Conflict and Peace

Clashes were reported in Western Sahara over the weekend, between the Polisario Front and Moroccan forces near the same border location of El Guerguerat that witnessed tensions last November. The Polisario front says it's ready for dialogue but will continue the armed struggle.

France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcomed, in a joint statement, the vote of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in favour of the selection mechanism for a new interim executive authority, which will guide Libya towards national elections on December 24, 2021.

The European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg has slammed Russia for violations of human rights in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and held it responsible for actions that took place in the territories in the aftermath of the 2008 Georgia-Russia War.

Libyan delegations at UN-backed talks in Hurghada, Egypt agreed to hold a constitutional referendum later this year. The referendum will be followed by elections which will hopefully pave a path for peace and stability in the war-torn country.

A new nuclear deal could address Iran’s aggressive policies in the Middle East, Antony Blinken the Secretary of State designate told his senate confirmation hearings on Tuesday. Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the administration of President-elect Joe Biden would seek a “longer and stronger deal.”

Sergei Lavrov dismissed suggestions that Nagorno-Karabakh be annexed to Russia and said that the status issue needs to be resolved between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Lavrov indicated that there will be a role for the OSCE Minsk Group in resolving the status problem. Lavrov was speaking at the annual marathon new year press conference where he reviewed the work of his ministry in 2020.

Fighting broke out in Hodeidah province on Yemen's west coast between pro-government forces and Houthis forces on Sunday. Sources suggest that fighting started as early on Saturday and escalated the following day with the use of heavy weapons. 

Clashes erupted in Sudan's Darfur region leading to at least 32 deaths. Sudanese authorities imposed a full curfew in the province. There are at least 79 others who are wounded.