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Centre for Security Governance
Free eSeminar - Untapped Resources: The Extractive Industry in Conflict-Affected Countries
On Wednesday March 25 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM EST, the Centre for Security Governance will host a free online seminar on the theme of ”Untapped Resources: The Extractive Industry in Conflict-Affected Countries.”This event will will be free to attend and open to the public. It will be held on the Spreecast platform, and will feature live panel presentations and an open discussion period where you can interact with the panelists:
- Dr. Andrew Thompson, Balsille School of International Affairs
- Tara Scurr, Amnesty International Canada
- Dr. Terry Mitchell, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Security Sector Reform Resource Centre
Learning from failure? British and European approaches to security and justice programming
Antoine Vandemoortele discusses a recent report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) and its critique of the Department for International Development (DFID)’s work on security and justice in fragile and conflict-affected states. He further examines ways in which the international community can learn from this failure and work toward a more effective means for security and justice assistance in these fragile contexts.
News
Myanmar Police Clash With Protesting Students
Riot police in Myanmar forcefully dispersed students at a protest demanding education reform. The police are said to have beaten and detained several protesters. — Steve Herman, Voice of America
Blasts hit police, army in Egypt’s Sinai; 2 dead, 46 hurt
A suicide bomb targeting police and military in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula left 2 dead and 46 wounded. — Ashraf Sweilam, AP
Poroshenko: Rebels have withdrawn significant amount of heavy weaponry in eastern Ukraine
In a sign both sides of conflict in eastern Ukraine are abiding by the terms of the ceasefire, Ukrainian President Poroshenko announced the rebels have withdrawn a “significant” amount of heavy weaponry from the front lines. — Deutsche Welle
Turkey ends tutelage by military with gendarmerie reform
Amid ongoing debate within the Turkish parliament over the controversial Domestic Security Reform Package, it was announced that control of country’s gendarmerie forces will be transferred from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to the Interior Ministry. — Ali Unal, Daily Sabah
Iraqi forces to recapture Tikrit ‘within 72 hours’
A spokesman of the Iraqi forces noted the city of Tikrit would be captured from Islamic State militants in “no more than 72 hours”. — Al Jazeera
Myanmar protests: Inquiry to be held into security force’s crackdown on student protesters
Myanmar’s state media has announced it will launch an inquiry into the crackdown on student protesters. — AFP
Islamic State Begins Retreat from Tikrit
Discusses the ongoing retreat by Islamic State forces from Tikrit following the Iraqi offensive on the Sunni city. — Tamer El-Ghobashy, Wall Street Journal
Somalia: Former defense minister demand accountability in the security sector
A former Somali defense minister called for the introduction of checks and balances in the security sector to stem threats to the fragile government. — Somali Current
Call for disarmament yields positive results in southeastern Turkey
Sena Alkan discusses the positive impact of PKK leader Ocalan’s early-March disarmament call. — Sena Alkan, Daily Sabah
Xi calls for civil-military integration to boost defense
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater efforts to enhance the country’s national defense and combat readiness of armed forces by increasing civil-military integration. — Press Trust of India
John Kerry supports Egypt economic reform no new military aid
US Secretary of State John Kerry lauded Egypt’s economic potential and highlighted the US would continue to support the country’s economic recovery, however he made no mention of providing military aid to the country since it was suspended in 2013. — Nigel Wilson, International Business Times
Angry ex-combatants protest in western Cote d’Ivoire
Monday hundreds of ex-combatants in Cote d’Ivoire protested in the central-western town of Gagnoa demanding the payment of their reintegration allowance. — Xinhua
ISIS accepts allegiance of Nigeria jihadists Boko Haram
Islamic State (also known as ISIS) has welcomed Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram’s pledge of allegiance. — AFP
Mercenaries join troops to fight Boko Haram
Reports suggests hundreds of South African mercenaries have been hired by the Nigerian government to fight alongside government troops in the struggle against Boko Haram. — Vanguard News
UN envoy to Yemen warns of civil war
The UN special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar has warned that continued political crises and violence in Yemen could lead to the disintegration of the state and the eruption of civil war. — Al Jazeera
No PKK disarmament unless Ocalan appears at congress
Cemil Bayik, the leader of the Kurdistan Communities’ Union (KCK) and the “number two” man in Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) stated the movement will not disarm unless leader Abdullah Ocalan attends the next PKK congress. — Cihan
US envoy John Bass supports Turkey’s reconciliation process, disarmament of PKK
The US Ambassador to Turkey announced the U.S. is ready to support Turkey’s reconciliation process with the PKK following the early-March call for disarmament by PKK leader. — Daily Sabah
Libya’s elected parliament asks U.N. to postpone peace talks by a week: spokesman
Libya’s elected parliament has asked the UN to postpone peace talks by one week in order to allow for more time to discuss a proposal to form a national unity government. — Reuters
Colombia and FARC agree to clear minefields; 11,000 people killed in 15 years
The Colombian government and Farc rebel forces have agreed to remove landmines from battlefields in the country, a sign of progress amid ongoing peace talks in Cuba. — MercoPress.
