Welcome to our roundup of news and current events related to ethics and international affairs! Here’s some of what we’ve been reading this past week:
DW: Skepticism grows over DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal
On December 4th, President Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Kagame of Rwanda signed a peace agreement, hailed by President Trump as “historic” and a “great day for Africa.” Yet behind Washington’s role in brokering the deal lie concerns about U.S. mineral ambitions, renewed clashes in the region, and persistent mistrust between the parties. Many Congolese civil society leaders fear that economic interests are prioritized over sustainable peace, arguing that the agreement will facilitate American access to lithium and coltan mines in the Eastern Congo. For the United States, brokering mineral deals is part of a larger geostrategic scheme to counter China’s dominant position in global mineral supply chains. Additionally, evident tension between Kagame and Tshisekedi at the ceremony, alongside recent reports of renewed clashes in the area since the peace agreement, further foster skepticism about the durability of the peace deal.
Read more about diplomacy, critical minerals, and peacekeeping in Ethics & International Affairs:
What Future for Peace Operations? (2024: 38-4)
UN Peacekeeping and Impartiality: A Fading Relationship (2024: 38-4)
Photo Credit: Indian Navy via Wikimedia Commons
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New York Times: Ruined Rice Fields and Broken Rail Lines: Sri Lanka Counts Cost of Cyclone
In late November and early December, Cyclone Ditwah caused catastrophic flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka. For a country still emerging from an economic crisis in 2022 and decades of civil conflict, rebuilding and recovering from the cyclone present an immense challenge. Recovery efforts are further strained by a global pullback in humanitarian aid, intensified by Donald Trump’s dissolution of USAID. Additionally, the disaster has disproportionately impacted low-income households, women, and children in agricultural regions. Sri Lanka’s devastation renews urgent questions over climate justice and the responsibility of wealthier nations to help address the unequal impacts of climate change on the Global South.
Read more about humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and climate justice in Ethics & International Affairs:
Helping Refugees Where They Are (2021: 35-4)
Communities and Climate Change: Why Practices and Practitioners Matter (2022: 36-2)
Photo Credit: Yan Boechat via Wikimedia Commons
Al-Jazeera: With flags and fireworks, Syrians celebrate one year since fall of al-Assad
On the one-year anniversary of the removal of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad on December 8th, Syrians took to the streets in celebration. After years of civil war and authoritarian rule, the country is beginning a fragile recovery. Ongoing repairs to the national power grid, increases in the minimum monthly salary for civil servants, and the return of refugees have all contributed to a sense of optimism as the country rebuilds. Yet, significant challenges remain. Limited job opportunities, high living costs, and a shortage of adequate housing continue to strain life, especially for returning refugees. Central to the reconstruction effort are questions about the role of international multilateral organizations, the involvement of foreign investment groups, and the future of economic sanctions. Overall, the anniversary served as a symbol of hope for continued progress after decades of turmoil.
Read more about Assad, peacekeeping in Syria, and popular protest in Ethics & International Affairs:
Syrian Views on Obama’s Red Line: The Ethical Case for Strikes against Assad (2020: 34-2)
Photo Credit: The White House via Wikimedia Commons
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AP News: Hegseth defends strikes on alleged cartel boats, says Trump can order use of force ‘as he sees fit’
The Trump administration is facing mounting pressure and criticism following weeks of military strikes on alleged drug cartels, which have killed at least 87 people. Defending the operations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has argued that Trump has the authority to use military force “as he sees fit,” comparing the strikes to US military operations during the war on terror following the 9/11 attacks. Statements from Hegseth and the administration’s actions have heightened concerns about unchecked executive power and the lack of Congressional approval for military action. Experts also point out significant differences between the war on terror and the situation in Venezuela, noting a severe lack of substantive legal justification for the current strikes. These legal concerns have intensified following a follow-up strike on survivors of one vessel, which many experts argue could constitute a war crime. These actions stand in stark contrast to earlier statements from administration officials who previously criticized interventionism and regime-change policies, such as those pursued during the war on terror.
Read more about President Trump’s campaign in Venezuela in Ethics & International Affairs:
International Law and the Humanization of Warfare (2024: 37-4)