai military. Thursday's truce was reached after direct talks between the two militaries; senior level government talks are possible at a regional meeting next month. At least 15 people died in clashes in recent months and thousands more were forced from their villages. Comment: The land border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated, and rising nationalism in both countries has contributed to heightened cross-border tensions. (Bangkok Post, Pattaya Post, BBC)
TIBET AUTONMOUS REGION: Government in exile elects new political leader
Tibetans from all over the world participated in a vote Wednesday for a new prime minister to head the government in exile after the Dalai Lama relinquished his political leadership role last month. Lobsang Sangay, a noted Harvard legal scholar, received 55 percent of the vote, beating two other candidates for the post. In May, Tibetan representatives will meet to discuss the Dalai Lama's transition from power and recommendations, including Sangay's election as Prime Minister, will be sent to the exile parliament for ratification. Comment: The Dalai Lama's political power transition is likely to anger China who considers the Tibetan leader a separatist. The Dalai Lama mentioned in the past that he may pursue an alternate approach to Tibetan leadership succession, largely in order to preempt Chinese efforts to undermine future Tibetan leadership. (Indian Express, The Times of India, Reuters)
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| Europe & Central Asia
BELARUS: Opposition leader sentenced to two years in prison for organizing rally
On Wednesday, Belarus shut down two independent newspapers in response to their printed suspicions that the government was behind the April 11 Minsk subway bombings. In addition, opposition leader Dmitry Bondarenko was found guilty of organizing an election-night rally in December protesting the results of the vote that extended the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. Comment: Seven opposition figures have already been sentenced to jail terms of two to four years for their parts in the protest; 10 more, including presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, are still on trial. Lukashenko has been called Europe's last remaining dictator, and the December 2010 elections have been labeled as a failure by election monitors. (BBC, TVR, AFP)
FRANCE/ITALY: French and Italian officials seek tighter border control measures
In a joint letter to the European Commission on April 26, France and Italy requested changes to the Schengen Agreement. The two countries called on the European Union to "examine the possibility of temporarily establishing internal border controls in the case of exceptional difficulties in handling common external borders, on the basis of conditions to be defined in the future." Under current regulations, the European country where immigrants first arrive is responsible for determining their legal status. France and Italy also called for a unified definition of asylum seekers, as each country has their own standards. Comment: Analysts said it was highly unlikely that the European Union would revise the Schengen agreement, and many said the joint request appeared to be aimed more at reducing political tensions between and within the two countries. France and Italy have been at odds over travel rights of North African refugees who hold Italian visas and, under the Schengen Agreement, should be able to move freely between member nations. (BBC, AP, Deutsche Welle)
RUSSIA: Al Qaeda militant killed in North Caucasus
Russian security forces killed an Arab militant they say is al Qaeda's top emissary to an Islamist insurgency in Russia's North Caucasus region, Russian news agencies said Friday. Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee said Khaled Yusef Mukhammed al Emirat was among its most wanted insurgents and participated in the planning of nearly all the suicide bomb attacks in Russia in recent years. Comment: The committee said al Emirat had been competing with local insurgent leader Doku Umarov for power. Since the Domodedovo bombings in January, Russia has cracked down on the Islamic insurgency in the North Caucasus. (CNN, RIA Novosti, AFP)
Researched/Written by Daniel Pechtol |
Middle East & North Africa
LIBYA: NATO warplanes defend rebel-held city of Misrata
On Tuesday night, NATO warplanes bombarded forces loyal to Gaddafi attacking the rebel-held city of Misrata. According to the EU commissioner for humanitarian aid, the shelling of the Misrata port continues to worsen. The lines of delivery for food, medical supplies, and other relief efforts are currently severed, making it impossible for humanitarian workers to evacuate the wounded and civilians by sea. Comment: The battle for Misrata is considered the focal point of the uprising against Gaddafi's regime. A UN team arrived in Tripoli on Wednesday to investigate allegations of human rights violations by government forces; the Libyan government claimed it will cooperate with the inquiry and denies indiscriminately shelling civilian area. (BBC, AP, Bloomberg)PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Hamas and Fatah sign reconciliation deal Hamas and Fatah singed a reconciliation deal on Wednesday to reunite their governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after years of fighting that left both sides politically weak and hundreds dead. The Palestinian factions agreed to form an interim government that would administer day-to-day business until the scheduled presidential and legislative elections in a year. Both Israel and the U.S. ostensibly rejected the prospect of a Palestinian government that included Hamas, and the tentative agreement is not expected to jumpstart negotiations with Israel. Comment: Rivalries between the two Palestinian factions began in 2006 after Hamas won elections in Gaza and the West Bank. One year later, Hamas seized power in Gaza in a violent takeover. (Al Jazeera, AP, AFP)
