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Nigeria, On Cusp of Buhari Inauguration, Finds Voice, Activist Says

Nigeria, On Cusp of Buhari Inauguration, Finds Voice, Activist Says

Thursday, May 28, 2015

As Nigeria prepares to swear in President-elect Muhammadu Buhari this week, former Cabinet Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili says the new leader will need to “stop being a candidate…and reconcile the entire country.” Nigerian citizens will no longer idly wait for their government to take action, but will demand more accountability, she said in a videotaped interview with USIP Program Officer Oge Onubogu.

Type: Analysis

Violent ExtremismGenderYouth

After Ireland Vote: Various Roads to LGBTI Rights

After Ireland Vote: Various Roads to LGBTI Rights

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Following Ireland’s constitutional referendum to legalize same-sex marriage, the newly appointed senior U.S. diplomat on human rights for gender minorities said he is “incredibly optimistic” about the prospects for the global campaign to guarantee such protections. Still, U.S. Special Envoy Randy Berry and an international group of activists said May 26 that gender-rights movements in many countries face tougher political landscapes than in Ireland and must rely heavily on more legalistic app...

Type: Analysis

GenderJustice, Security & Rule of LawHuman Rights

Burundi Unrest Evokes Hurdles for U.S. in Preventing Threats

Burundi Unrest Evokes Hurdles for U.S. in Preventing Threats

Thursday, May 14, 2015

The attempted coup in the tiny African country of Burundi, after weeks of unrest that has killed more than 20 people, provided immediate examples of quandaries for peacebuilding during a discussion at USIP this week: how U.S. diplomacy can emphasize prevention to counter threats, and how best to support young people to deter dangerous forms of extremism.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionViolent ExtremismGlobal Policy

Tribute to Iraqi Peacebuilder Ammar Al-Shahbander

Tribute to Iraqi Peacebuilder Ammar Al-Shahbander

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

USIP joins the many other organizations, friends and family honoring the life of Ammar al-Shahbander, the Iraq chief of mission for the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), who died May 2 in Baghdad as a result of a car bomb attack. A number of USIP staff worked with Ammar to advance his country’s search for peace and security.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

In Syria, Avoid ‘Sudden Collapse’ of Assad Regime, Opposition Leader Says

In Syria, Avoid ‘Sudden Collapse’ of Assad Regime, Opposition Leader Says

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

As the United Nations begins a third attempt in as many years to guide a peace process in Syria’s civil war, the new head of the country’s Western-backed opposition coalition says Syrians should work to avoid any “sudden collapse of the regime in Damascus.” While the government of President Bashar al-Assad appears to be weakening, “the only power that can force the regime to negotiate is Iran,” said the Syrian National Coalition’s president, Khaled Khoja.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & GovernanceFragility & Resilience

Diplomats, Aid Workers Must Take Risks to Reduce Conflict, New U.S. Blueprint Says

Diplomats, Aid Workers Must Take Risks to Reduce Conflict, New U.S. Blueprint Says

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

America’s new diplomatic and foreign-aid blueprint places top priority on the need to prevent and resolve violent conflict and strengthen governance in an effort to restore a measure of global stability. But to accomplish those objectives, the plan’s authors also stressed that U.S. government agencies, together with Congress, must directly accept and address the inherent risks to the civilian workers who carry out those missions.   

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionViolent ExtremismGlobal Policy