Briefing

The African Union has more than a full plate of peace and security issues before it in the coming year. This briefing highlights eight conflict situations where its efforts can be of greatest help.

L’Union africaine aura fort à faire en matière de paix et de sécurité au cours de l’année à venir. Dans ce briefing, Crisis Group identifie les huit situations de conflit dans lesquelles son soutien sera le plus utile.

In a strategic shift, the Malian authorities have turned away from France and chosen Russia as their main military ally. Relations between Bamako and other Western and regional partners are also deteriorating. Mali and its partners should work to rebuild more balanced diplomatic relations.

Les autorités maliennes ont opéré un revirement stratégique en s’éloignant de la France et en faisant de la Russie leur principal allié militaire. Les relations entre le Mali et certains partenaires occidentaux et régionaux se détériorent. Les autorités maliennes et leurs partenaires devraient chercher à rétablir des relations plus équilibrées.

Authorities are keen to return or resettle the millions of people who fled homes in Borno state, the epicentre of fighting with Islamist militants in north-eastern Nigeria. But risks abound. The government should slow down its effort, focusing on protecting the displaced from further harm.

After nearly eight years of war in Yemen, talks are under way between the Huthi rebels and Saudi Arabia. Yet, by themselves, these discussions cannot bring hostilities to a close. The UN should begin laying the groundwork for negotiations that include all the conflict parties.

بعد نحو ثمان سنوات من الحرب في اليمن، تجري مفاوضات بين المتمردين الحوثيين والمملكة العربية السعودية. لكن هذه النقاشات بحد ذاتها لن تتمكن من إنهاء الأعمال القتالية. ولذلك ينبغي على الأمم المتحدة أن تبدأ بتحضير الأرضية لمفاوضات تشمل جميع أطراف الصراع.

Criminal gangs are wreaking havoc in Haiti, nudging public opinion toward accepting the idea of an international force that would help restore security. Outside powers should prepare a mission only with solid backing from the country’s politicians, including their pledges to form a transitional government.

Les gangs font des ravages en Haïti, poussant l'opinion publique à accepter l'idée d'une force internationale qui aiderait à rétablir la sécurité. Les puissances extérieures ne devraient préparer une mission qu'avec le soutien solide des responsables politiques du pays, et leur engagement à former un gouvernement de transition.

Las bandas criminales están causando estragos en Haití, lo que ha llevado a la opinión pública a aceptar la idea de una fuerza internacional que ayudaría a restaurar la seguridad. Los poderes extranjeros deberían organizar esta misión solo en caso de contar con un apoyo sólido por parte de los políticos del país, y con sus promesas de conformar un gobierno de transición. 

Chadians’ growing use of social media could prove a boon for the country’s political transition, but it could also fuel violence offline. With donor backing, authorities, civil society, online platforms and influencers should work to ensure social media remains a space for democratic debate rather than an accelerator of conflict.

L’utilisation croissante des réseaux sociaux au Tchad pourrait faciliter la transition politique, mais elle risque également d’attiser la violence. Avec le soutien des bailleurs, les autorités, la société civile, les plateformes en ligne et les influenceuses et influenceurs devraient s’assurer que les réseaux sociaux restent un espace de débat démocratique plutôt qu’un accélérateur de conflits.

Russia’s war in Ukraine is taking a terrible toll. The Western response nonetheless remains the right one. NATO capitals should continue supporting Kyiv, while avoiding direct conflict with Moscow and keeping the door open to talks.

Barring an eleventh-hour compromise, Lebanon will soon be without a president. An extended vacancy could stall action needed to ease the country’s economic crisis, risking unrest. With outside help, politicians should strive to avert this outcome – and to find ameliorative measures for the interim. 

ما لم يتم التوصل إلى تسوية في اللحظات الأخيرة، فإن لبنان سيغدو قريباً دون رئيس. ومن شأن حدوث شغور تطول مدته أن يعطل العمل الملحّ اللازم لتخفيف حدة الأزمة الاقتصادية في البلاد، والمخاطرة بحدوث اضطرابات. لذلك، ينبغي على السياسيين اللبنانين، وبمساعدة خارجية، أن يسعوا لتفادي هذه النتيجة - وأن يتوصلوا إلى إجراءات تحسينية مؤقتاً 

A pre-election standoff between Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken an ugly turn, with rhetoric from the 1990s war reappearing. Ideally, politicians would make the reforms needed to settle the quarrel but, if not, the internationally appointed high representative should do so. 

