@gerritkurtz
Researcher at German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP Berlin). Focus on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa (Sudan and Ethiopia). Own views. Retweets not endorsement. https://gerritkurtz.net
Warum der Krieg gegen #Iran durchaus im Interesse von #Saudi-Arabien sein könnte. Spannende Einschätzung meines Kollegen Stephan Roll.
Wenn sich die Gleichgewichte am Golf (v.a. VAE/KSA) deutlich verschieben, könnte das auch deren Interventionen am Horn betreffen.
qantara.de/artikel/angr...
"Es macht die Situation so bitter, dass wir es mit einem sehr klaren Völkerrechtsbruch zu tun haben, man das den Iranern aber nur sehr ungern zugestehen will, einem Akteuer, der ganz massiv Völkerrecht unterminiert", sagt Azadeh Zamirirad
www.spiegel.de/politik/iran...
The DFG (German Research Foundation) has a programme funding stays of up to three months at German academic institutions for researchers in early career phases and of all disciplines from MENA (www.dfg.de/en/news/news...) and Sub-Saharan Africa (www.dfg.de/en/news/news...).
Strong statement by the Global Centre for R2P on #Iran.
gcr2p.cmail19.com/t/j-e-ydirvk...
Hörempfehlung zu #Iran!
📣Call for Applications
We’re offering 3 funded #fellowships for a 3-month research stay (fall 2026) in Germany.
For #post-docs from African countries working on security, democracy, economic transformation, global order and science diplomacy.
📅 Deadline: 25 March 2026
Apply now: t1p.de/3tt3s
So much for the argument that appeasing Trump on Iran is important to secure European security including that of Ukraine.
The de facto authorities in #Sudan say that drones flying in from #Ethiopia violated their airspace, calling it a "flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Sudan, and an explicit aggression against the Sudanese state".
suna-sd.net/posts/alsoda...
I am old enough to remember when regime change wars went out of fashion. This one looks like it is inflamming the whole Middle East, with repercussions for global energy markets. It is a major strategic blunder.
Great illustrations here by @financialtimes.com on how much more willing to use military force Trump has become in his second term - and that most of these military interventions are actually outside of the 'western Hemisphere':
www.ft.com/content/e990...
This shouldn't be too difficult, dear Europeans:
The regime in #Iran is as bad as it comes.
The US-Israeli attacks violate international law. They are unlikely to lead to a regime change.
Indiscriminate Iranian counter-attacks are also illegal.
All attacks should stop immediately.
Nun hat Trump #Iran angegriffen. Zu den Szenarien, wie es mit dem Regime weitergehen könnte, empfehle ich sehr dieses aktuelle Gespräch meiner @swp-mea.bsky.social Kollegin Azadeh Zamirirad @annewill.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ic...
Helpful and detailed overview of the state of play in Northern #Ethiopia. A war against the TPLF looks increasingly likely.
www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/eth...
Trump's involvement in conflicts doesn't help to solve them, it rather often exacerbates them. #Sudan
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/w...
This is what accountability through a free press looks like. The new UNSC sanctions including on Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo (the eldest brother) will make #Kenya's hosting of RSF representatives harder to sustain. #Sudan
via @laurenbindc.bsky.social
www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/art...
Indeed. Given the massive harm the US aid cuts have done to people facing food insecurity, including those served by WFP, it would be a travesty if another US appointee were to lead the organization.
New coalition to prevent atrocities in #Sudan, focussed around the Sudan Core Group in the UN Human Rights Council.
Abudalrahim actually travels outside the country, like during his appearance in Nairobi last year. The travel sanctions will therefore make it harder for countries to host him that openly.
UNSC sanctions 4 RSF commanders, a rare show of unity. This includes Abdulrahim Hamdan Dagalo, the operational commander of the RSF. #Sudan
"Footage believed to be of Dagalo shows him giving direct orders to his fighters to not take captives but to kill everyone."
main.un.org/securitycoun...
This is what happens when a commander calls on his fighters to "spare no lives". Civilians being executed by Agwelek militia, apparently acting on their own accord. #SouthSudan
apnews.com/article/sout...
"The intent to devour us has been declared – and people who claim to be our allies are applauding it."
Here is an African perspective on the Rubio speech @munsecconf.bsky.social.
@thecontinent.org
www.thecontinent.org/_files/ugd/2...
I agree. There is an uneasy tension between elite bargains meant to end the fighting and the prevention of mass atrocities. This deserves more in-depth discussion, but I understand the op-ed to argue that in Sudan recently, the balance was struck too much on one side, without delivering results.
"The liberal peace-building model that privileges armed actors and elite bargains has already failed Sudan. It treats generals and militia leaders as indispensable stakeholders and relegates civilians to observers."
New approaches are required indeed.
#Sudan
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
RSF leader Hemedti visits #Uganda and meets President Museveni. Apparently, he flew on a private #UAE jet from Abu Dhabi, stopping in Nairobi to take on Abdelaziz al-Hilu, leader of the SPLM-N.
Museveni is opposed to the resurgent Sudanese Islamic Movement on the SAF side.
While there is significant international interest in asking whether the US is going to attack #Iran, there is much less on #Ethiopia. Ethiopian forces have mobilized significant forces in the North of the country and may yet attack Tigray or #Eritrea, with a US strike providing a possible cover even
New report by the UN fact-finding mission on #Sudan finds a genocidal campaign by the RSF in El Fasher.
This goes further than the previous report by the OHCHR country office, asserting that "three underlying acts of genocide were committed."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
"violations and abuses committed by the RSF and its allied militias in and around El Fasher last October risk being repeated in the Kordofan region. We urgently repeat our call to the RSF, the SAF and their allied militias to immediately cease hostilities."
#Sudan
"Es gibt viel Zündelei und sehr viel trockenes Laub." sage ich zu den aktuellen Mobilisierungen im Norden von #Äthiopien und einer möglichen Kriegsgefahr.
www.nzz.ch/internationa...
This assessment of the apparently massive troop deployment in Northern #Ethiopia rings true.
martinplaut.com/2026/02/17/r...
German Embassy refuses visa to acclaimed filmmakers from #Sudan invited to Berlinale to present their latest film.
Once again, a migration fixation undermines the open society.