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Publications
Articles, publications, books, tools and multimedia features from the U.S. Institute of Peace provide the latest news, analysis, research findings, practitioner guides and reports, all related to the conflict zones and issues that are at the center of the Institute’s work to prevent and reduce violent conflict.
Liberia’s Sirleaf Calls on U.S. to Remain Global Leader
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf called on the U.S. to maintain its position of world leadership, a role that she said rescued her country from a ruinous civil war and an outbreak of a terrifying, deadly disease.
Reviving Commercial Development of Afghanistan’s Aynak Copper Resource
While other, smaller mineral resources are being rampantly looted, Afghanistan’s large Aynak copper deposit—worth upward $50 billion—has languished unexploited despite being contracted to a Chinese consortium nearly a decade ago. This Peace Brief seeks to understand what went wrong and explores options for breaking out of the current impasse. Resuscitating the development of Aynak, though challenging, would send a powerful signal of beneficial exploitation of Afghanistan’s mineral resources.
U.S. Signals Africa Policy Shifts
The U.S. plans to continue diplomatic and military support for African nations but expects its counterparts to step up significantly in areas ranging from fighting corruption to countering terrorism and stopping arms purchases from North Korea, U.S. officials said during a symposium at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Two Vital Steps on Burma’s Rohingya Crisis
As thousands more Burmese Rohingya refugees have poured into Bangladesh this week amid new images of their home villages burned, former U.S. Ambassador Derek Mitchell underscores the need for urgent humanitarian assistance, and continued international engagement with the Burmese government to halt the violence in Burma’s western state of Rakhine.
No Quick Answers on Burma’s Rohingya, Mitchell Says
The crisis of Burma’s Rohingya minority, with an estimated 164,000 already having fled to neighboring Bangladesh, can’t be resolved with any quick strokes such as sanctions or diplomatic pressure, said Derek Mitchell, a former U.S. ambassador to Burma and a senior advisor at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Preventing Election Violence in Liberia
Liberia will hold presidential and legislative elections on October 10. The run-up to the vote has been primarily peaceful, and the country has engaged in ongoing efforts to prevent election violence. This Peace Brief, based on USIP research, assesses the risk of election violence and the scope of violence prevention efforts, and provides recommendations for ongoing prevention.
Surprise Election Ruling Raises Tension Over Kenya Vote
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...
Rule of Law, Governance, and Human Rights in Afghanistan, 2002 to 2016
In the wake of the 2001 invasion, Afghanistan is a cautionary tale about underfunded, underplanned, and undercoordinated development agendas. Derived from extensive fieldwork, numerous interviews, and desk research into primary and secondary sources, this report examines the successes and failures in Afghan reconstruction over fifteen years to suggest ways to consolidate gains in rule of law, human rights, and good governance over the long term.
Troops, Reforms, Regional Role Define Afghanistan Plan
Along with military pressure to coax the Taliban into a peace process, the new U.S. plan for Afghanistan will support government reforms such as tackling corruption, economic development...
How to Build Out President Trump’s Afghan Plan?
President Trump’s blueprint for the U.S. role in Afghanistan broadly resembles that of prior administrations, correcting some previous errors while appearing likely to repeat others, USIP experts told journalists today.