Chad: Breaking the Cycle of Farmer-Herder Violence

Farmer-herder violence in Chad has reached unprecedented levels in recent years, exacerbating the perceived divide between the north and south of the country. President Mahamat Déby should make resolution of such conflict a priority during his term.

The full briefing is available in French, and the executive summary is available in English.

Le briefing complet est disponible ici en Français.

// On Our Radar

Gaza

Talks about a ceasefire in Gaza appeared to sputter this week, with Israel reportedly insisting on holding on to the Philadelphi corridor along the Egyptian border and reserving the right to resume hostilities after a hostage-prisoner exchange. Meanwhile, the confirmed death toll among Palestinians has climbed above 40,000, with several lethal Israeli strikes this week, while Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages. U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday, reportedly urging him to be more flexible. Crisis Group President & CEO Comfort Ero says the U.S. should start using its leverage with Israel – for example, by withholding some arms transfers – to hasten a ceasefire deal.

Libya

A dispute between Libya’s two rival governments over who should lead the Central Bank heated up this week amid controversies over irregularities in budget disbursements and oil revenue allocations. The disagreement pits the Tripoli-based cabinet, which sacked the bank’s long-time governor, Siddiq Elkebir, against the east-based parliament, which has stood by him. Crisis Group expert Claudia Gazzini says it was the latest in a series of events that have widened the divide between the two bodies, threatening to undermine Libya’s fragile peace. So far, the situation has not turned violent, but tensions are palpable. It is now even more urgent to resume UN-backed negotiations to unify the country, but the odds of that happening remain low.

United Nations

The UN Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs reported Monday that a record 280 aid workers were killed in armed conflicts around the world in 2023. More than half these deaths occurred in Gaza in the last three months of the year. Crisis Group expert Daniel Forti says the unprecedented toll is partly the consequence of faltering peace efforts. Humanitarian personnel working on the front lines often lack the tacit protection afforded them by active political processes; conflict parties, meanwhile, face fewer consequences when they attack those supplying aid. The UN is the only organisation that can deliver life-saving assistance at scale in war zones. But vital as that work is, it is no substitute for vigorous diplomacy. 

// Publications

Moldova Divided: Easing Tensions as Russia Meddles and Elections Approach

Moldovan officials are worried that Russia may try manipulating divisions between the capital and two dissident regions ahead of October polls. These fissures have widened as Chisinau draws closer to the West. To reduce frictions, the government should reach out anew to the regional authorities.

Read the full briefing here.

Also available in Romanian and Russian.

Afghanistan Three Years after the Taliban Takeover

In August 2021, as foreign troops departed, Taliban insurgents seized power in Kabul, bringing the country back under their rule. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Graeme Smith, drawing upon Crisis Group’s research across Afghanistan, assesses the regime’s record and its implications for international policy.

Read the full version online.

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