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In the Syrian civil war, the Salafi jihadi armed group Ahrar al-Sham was one of the largest and most powerful non-state armed groups. This report outlines the development of Ahrar al-Sham and explores the conditions that led to its de-escalation and analyses as a second step the role and challenges of dialogue engagement.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Karin Göldner-Ebenthal, Ahmed Elsayed

Since 2006 Somalia is caught in a spiral of violence and suffering from continuing attacks by the Salafi jihadi Armed Group (SJAG) al-Shabaab. This case study report asks under which circumstances al-Shabaab has reduced its violent behaviour in the past and explores the experiences and options for third party dialogue engagement.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Karin Göldner-Ebenthal

As violent conflict erupted in Mali in 2012, the Salafi jihadi Armed Group (SJAG) Ansar Dine quickly emerged as one of its main protagonists, and its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly retained a prominent role within the umbrella entity Jamāʿat nuṣrat al-islām wal-muslimīn (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, JNIM) formed in March 2017.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Tim Jan Roetman, Marie Migeon, Véronique Dudouet

In some of the most intense ongoing armed conflicts (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Nigeria, to name a few), violent state challengers are characterised by their radical religious beliefs rooted in Salafi-based Islamism.

To better understand possible pathways to violence de-escalation or conflict transformation in such contexts, one needs to analyse the behavioural, ideological and organisational patterns of Salafi jihadi armed groups (SJAGs).

• Year2019
• Author(s)Karin Göldner-Ebenthal, Véronique Dudouet, Marie Migeon

This study investigated the nature and dynamics of conflicts in Galmudug State. The assessment examined the various conflicts that exist in the state and the key actors that play a central role in these conflicts. The assessment also examined the conflict resolution mechanisms that are used to resolve local conflicts in Galmudug State, and the actors that play an important role in conflict resolution and reconciliation processes. Furthermore, we examined opinions and attitudes on topics such as federal-ism, the 4.5 system and overall political participation in Galmudug State. Lastly, the study investigated the various challenges to conflict resolution and reconciliation processes as well as the urgent needs of the citizens of Galmudug State with regard to peace and conflict.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Abass Kassim Sheikh, Janel B. Galvanek, Pascal Grimm

Daraasadaan waxay baaris ku sameysay nooca iyo habka is rogrogidda khilaafaadka Galmudug. Qiimeyntu waxay baartay khilaafaad kala duwan oo gobolka ka dhex jira iyo jilayaasha doorka ugu muhiimsan. Waxaa kale oo ay qiimeyntu baartay habkii horay khilaafka Galmudug loogu xallin jiray, iyo jilayaasha doorka muhiimka ah ka ciyaara xallinta khilaafka iyo geedi-socodka dib u heshiisiinta. Intaa waxaa dheer in aan baarnay fikrada iyo aragtiyo ay ka mid yihiin federaal, nidaamka 4.5 iyo guud ahaan ka qeybgalka siyaasadda Galmudug. Ugu dambeyntii, daraasadaan waxay baartay caqabada kala duwan oo ku gudban xallinta khilaafka iyo geedi-socodka dib u heshiisiinta, iyo sidoo kale, baahida deg degga ah ee uu shacabka reer Galmudug qabo markii loo eego nabad iyo khilaaf.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Abass Kassim Sheikh, Janel B. Galvanek, Pascal Grimm

Dealing with conflict in a constructive way as an inseparable part of life requires different tools and each country and community has come up with different methods for that. Traditional mediation has been used as such a tool in Iran for hundreds of years. The Berghof Foundation's Peace Education and Global Learning Programme and the Tehran Peace Museum (TPM) have developed a qualification course on mediation. The manual is available for free download here in English and Farsi and contains an overview of the mediation approach adapted to the Iranian context. The manual includes an overview of different personal conflict styles, gives an insight into conflict escalation and de-escalation, and the purpose of conflict analysis. It introduces the mediation approach, its principles and characteristics, and shows how mediation can be used in different phases of conflict. It also focuses on and the characteristics, competencies, skills and roles of a mediator. And it connects the mediation approach with experiences from Iran, especially in the field of insider and faith-based mediators.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Cora Bieß, Uli Jäger, Isabella M. Bauer, Yalda Khosravi, Neda Pouryekta, Eva Sodeik-Zecha

Das SIPRI Yearbook 2019 verbindet Originaldaten aus Bereichen wie weltweiten Militärausgaben, internationalen Waffentransfers, Rüstungsproduktion, Nuklearstreitkräften, bewaffneten Konflikten und multilateralen Friedenseinsätzen mit aktuellen Analysen wichtiger Aspekte der Rüstungskontrolle, des Friedens und der internationalen Sicherheit. Diese Broschüre fasst den Inhalt des SIPRI Yearbook 2019 zusammen und bietet eine Auswahl der darin enthaltenen Daten und Analysen.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

From a practitioners' view, the article analyses Colombian civil society's role in the peace process against general functions of civil society, especially in peace processes. Colombia's vibrant and diverse organizations play different and potentially complementary roles, while reflecting the country's dividing lines along levels, regions, and ideology. In Berghof Foundation's conflict transformation work, civil society actors co-shape, even in less visible roles than other sectors, various elements of the peace process acting, among other roles, as watchdogs, incubators for democracy, intermediators, dialogue practitio­ners, and in peace infrastructures.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Barbara Unger

Dealing with violent extremism (VE) has emerged as a central framework of analysis and policy-making in most Western and non-Western government agencies. It is also heavily shaping the programming of non-governmental agencies and research institutions. While there is an undeniable need to address the phenomenon, more often than not analysis and programming fall short in understanding and tackling its root causes, factors, actors and systemic dynamics.

• Year2019
• Author(s)Engjellushe Morina, Beatrix Austin, Véronique Dudouet, Tim Jan Roetman