In this contribution to The Daily Star—researchers Benjamin Etzold and Anas Ansars hare insights into diplomatic dimensions of the Rohingya crisis, the pitfalls of humanitarian encampment and the false hope of repatriation: https://bicc.de/Cosmos/Peacebits #bicc_bonn #bicc_migration

The Iran war is putting a strain on the traditionally close relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. How far will the distancing go? In an interview with Der Tagesspiegel, bicc researcher Marius Bales discusses the factors behind the growing rift. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/7uPW3

Should Nigeria's insurgent amnesty programme remain? In this interview, bicc researcher Oyewole Oginni argues that successful reintegration must put victims first and be grounded in transparent accountability. Watch the interview here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/NGQtp

Why have superpowers such as the United States, Russia and Israel struggled to achieve their strategic objectives despite their overwhelming military might? In his interview with Der Tagesspiegel, bicc researcher Max Mutschler addresses this question. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/2WaKf

The current conflicts between the United States and Iran, as well as between Russia and Ukraine, reveal the limits of military power. What are the reasons for this? Bicc researcher Max Mutschler answers this question in his interview with radioeins. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/NT1Mk

Just published: New policy brief with recommendations on how victims of violence can be involved in the design process of transitional justice in Cameroon’s Far North. Read the policy brief here: https://shorturl.at/gmKQ0 #bicc_bonn #bicc_agents_and_patterns

#RABGermany has published its third policy brief, “Conditions Shaping Syrians’ Futures and Prospects for Return,” written by Majdi Laktinah. ➡️Read the policy brief here: https://shorturl.at/apT5G #RefugeeAdvisoryBoard #PolicyBrief

Is there domestic resistance to the Taliban? What are the living conditions of the Afghan civilian population? Bicc director Conrad Schetter answers these and other questions regarding Afghanistan in his interview with welt-sichten. Read the full interview (in German) ➡️ https://shorturl.at/qkMuh

This week marked another important step in the implementation of the National Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Process in Cameroon in the form of the first of two workshops that took place from 06th to 07th of July to develop the National Action Plan of the National DDR Strategy.

During the Iran war, Afghanistan and Iran have expanded their economic relations despite their ideological differences. In an interview with 'Die Presse', Conrad Schetter comments on what drives this seemingly contradictory approach. Read the article here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/rpYOO

In a new debate piece published by the taz amidst the current NATO Summit, bicc Senior Researcher Max Mutschler engages in a critical exchange with Prof. Carlo Masala (UniBW) on one of the most pressing questions in European security policy. Read the full article here. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/LO85H

We are immensely proud of having successfully concluded our five-day integrated training on Weapons and Ammunition Management in DDR Contexts and Countering Diversion in Cameroon, taking place from 29 June to 03 July 2026, that we co-organised.

Precision weapons have long been framed as a humanitarian advance. Marius Bales and Max Mutschler challenge that view: precision doesn't necessarily mean fewer civilian deaths. Instead, these weapons are often used politically, striking essential infrastructure. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/O9a2P

Get in touch with Afghanistan experts next week in Freiburg, Germany! On Friday, July 10, bicc researcher Katja Mielke, Turkologist Ingeborg Baldauf and Central Asia expert Ahmad Azizy lead a workshop surrounding scholarly engagement with Afghanistan. Registration ➡️ https://shorturl.at/jqAAy

Die Bundesregierung plant mehr Abschiebungen nach Afghanistan und zeigt sich hierfür bereit, diplomatisch auf die Taliban zuzugehen. Im Gespräch mit hr INFO erklärt bicc Direktor Conrad Schetter, warum dies problematisch ist. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/LIKnb #bicc_bonn

By bringing evidence from the ground into the conversation, #bicc researchers contribute to informed debate on how best to support peace and stability. As the #UN Security Council discusses Afghanistan today, we offer a summary of evidence-based information: https://ow.ly/L5No50ZfNRX #Afghanistan

How did the 2026 Iran war change the power structure in the Middle east? In the new DW article, bicc director Conrad Schetter comments on the aftermath of the conflict. Read the full article. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/hMIeF (German) ➡️ https://shorturl.at/Mvjk4 (English)

5-day training for Cameroon law enforcement, customs, wildlife services, the National DDR Committee, ministries and civil society to share knowledge and expertise on Weapons and Ammunition Management and SALW Control. More info here -> https://shorturl.at/FngP3 #bicc_bonn #bicc_agents_and_patterns

Growing operational ties between Lakurawa and Mamudawa across Nigeria's tri-border region with Niger and Benin are driving a surge in civilian harm. Our latest PAVE project policy brief argues that episodic, incident-driven military operations are no longer sufficient. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/NDz7e

On June 13, Nigeria marked 27 years of democratic transition. Oyewole Oginni spoke to Channels Television on why insurgency remains one of Nigeria's greatest democratic challenges and why security must be understood as a governance outcome rather than a military response. ➡️https://shorturl.at/rljtX

Since 2021, the Taliban have dismantled elected councils, replacing them with loyal religious appointees. This policy brief examines the trade-offs development actors face between access, inclusion and legitimacy—dilemmas that cannot be fully resolved, only continuously managed. ➡️ shorturl.at/DOUcF

Flucht ist eine der größten Herausforderungen unserer Zeit. Der ‚Report Globale Flucht‘ des Verbundprojekts FFVT beleuchtet das Thema aus verschiedenen Perspektiven. Der jährliche Bericht ist erstmals kostenlos als Open Access verfügbar ➡️ https://shorturl.at/rIYVk

Armed conflict & the impacts of resource extraction disporpotionally affects Indigenous communities on Mindanao. The project explores the dimensions of peace, understanding how it is imagined, practised & sustained through Indigenous knowledge systems & cultural practices ➡️ https://shorturl.at/DHfQL

Bicc Fellow Ryan Swan explores the Thucydides Trap—the tendency towards conflict between an established power and a rising one. He examines implications for the present US–China rivalry, showing how global influence is increasingly defined outside the defence realm. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/1woqp

The GMI 2025 maps the relative weight and importance of a country’s military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole and currently covers 151 countries. It aims to contribute to the greater debate on the benefits and risks of militarisation worldwide. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/PPqhJ

Trotz Waffenruhe werden die Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten und Saudi-Arabien von Iran attackiert, reagieren militärisch jedoch zurückhaltend. Marius Bales erklärt den schmalen Grad zwischen Abschreckungsfähigkeit und der Vermeidung eines regionalen Krieges. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/Ena0l

How can a decolonial Middle Eastern perspective on conflict resolution move beyond formal legal systems in Peace & Conflict Studies? This project centres local actors in Syria & Jordan to trace how ṣulḥ & muṣālaḥa are learned & reshaped across generations & borders. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/GWxME

Experiences from post-war Yugoslavia are highly relevant for current policy debates on refugee returns. Sustainable return demands more than resources—it requires security, stable governance and genuine pathways to reintegration. ➡️ https://shorturl.at/xy9yY

Today is International Day of Living Together in Peace! Our contribution to this effort is the latest episode of our podcast, 'The Sahel Untold'. In this episode, we meet Said, a young man from Chad, who decided to make a difference for his country. Listen here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/8VE5e

Can China and the United States coexist peacefully? In this New York Times article, bicc Fellow Ryan Swan comments on Beijing's broader diplomatic effort to position itself as a "responsible great power." Read the full article here ➡️ https://shorturl.at/GR0O2