10 Years On, Mandela’s Model Can Build Peace in a Despairing World

10 Years On, Mandela’s Model Can Build Peace in a Despairing World

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

By: Ambassador Johnnie Carson

Americans and people worldwide are alarmed, even despairing, at our world’s rise in violent conflict. Amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine and yet another brutal spasm of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, people are rightly asking what changes our governments and communities need to halt this spread of bloodshed, notes Ambassador Johnnie Carson, a dean of diplomacy and peacebuilding. Days from now, the world will mark 10 years since the death of Nelson Mandela, the liberation leader, South African president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Mandela’s example, Carson says, offers reminders of what we need today to turn back the tide of warfare.

Type: Analysis

Global PolicyReconciliation

West Africa’s Leaders Face the High Stakes of Niger’s Coup

West Africa’s Leaders Face the High Stakes of Niger’s Coup

Thursday, August 10, 2023

By: Ambassador Johnnie Carson

Amid the global challenges to building international stability and peace, a crisis increasingly forcing itself to the foreground — even amid those of record human displacement, climate degradation and unresolved wars — is the plunge by six countries across Africa’s Sahel region into coups d’état and military rule. Eight coups since 2020 have left 150 million people under rule by their armed forces. The latest coup, in Niger, is drawing a heightened international response, and a key player, the 15-nation West African community, today that it will pursue a long campaign of economic and diplomatic pressure, and that it sees military force as a last resort.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

Ethiopia’s civil war is raging. How can it get on track toward peace?

Ethiopia’s civil war is raging. How can it get on track toward peace?

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

By: Ambassador Johnnie Carson;  Ambassador Alex Rondos

In August, the devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia resumed, effectively ending the March 2022 humanitarian truce between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan forces, which many hoped would pave the way for a negotiated cease-fire and peace talks. This week, the African Union’s chairperson called for an immediate cease-fire and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called on the parties to cease hostilities and participate in talks organized by the African Union. What comes next in Ethiopia will have major implications for its people, the strategically vital Red Sea arena and for U.S. interests in the region. Stepped up, senior-level U.S. engagement is direly needed to get Ethiopia on a path toward peace.

Type: Analysis

Peace Processes

Surprise Election Ruling Raises Tension Over Kenya Vote

Surprise Election Ruling Raises Tension Over Kenya Vote

Friday, September 1, 2017

By: USIP Staff;  Ambassador Johnnie Carson;  Susan Stigant;  Aly Verjee

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called for calm after the country’s Supreme Court annulled his re-election, citing “irregularities.” He said he would accept the court’s order for a new election, similarly to the decision last month by his opponent, Raila Odinga, to challenge the election results in court...

Type: Analysis

Democracy & GovernanceGlobal Elections & ConflictJustice, Security & Rule of Law

Suddenly, Senegal Is a New Risk for Democracy in Africa

Suddenly, Senegal Is a New Risk for Democracy in Africa

Thursday, February 8, 2024

By: Ambassador Johnnie Carson;  Joseph Sany, Ph.D.

The sudden actions by Senegal’s president to postpone this month’s presidential election by 10 months threaten to seriously undermine political stability and peace in a nation that has been a resilient democracy in West Africa, where multiple military coups d’état have occurred in recent years. This move poses risks of authoritarianism, violence and economic setbacks for Senegal’s 17 million people, and deeper regional insecurity. Friends of Senegal and democracy, in the United States, Africa and beyond, must unite behind the clear desire of Senegal’s people to maintain peaceful, freely elected democracy under its constitution.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance

Helping Somalia Move Forward

Helping Somalia Move Forward

Thursday, June 20, 2013

By: USIP Staff

Congressman Keith Ellison this month met with USIP President Jim Marshall, USIP Vice Chairman Ambassador George Moose, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, now a senior advisor at USIP, David Smock, senior vice president of USIP’s Centers of Innovation, and Jon Temin, director of USIP’s Horn of Africa program, to discuss the current situation in Somalia.

Type: Analysis

At USIP Event, U.S. Calls on Sudan to Halt Violence, Keep Its Promises

Monday, July 18, 2011

By: Thomas Omestad

The government of Sudan should halt its military attacks in border regions adjacent to newly independent South Sudan and meet all of its obligations under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Johnnie Carson, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said during a conference at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on July 14.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionHuman RightsMediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

Nigerian Governors Set to Discuss Paths to Progress

Nigerian Governors Set to Discuss Paths to Progress

Thursday, October 13, 2016

By: Fred Strasser

The urgent challenges for Nigeria’s powerful northern state governors range from addressing a humanitarian crisis sparked by Boko Haram’s insurgency to boosting economic growth with alternatives such as agriculture to make up for declining oil revenue, Johnnie Carson, a senior advisor at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said ahead of a governors’ symposium to be held at the Institute next week. 

Type: Analysis

Violent ExtremismEnvironmentCivilian-Military RelationsEconomics