SYRIA: UN fails to agree on statement regarding Syria
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council met in New York to discuss Syria's deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters, although the European-brokered meeting failed to produce an agreed-upon general statement; envoys attending the meeting said Russia, China, and Lebanon opposed the draft resolution. According to Russia, the Syrian crackdown poses no threat to international peace and security. Both China and India called for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Comment: The Syrian ambassador to the UN praised the outcome of the meeting and said the Syrian government was carrying out investigations without the use of a UN commission. Syrian protesters are now calling for the removal of the regime, a marked escalation from their original demands for greater freedom. (Al Jazeera, AP, Reuters)
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South Asia
INDIA: Indian forces attacked as Pakistani troops violate ceasefire
On April 23, the Pakistani army began firing on Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. Three days later, Pakistani troops engaged in one of the heaviest firings this year on Indian forward positions. In response, the Indian army registered a strong protest with their Pakistani counterparts. While some media reports quote the Indian defense spokesman saying, "our troops did not retaliate," other sources claim the Indian troops returned fire; all sources corroborate that no casualties were suffered. Comment: Though reasons for the ceasefire violation are unclear, the attack began on the same day news sources indicated Prime Minister Singh is in secret talks with Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Kayani. Last year, 44 cases of ceasefire violations by the Pakistani army were reported. (Times of India, DNA India, NDTV)MALDIVES: Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister visits Maldives On April 25, the Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Ammar, met with Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed to discuss relations between the two countries. According to media sources, President Nasheed highlighted the close brotherly relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. The President thanked the Saudi government for their ongoing development assistance and indicated he would like to further strengthen the relationship in other areas. Deputy Minister Dr. Al-Ammar also commented on the special relationship between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of enhancing relations in the future. Comment: While more specific details about the meeting are unavailable, media sources indicate that Maldivian Vice President Manik, as well as the Maldivian National Security Advisor, Advisor of Political Affairs, and the Minister of Islamic Affairs were also in attendance for the meeting. (Minivan News, Raajje News, Haveeru)
SRI LANKA: Government warns UN about release of war-crimes report
The Sri Lankan government warned the UN that publically releasing the report alleging war crimes in the country's civil war could harm post-war ethnic reconciliation efforts. Sri Lankan external affairs minister, Gamini Peiris, said the UN panel overstepped its mandate by taking on an investigative role. Peiris went on to call the report "preposterous," asserting that a public release will not only cause irreparable damage to reconciliation in Sri Lanka, but will also damage the UN system. New details from the report indicate that tens of thousands of civilians died between January and May 2009 as a result of government shelling on hospitals, UN Centers, and Red Cross Centers. Investigators also estimate that the Tamil Tigers used more than 330,000 civilians as human shields. Comment: The Sri Lankan government maintains it can "prove" its innocence. According to media sources, President Rajapaksa asked his supporters to turn this year's May Day rally on May 1 into a demonstration against any UN war crimes investigation. (BBC, The Independent, Aljazeera) Researched/Written by Jennifer Clemens
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IPSI Symposiums
Meet IPSI's Faculty:
Betty Bigombe, Ugandan MP and former chief mediator between the LRA and the government of Uganda, will offer her extensive mediation and negotiation expertise at the 2011 Bologna
Symposium >>
Watch an interview with Betty on YouTube >>
See the full list of invited faculty >>
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IPSI Leadership
Cameron M. Chisholm Dr. I. William Zartman
Dr. P. Terrence Hopmann
Alexander Little
Nadim Salti
Pamela Aall
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah
Betty Bigombe
Jan Eliasson
Gareth Evans
Dr. Ted Robert Gurr
Amb. Jacques Paul Klein
Peter Kyle
Dr. Jean Paul Lederach
Jeffrey Mapendere
John Marks
Susan Collin Marks
Dr. Joyce Neu Dr. Valerie Rosoux
William Stuebner
Dr. Ruth Wedgwood Dr. Craig Zelizer About Us >> ___________________ |
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