Santos suspends air strikes against FARC for 1 month
The Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced the military will suspend air strikes on Farc rebel sites for one month. — Adriaan Alsema, Colombia Reports
Liberia: Justice Minister Official Challenges Women Security Officers
Liberia’s Deputy Justice Minister Wheatonia Barnes announced that as UN troops withdraw from the country, women in the security sector should prioritize peace and security. — Winnie Dixon, Liberia News Agency
Militarisation of Iraqi society in intensifying
Wassim Bassem discusses the increasing militarization of Iraqi society amid ongoing conflict in the country. — Wassim Bassem, Al-Monitor
Mongolia, Iraq and Colombia representatives speak at disarmament conference
Representatives from Iraq, Mongolia and Colombia spoke at the UN conference on disarmament. Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that given increasing challenges posed by terror groups and regional crises, progress on disarmament critical. — BioPrepWatch Reports
Analysis
Martin Reardon discusses the critical situation in Yemen amid ongoing political crisis. —Martin Reardon, Al Jazeera
Police killings in Brazil: ‘My taxes paid for the bullet that killed my grandson’
Amnesty International’s Alexandre Ciconello discusses instances of police brutality in north-eastern Brazil. — Alexandre Ciconelle, Amnesty International
Stephanie Pezard and Michael Shurkin discuss the importance and necessity of international support in the ongoing crisis in Mali. — Stephanie Pezard and Michael Shurkin, U.S. News and World Report
Lebanese groups affiliated with IS
Saada Alaweh unpacks the Lebanese groups which have pledged their allegiance to Islamic State, their supply chains and their weapons. — Saada Alaweh, Al Monitor
Iraq needs justice, not revenge
Ali Mamouri discusses the need for Iraq to seek restorative forms of justice over the current mindset of revenge amid ongoing sectarian violence. — Ali Mamouri, Al Monitor
3 ways to improve policing in America
Alison Burke discusses ways to improve policing in America following a series of incidents and protests concerning tense relations between communities of color and law enforcement. — Alison Burke, Brookings
Nigerian police neglect widows of cops slain by Boko Haram - study
Obinna Anyadike discusses continued corruption within Nigeria’s police forces, looking specifically at the force’s failure to compensate families of officers killed in offensives against Boko Haram. — Obinna Anyadike , IRIN
Article discusses the ongoing climate of fear in Myanmar following violent clashes between students and protesters early last week. — The Nation
April Longley Alley discusses the history of Yemen’s Houthis amid ongoing political crisis, in an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations. — Zachary Laub, Council on Foreign Relations
Accepting Al Qaeda: The Enemy of the United States’ Enemy
Barak Mendelsohn discusses the need for US revision of their policy towards al Qaeda amid ongoing violence in the Middle East by jihadi group Islamic State. — Barak Mendelsohn , Foreign Affairs
After crackdown on students, Myanmar’s will to reform questioned
Jared Ferrie discusses the violent crackdown on protesters in Myanmar and the government’s will to reform amid continued crises and attempts at democratization. — Jared Ferrie, Reuters
While the junta’s in power, everything can be called ‘reform’
Supalak Ganjanakhundee discusses ongoing political tension in Thailand, specifically highlighting the military junta’s continuing attempts to perpetuate their power and influence despite their claims about meaningful reform of political structures. — Supalak Ganjanakhundee, The Nation
What does the Boko Haram/IS alliance mean?
Obinna Anyadike discusses the possible implications of Boko Haram’s pledge of allegiance with Islamic State. — Obinna Anyadike, IRIN
Why did Lebanon’s security initiative fail?
Jean Aziz discusses a recent attempt by Lebanon’s director-general of General Security to free abducted Lebanese soldiers and drive the Islamic State from Lebanon, a move welcomed by Syria, but rejected by the United States and Lebanon. — Jean Aziz, Al-Monitor
To solve rising crime and radicalization, start with the youth
Sebastian Gatimu discusses the importance of political, social, cultural and economic participation of youth in Africa as central to curbing the rising crime and radicalization on the continent. — Sebastian Gatimu, ISS Today
South Sudan peace talks collapse, election called off
Sebastian Gatimu discusses the recent failure of South Sudan peace talks, and highlights the pressing need for national dialogue to find a path to peace in the country. — Sebastian Gatimu, ISS Today
Publications
Sudan: The Prospects for “National Dialogue”
This new Crisis Group briefing discusses the prospects for political dialogue and peace in Sudan amid continued conflict. — International Crisis Group
The Real Strategic Goal in Iraq and Syria: How Do You Bring Lasting Stability?
Anthony H. Cordesman discusses the need for a clear strategy on how to bring stability to Iraq and Syria amid ongoing conflict. — Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies
The State of African Resilience
Jennifer G. Cooke examines the resilience of vulnerable populations throughout the African continent, amid unprecedented rates of economic growth on the continent. —Jennifer G. Cooke, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Red lines and al-Shabaab: negotiating humanitarian access in Somalia
This new Clingendael report discusses the experience of negotiating humanitarian access with Al-Shabaab in Somalia. — Joe Belliveau, Clingendael
The tricky business of using greater force in UN peace operations
This Clingendael policy brief explores debates over the need to use greater force in UN peacekeeping operations. — Nicole Ball, Erwin van Veen and Megan Price, Cingendael
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