In this episode of The Horn, Alan Boswell is joined by Abdul Mohammed, who has worked on Sudan for many years, including as a senior official in the UN and African Union. They discuss the risks of a de facto partition of the country as both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces look to solidify their respective zones of control. They examine why previous peace initiatives have faltered, the expanding role of external powers in the conflict, and key takeaways from last week’s London conference, which brought together Western, Arab, and African countries. They consider what a multilateral effort to end the war might entail and whether the African Union is positioned to take the lead. Finally, they discuss whether there is still space for Sudan’s civilian actors in future mediation efforts and what it would take to piece the country back together after two years of war.For more, check out our analyst notebook entries “London Conference Puts Paralysed Sudan Peace Efforts on Display” and “Battle for Darfur Reaches Fever Pitch as Sudan’s War Enters Third Year” as well as our statement “Two Years On, Sudan’s War is Spreading”, as well as our Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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25:27
Sudan’s Two Years of Hell
In this episode of The Horn, Alan Boswell is joined by Sudanese civil society activist and political commentator Dallia Mohamed Abdelmoniem. They discuss her flight from Khartoum when war broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces two years ago, and the devastation it brought to her neighbourhood and the city. They discuss the widespread destruction of the war on Sudan and its social fabric, and the risk of the conflict continuing to escalate, including beyond Sudan’s borders. They also explore how to end the war, the risks of the country’s partition and why so many Sudanese still reject the idea of peace talks. They also discuss where hope lies for Sudan’s future.For more, check out our statement “Two Years On, Sudan’s War is Spreading”, as well as our Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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34:47
A Region in Spiral, a World in Tumult
In this episode of The Horn, Alan Boswell is joined by Annette Weber, the European Union’s Special Representative for the Horn of Africa. They discuss how the first months of Donald Trump’s presidency have affected the region and whether the EU and other regional actors can step in to fill the humanitarian aid gap created by cuts in U.S. funding. They explore why the region appears to face so many deteriorating crises at once. They examine the prospects for diplomacy to address both the longstanding and emerging crises across the region, including the war in Sudan, the deepening political crisis in South Sudan that threatens to escalate into full-scale war, rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the recent Al-Shabaab offensive in Somalia. They also discuss Europe’s response to the security crisis in the Red Sea. Finally, with the West in crisis, they consider how the EU diplomacy in the region might adapt.For more, check out recent publications “Two Years On, Sudan’s War is Spreading”, “Ethiopia and Eritrea Slide Closer to War amid Tigray Upheaval” and “South Sudan on the Precipice of Renewed Full-blown War” as well as our Horn of Africa regional page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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40:14
Bonus Episode: South Sudan on the Brink of Another War
Today we're bringing you a bonus episode on South Sudan from Crisis Group's Global Podcast Hold Your Fire!.In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Crisis Group’s Horn of Africa director Alan Boswell and South Sudan expert Daniel Akesh to discuss the escalating violence in South Sudan. They examine what’s behind clashes between government forces and opposition-linked militias, which began in Upper Nile state before spreading to other parts of the country. They look at President Salva Kiir’s recent government shakeup, including the dismissal of both former Kiir allies and key opposition figures and rivals, most notably First Vice President Riek Machar, a co-signatory of the 2018 peace agreement. They also talk about how the war in neighbouring Sudan has compounded tensions in South Sudan and Juba’s uneasy balancing act with Sudan’s warring factions, both of which control territory along a vital oil pipeline. Finally, they discuss the muted response from outside South Sudan, what a renewed conflict could mean for regional stability and the legacy of the country’s fragile 2018 deal. For more, be sure to check out our recent Alert “South Sudan on the Precipice of Renewed Full-blown War”, our briefing “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2025” and our South Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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45:11
Which Way Will Trump Go on Somalia?
In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Omar Mahmood, Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for Somalia and the Horn of Africa to discuss Somalia’s uncertain new global context with the dawn of a new Trump administration. They first unpack the recent Ankara declaration between Somalia and Ethiopia and the failure to find funding for the new African Union mission in Somalia. They then explore what the Trump administration might do on Somalia, the potential for a major rupture in Washington’s support for Somalia’s federal government, and what this could mean for European, Turkish and Arab support for Somalia’s government. They also assess new offensives from Al-Shabaab and how the group is trying to posture itself amid all these shifts. For more, check out the last episodes of The Horn on Somalia What to Expect from the New AU Mission in Somalia and Somalia amid a Swirl of Regional Tensions as well as our Somalia country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Horn of Africa is in turmoil. From revolution in Sudan to civil war in Ethiopia, from Somalia’s political stalemate and the regional spread of jihadism to troubled East African democracies, the region’s pace and scale of change are difficult to keep up with. The Horn, a podcast series from the International Crisis Group, helps make sense of it all. Host Alan Boswell and guests dive deep behind the headlines as they analyse events, debate diplomacy and discuss avenues toward peace. Hosted by Alan Boswell and produced by Maeve Frances Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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