Commentary

The League of Arab States welcomed President Bashar al-Assad to its May summit, reinstating Syria’s membership, which it had suspended in 2011. The regime may look to have shrugged off the international opprobrium it earned for its brutality in repressing its opponents. But has it?

On 16 June, Bamako asked the UN Security Council to withdraw the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts Jean-Hervé Jézéquel and Ibrahim Maïga look at the reasons behind the Malian authorities’ decision as well as its consequences.

Tehran’s crackdown on anti-government protests and deepening military cooperation with Russia have put relations between Iran and Europe in a downward spiral. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group urges the EU to reinvigorate its efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Azerbaijan is keen to resettle territories regained from Armenian control. Landmines are its largest headache. To woo foreign support, Baku should be more welcoming of outside expertise. Along with Yerevan, it should also unlink demining from the conflict and consider joining the landmine ban treaty.

The erosion of Lebanese political institutions, which has already disabled the presidency and the cabinet, now threatens hundreds of municipalities. Amid its crippling economic crisis, Lebanon can ill afford to lose one of the last vestiges of state functionality.

Egypt faces an economic crisis that risks fuelling unrest. The International Monetary Fund demands reforms in return for loans, while the authorities seek to broaden their base through a much-criticised national dialogue. Foreign partners should cautiously support this balancing act to enhance the country’s stability.

As Twitter limits access to a tool to analyse conversations on the platform, researchers will be deprived of information that sheds light on political hate speech and incitement to violence. That will have real-world implications for tracking election meddling, disinformation campaigns and human rights abuses.

Kosovo-Serbia relations have floundered in recent months, reflecting underlying tensions over Kosovo’s northern municipalities. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group encourages the EU to mediate and promote normalisation of relations between the two countries.

La répression par Téhéran des manifestations antigouvernementales et l'approfondissement de la coopération militaire avec la Russie ne cessent d’empirer les relations entre l'Iran et l'Europe. Dans cet extrait de l’édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group exhorte l'UE à redoubler d'efforts pour désamorcer les tensions.

Crisis-ridden Mali and Burkina Faso face jihadist insurgency and political turmoil. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group outlines what the EU and its member states can do to prevent these two countries from falling into further regional isolation.

The threat of organised crime in Latin America is growing and poses risks to security and human rights. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group explains how the EU and its member states can help address the issue.

La menace du crime organisé en Amérique latine s'accroît et représente un risque pour la sécurité et les droits humains. Dans cet extrait de l’édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group explique comment l'UE et ses Etats membres peuvent contribuer à résoudre ce problème.

As Pakistan faces interlocking crises that threaten the outbreak of violence, political stability is of the utmost importance. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group explains what the EU can do to help.

La amenaza del crimen organizado en América Latina está creciendo y plantea riesgos para la seguridad y los derechos humanos. En este extracto de la actualización de primavera del Watch List 2023, Crisis Group explica cómo la UE y sus Estados miembros pueden ayudar a abordar el problema.

Les relations entre le Kosovo et la Serbie se sont détériorées ces derniers mois, reflétant les tensions sous-jacentes concernant les municipalités du nord du Kosovo. Dans cet extrait de l'édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group encourage l'UE à jouer un rôle de médiateur et à promouvoir la normalisation des relations entre les deux pays.

Le Mali et le Burkina Faso sont confrontés à une insurrection jihadiste et à des troubles politiques. Dans cet extrait de l’édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group souligne ce que l'UE et ses États membres peuvent faire pour éviter que ces deux pays ne tombent dans un isolement régional encore plus grand.

Alors que le Pakistan est confronté à des crises interdépendantes qui menacent d'éclater, la stabilité politique est de la plus haute importance. Dans cet extrait de l’édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group explique ce que l'UE peut faire pour aider.

The eight-member body heading Yemen’s internationally recognised government lacks a common vision for the country’s future. With Saudi Arabia looking to exit the Yemeni war, and negotiations with the Huthi rebels on the horizon, now is the time for the council to fix its problems.

يفتقر المجلس ذو الأعضاء الثمانية الذي يرأس الحكومة اليمنية المعترف بها دولياً إلى رؤية مشتركة لمستقبل البلاد. ومع تطلُّع المملكة العربية السعودية إلى مخرج من حرب اليمن، وظهور المفاوضات مع المتمردين الحوثيين في الأفق، فإن الآن هو الوقت المناسب كي يحلّ المجلس مشاكله.

In its latest foreign policy blueprint, published at the end of March, the Kremlin outlines ambitious but vague plans for countering the United States and Washington’s allies around the globe

A victim’s relative is among those accusing Meta in a Kenyan court of failing to adequately police incendiary speech on Facebook during Ethiopia’s civil war. Much greater effort from the company is warranted. But Meta’s task is hardly straightforward.

On 10 March, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations as part of a Chinese-sponsored initiative that appears aimed at reducing tensions across the Middle East. Crisis Group experts offer a 360-degree view of the implications for the region’s many flashpoints.

في 10 آذار/مارس، اتفقت السعودية وإيران على استعادة العلاقات الدبلوماسية كجزء من مبادرة برعاية صينية يبدو أنها تهدف إلى تخفيف حدة التوترات في جميع أنحاء الشرق الأوسط. يقدم خبراء مجموعة الأزمات بنظرة بـ 360 درجة تداعيات ذلك على بؤر التوتر الكثيرة في المنطقة.

As crime rises in Mexico, women are in particular danger – of “disappearance”, kidnapping, sexual assault and murder. The state has taken some steps to address this crisis, but it can do much more. 

A medida que aumenta la delincuencia en México, las mujeres corren un particular riesgo de ser víctimas de “desapariciones”, secuestros, agresiones sexuales y asesinatos. El Estado ha tomado algunas medidas para abordar esta crisis, pero puede hacer mucho más.

Young Palestinians have formed new armed groups across the West Bank. Small, disjointed and scattered, they lack a clear political agenda. But both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have found reason to exaggerate the threat they pose to the status quo.

لقد شكل الشباب الفلسطينيون مجموعات مسلحة جديدة في جميع أنحاء الضفة الغربية. هذه المجموعات الصغيرة، والمفككة والمبعثرة تفتقر إلى أجندة سياسية واضحة. إلا أن إسرائيل والسلطة الفلسطينية على حد سواء وجدتا ما يبرر المبالغة بالتهديد الذي تشكله هذه المجموعات للوضع القائم.

The 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq infused the country’s Kurds with renewed hope of loosening the bonds that tie them to Baghdad. But subsequent events have dampened that spirit. Despite considerable progress toward autonomy, the historical Kurdish predicament endures.

منح الغزو الأميركي للعراق عام 2003 أكراد البلاد أملاً متجدداً في تخفيف القيود التي تربطهم ببغداد.إلّا أن الأحداث التي تلت الغزو أوهنت تلك الروح. فرغم التقدم الكبير الذي حققه الأكراد  نحو الاستقلال، فإن المأزق الكردي التاريخي ما يزال قائماً.

Two large attacks on police installations have rocked Pakistan, compelling the authorities to rethink their approach to countering militancy. Their dilemma is that the insurgents’ main supporters – the new authorities in Afghanistan – are also their long-time allies.