Attempts at rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey

Khor Virap church with Mount Ararat towering in the background. The mountain is considered a holy place for Armenia, but it is on the Turkish side of the border. The relationship between the countries has long been strained, but in recent times they have made some attempts to normalize the relationship. Photo: Diego Delso. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Sara Lannebo

Attempten to improving the strained relationship between Turkey and Armenia has of the last few months have had new air under their wings. The border between the countries, that has been closed since the 90s, was opened in February for Armenia to deliver aid to the earthquake affected areas of Turkey. But the deep wounds left by the 1915 Armenian Genocide and Turkey's close relationship with Azerbaijan remain one obstacles to reconciliation.

April 5, 2023, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Actionable action is required to counter the illegal international arms flow

In order to regain security on our streets in Sweden, and a more peaceful world globally, it is more urgent than ever to both prevent and stop the illegal flow of weapons. This is written by Olle Thorell (S) and Magdalena Thuresson (M), members of parliament for the foreign affairs committee, as well as Karin Olofsson, secretary general of the Parliamentary Forum for light weapons issues. Photo: St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Karin Olofsson, Magdalena Thuresson and Olle Thorell

The violence resulting from illegal weapons have devastating consequences worldwider – human, social and economic. For sustainable development and peace force is required to stop the illegal flow of weapons. Wednesday, December 14 special attention is paid to the issue in riksdagen when parliamentarians, civil society, experts and other representatives gather for the Parliamentarian Forum for Light Weapons-of questions (The Forum's) 20th anniversary seminar. 

December 14, 2022, Debate

The standard of living is falling in 90 percent of the world's countries

South Sudan is one of the world's poorest countries. Now the effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine threaten to further devastate the country's economy. Photo: UNMISS. Source: Flickr. 

Of: Sandra Duru

The combined effectrna of climate change, coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine puts pressure on living standardsone in the world. The UNDP's annual report warns that human development has deteriorated in nine out of ten countries in the world. South Sudan is one of them.

December 6, 2022, Reportage

Hope for peace in war-torn Ethiopia after ceasefire agreement

For the past two years, the Ethiopian region of Tigray has been plagued by brutal fighting. Now the Ethiopian state and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have reached a ceasefire. Pictured: A destroyed tank in Edaga Hamus in Tigray, June 2021. Photo: Yan Boechat. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Elianne Kjellman

One of the bloodiest conflicts of the 2000st century has been fought in Ethiopia since November 2020. A solution has seemed far away. But in early November came the surprising announcement that a ceasefire had been reached. Liisa Laakso, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, explains how the friction between the Ethiopian state and the People's Liberation Front in Tigray led to war - and how they have managed to reach a ceasefire.

December 2, 2022, Interview

The conflict between Rwanda and Congo-Kinshasa - this has happened

Congo-Kinshasa is trying to stop the advance of the M23 rebels, together with UN peacekeeping forces and troops from the East African Community. Photo: MONUSCO Photos. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt

In recent months, tensions between Congo-Kinshasa and Rwanda have increased. The rebel group M23 has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee in the eastern part of Congo-Kinshasa. Rwanda is accused of its denial of sponsoring the rebels, but the conflict between the countries has roots far back in time.

November 28, 2022, Development magazine explains

One year after the Taliban took power: "Do not forget Afghanistan"

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to repression under the Taliban regime, something Elham Kohistani, an activist, and Najiba Sanjar, a crisis coordinator and consultant, said at a seminar during Almedalen Week. Photo: Julia Lundén Azzeddine.

Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine

One year after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the country is hard hit by poverty, famine, unemployment and dismantled health care. During Almedalen Week, several people discussed the crisis situation in the country. 

July 20, 2022, Almedalen - article, Reportage

Art gallery creates community for genocide survivors in Rwanda

One of Inema Arts Center's many initiatives is Art with a Mission, where orphans are trained as Rwanda's next generation of artists. When their art is sold, they can pay school fees and other living expenses. Photo: Inema Arts Center. Source: Inema Arts Center, Rwanda.

Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt

Enema Arts Center is an art gallery in Rwanda with many outstretched hands to Rwandan society. It is primarily a platform for promising artists, but creative workshops are also organized for orphans, schoolchildren and women from vulnerable areas. In a country where a terrible genocide was committed almost 30 years ago, community is both a fragile and a strong concept. 

May 12, 2022, FUF-correspondents, Chronicle

Week 9: "This is Putin's war. Not Olga and Ivans ”

Hundreds of thousands of refugees have crossed the Ukrainian border, which has sparked debate about refugee reception in Sweden and in the EU. Photo: Mirek Pruchnicki. Source: Flickr.

Of: Markus Hietanen

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine continues to dominate the news flow. Debaters and lead writers have, among other things, discussed Swedish arms support, an impending refugee crisis, the conflict's connection to the climate crisis and how ordinary Russians end up in trouble with the war.

March 7, 2022, Current debate

A look back at what caused the invasion of Ukraine

Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine. Source: Flickr. Photographer: Juan Antonio Segal.

Of: Elise Olsson

Tensions have been high between Russia and Ukraine since the fall of the Soviet Union, and now Russia has chosen to invade Ukraine - an invasion that will cost the lives of innocent people. But to understand the background to the invasion, it is important to go back in time a few decades.

February 25, 2022, News

The presidential election in Zambia - a victory for democracy

Zambia's peaceful transfer of power in this year's political elections gives hope to other countries on the continent. Photo: Canva.

Of: Linnea Boström

At the end of the summer, presidential elections were held in Zambia. Against expectations, the opposition candidate Hichilema took home the victory and the country became overnight a prime example of a well-functioning, political transition in Africa. - The peaceful transfer of power made me feel very proud to be a Zambian, says Pezo Mateo-Phiri, who works at the Swedish embassy in the capital Lusaka.

December 1, 2021, Interview