Ahmed Mohamed Islam (photo: garowe online)

Abukar Arman discusses the political crisis in Jubbaland in terms of the Somalian government's reaction, the potential of the crisis to trigger further unrest, and the complicating role of kenyan and Ethiopian troops.

More Info

Gendered Language in the United Nations Secretary-General's Report on Sudan
Hala Eltom

This article discusses the 2005 report of the UN Secretary-General calling for a "peace support operation" in Sudan (S/2005/57), a proposal subsequently supported by the Security Council in resolutions 1547 and 1574. Hala Eltom analyses the language of this report from a gender perspective and finds that it relies on generalities that lead to policy ambiguities, and reflects the persistent gender biases of the UN as an institution.

More Info

The Failure of Secular Parties in Pakistan
Jahan Zeb

The Pakistan People Party (PPP) and the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP) both sustained significant losses in last month's general elections. These results can be at least partly explained by the former coalition government's hasty devolution of federal powers to unprepared provincial authorities, as well as their hesitance to fully engage with civil society groups. Both parties should now focus on tranparent, democratic party reforms, and the clarification of a coherent secular policy agenda so as to become politically revelant again through the 2018 elections.

More Info