Today's Edition
Dina Mahmoud (London)
Amid the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and wars that erupted last year, intensifying in the early days of 2024, Western analytical circles are increasingly warning about the dangers of slow progress in resolving these crises. These crises not only pose a threat to international security and peace due to immense human and material losses, but they also risk igniting broader conflicts in various parts of the world, they said.
Analysts are emphasising the faltering nature of current diplomatic efforts to end these conflicts, thereby increasing the associated risks. These extend beyond significant human and material losses to the potential of sparking larger-scale conflicts across different regions worldwide.
Experts unanimously agree that the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which started on October 7 of the previous year, is a top priority for international resolution efforts in 2024. Analysts, as quoted in the American magazine “Foreign Policy”, urge the US administration to push for a new ceasefire, aiming for a permanent end to hostilities to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
The resolution of the Ukrainian crisis in the new year seems pessimistic, given the steadfastness of the involved parties and their refusal to concede, experts added. This situation is worsened by the failure of Western mediators to progress towards ending the armed confrontations, considered the most severe in Europe since World War II’s conclusion.
With the stagnation on the battlefield and the slowing counterattack by the Kyiv government, amid fears of a sudden Russian assault on the eastern or northern front, experts affirm that battlefield developments will significantly impact Europe’s future security, necessitating urgent efforts to cease hostilities.
In West Africa’s Sahel region, Western experts rank this conflict third in urgency for international attention in the new year. This follows a sharp deterioration due to escalating political, security, economic, and social disturbances in many countries in the region.
Experts view the recent series of coups in the Sahel as a warning sign of a new crisis phase, ongoing since the early years of this century with the rise of rebel and terrorist groups challenging regional authorities.
Observers warn of turmoil spreading from the Sahel to neighbouring countries, while regional and Western powers face criticism for their inability to restore civilian governance in countries like Niger or Burkina Faso.
Analysts call for intensified efforts in 2024 from all parties involved in the Sahel crisis to develop a multi-faceted strategy addressing the escalating disturbances, moving beyond solely military and security solutions.