Some seven million people are displaced inside Ukraine, many of them with no home to return to. The grassroots effort organised to help them is not sustainable. Donors should keep channelling aid to civil society but lay the groundwork for the state to step in.

Though hope is fading, the U.S. and Iran may still be able to revitalise the 2015 accord on Tehran’s nuclear program. Should they falter, they should pursue more modest interim goals rather than allow the risk of confrontation to grow.

رغم أن الأمل يتلاشى، فإن الولايات المتحدة وإيران قد تكونان ما تزلان قادرتين على إعادة إحياء اتفاق عام 2015 بشأن برنامج طهران النووي. وإذا تعثّرتا في ذلك، ينبغي أن تسعيا إلى تحقيق أهداف أكثر تواضعاً بدلاً من السماح بتنامي مخاطر حدوث مواجهة بينهما.

فرصت ایران و آمریکا برای احیای برجام هنوز به طور کامل از بین نرفته اما امید به توافق در حال کمرنگ شدن است. اگر مذاکرات به نتیجه نرسد، طرفین باید اهداف محدود و موقت را در دستور کار قرار دهند و زمینه را برای توافقی دیگر فراهم کنند، نه اینکه اجازه دهند خطر مقابله نظامی افزایش یابد.

Facing opprobrium after the 2021 coup, the junta in Naypyitaw has deepened its relationship with the Kremlin to relieve international pressure. Powers wishing to see Myanmar return to democracy should not try to break these ties but rather redouble their targeted sanctions and embargo efforts. 

面对 2021 年政变后的种种谴责，内比都军政府深化了与克里姆林宫的关系，以缓解国际压力。 希望看到缅甸恢复民主的外国政府不应试图打破这些联系，而应加倍实施有针对性的制裁和禁运的执行。 

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president, risks losing his October bid for re-election. If he disputes the result, his shrinking but increasingly far-right support base might take to the streets. State institutions should prepare to deal with baseless fraud accusations and to curb possible violence.

Jair Bolsonaro, presidente do Brasil, corre o risco de perder sua tentativa de reeleição em outubro. Se ele contestar o resultado, sua base de apoio - que está diminuindo em número mas alinhando-se cada vez mais à extrema-direita - pode sair às ruas. As instituições estatais devem se preparar para lidar com acusações infundadas de fraude e coibir possível violência.

El presidente de Brasil Jair Bolsonaro corre el riesgo de perder las elecciones de octubre. Si impugna el resultado, su base de apoyo, reducida pero cada vez más de extrema derecha, podría salir a las calles. Las instituciones del Estado deben estar preparadas para afrontar acusaciones de fraude infundadas y para frenar la posible violencia.

The 9 August presidential vote in Kenya pits the incumbent’s favourite against a populist challenger. It will be hard-fought. To avert the violence that has marred past contests, the two candidates should pledge to resolve any dispute in court. External actors can also help. 

Fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is intensifying, with Ugandan and Burundian soldiers in pursuit of rebels and Congolese insurgents on the rebound. With help from its allies, Kinshasa should step up diplomacy lest the country become a regional battleground once more.

Les combats s'intensifient dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo, où des forces ougandaises et burundaises pourchassent des rebelles pendant qu’une insurrection congolaise renaît. Kinshasa, soutenue par ses alliés, devrait redoubler d’efforts diplomatiques pour éviter que le pays ne devienne à nouveau un champ de bataille régional.

Fresh clashes in and around Nagorno-Karabakh imperil the November 2020 ceasefire monitored by Russian peacekeepers. Even as they square off over Ukraine, Russia, Western powers and Turkey should endeavour to reach a quiet agreement on how to avert escalation in the South Caucasus.

The Thai government has restarted talks with the main insurgency in the country’s southernmost provinces. A quiet back channel helped the parties make progress – and reach a Ramadan ceasefire – while the official negotiations hosted by Malaysia paused. The parties should build on these achievements.