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

Week 47: Debater on the scrapping of the one percent target: "Spiritless"

Dropping the one percent target is still the subject of debate on Swedish opinion pages. Photo: Frankie Fouganthin. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Fredrik Govenius

The dropping of Sweden's one percent target for aid has been debated in several Swedish media over the past week. The protests in Iran have continued to be the subject of debate, for example when Ardalan Shekarabi (S) said that Sweden's government should tighten the sanctions against the country.

November 29, 2022, Current debate

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

Researchers criticize Rwanda's commemoration period: 'Worried about large-scale violence'

According to researcher Gretchen Baldwin, ethnic tensions are maintained in Rwanda during the country's annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide. Pictured: Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the opening of the 28th edition of Kwibuka in April 2022. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt

After the genocide in 1994, Rwanda has been praised by the outside world for its, above all economic, recovery. But new research shows several disturbing aspects with the country's annual commemoration period. Rwandans are forced to remember the genocide in exactly the ways of thinking that caused the genocide - that one ethnic group is superior to another, according to researcher Gretchen Baldwin. And Hon believes that it is a way for the government to retain power. 

November 25, 2022, Interview

"No one is punished for human rights violations in Iran"

Maja Åberg, policy advisor at Amnesty International Sweden, believes that the culture of impunity in Iran means that human rights violations, such as those seen by the regime during the current protests, continue. Photo: Artin Bakhan. Unsplash/Amnesty International Sweden.

Of: Liljan Daoud

The protests in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Jhinas Amini in police custody, have spread across the country. By the end of October, 234 people had died in connection with the protests in Iran, according to Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). The human rights organization Amnesty describes a culture of impunity in the country, where the security forces can kill, torture and abuse - without being punished for it. - The situation in Iran is extremely serious, says Maja Åberg, policy advisor at Amnesty International Sweden.

November 8, 2022, Interview

This is how the Iranian population circumvents the regime's internet blockades

"Woman, life, freedom" have been some of the slogans in the protests after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran. Now the Iranian population is forced to find creative solutions to circumvent the regime's internet blockades. Photo credit: Stacey MacNaught. Flickr. Photo th: Artin Bakhan. Unsplash.

Of: Jonathan Lamy

To quell the protests after mahsa Aminis death, the Iranian regime restricts the local population's access to the Internet. Several social media platforms are now completely blocked and vthe owners around the blockades are few, but tech company and non-profit organizations work to maintain communication with the outside world. 

November 3, 2022, Development magazine explains

The Christian Democrats: Women's rights in focus in development aid policy

The fact that the Social Democratic government in this situation has decided that parts of the development assistance should be used in Sweden gives completely wrong signals about what international solidarity means. All this risks making an insecure world even more insecure. It writes Gudrun Brunegård, development policy spokesperson (KD). Photo: Bernard Gagnon. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Gudrun Brunegård

Standing up for the one percent goal, women's education and poverty reduction are some of several attributes that characterize the Christian Democrats' development aid policy. With democracy as the highest guarantor of peace, values ​​such as human rights must be defended in the world through Swedish development assistance. It writes Gudrun Brunegård, bdevelopment policy spokesperson within the Christian Democrats.  

July 2, 2022, Debate

Britain sends asylum seekers to Rwanda - criticized by the UN

Last year, more than 28 asylum seekers went to the UK in unstable boats. Asylum seekers will now be sent on to Rwanda. Photo: Sandor Csudai via Oxford Human Rights Hub.

Of: Hanne Karlsson

Earlier this year, the British government announced its plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The agreement has been debated and several claim that Britain is trying to duck for its international obligations.

May 25, 2022, Notis

Week 19: debaters question new gender affiliation law and Swedish NATO membership

During the past week, debaters have, among other things, discussed the proposal for a new gender affiliation law. Pictured: Pride parade in Stockholm, 2018. Photo: Sparrow. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Hanne Karlsson

During the past week, several actors have debated whether a new gender equality law in Sweden would mean a necessary modernization or whether it would do more harm than good. The NATO issue has also remained on the agenda.  

May 18, 2022, Current debate

Nicaragua bans 25 organizations: "an attack on civil society"

On April 20, Nicaragua's parliament shut down 25 NGOs. Since the mass protests against President Daniel Ortega's government in 2018 triggered a political crisis, more than 165 civil society organizations have been banned by the government. Photo: Ismael Francisco / CELAC Cuba. Source: Flickr.

Of: Linnea Ljungar

Nicaragua's parliament, which is controlled by allies of President Daniel Ortega, shut down 20 NGOs on April 25, several of which work on human rights and social issues. The opposition believes that this is another attack on civil society.

April 29, 2022, Notis