Category Archives: Conflict and War

26Jan/26

The Return of Ran Gvili: Closing Israel’s Gaza Chapter

Jan. 26, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The recovery of Ran Gvili’s remains, marks the return of the final captive held in Gaza since the conflict began in 2023. As an elite police officer who was abducted after being wounded during the initial attacks, his retrieval serves as a pivotal milestone for the Israeli public and his grieving family. This significant event effectively concludes the hostage crisis, providing closure to a national ordeal that involved approximately 250 abductees. Beyond the emotional impact, the return of the last body is expected to facilitate the next phase of a regional peace plan. While the military successfully identified Gvili during a targeted operation, the long-term diplomatic future for the territory remains complex and uncertain. The resolution of individual tragedies remains deeply intertwined with the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Continue reading

24Jan/26

Forged in Fire: The “Helmand Effect” and the 2026 Arctic Sentry Compromise

Jan. 22, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In January 2026, President Trump sparked a significant international crisis by disparaging the frontline contributions of NATO allies in Afghanistan, leading to widespread diplomatic condemnation. Statistical evidence from nations like the UK, Canada, and Denmark refuted his claims, showing that these countries often suffered higher proportional casualties than the United States. This “honor crisis” coincided with a tense standoff over Greenland, where the President’s threats of annexation and tariffs were met with a unified European military and political response. To resolve the deadlock, a compromise known as the Arctic Sentry framework was established, shifting focus from American ownership to a collaborative NATO presence. Central to this agreement is the Golden Dome, a sophisticated missile defense shield that will now be developed as a multilateral security project rather than a unilateral American initiative. Ultimately, the ordeal forced a transition from transactional threats to a more cooperative strategy for securing the Arctic against global adversaries. Continue reading

21Nov/25

The Global Peace Index: How did African Countries Perform in 2025?

Nov. 21, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Africa, particularly the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions, features prominently in the report’s analysis of global instability and conflict, often ranking among the world’s least peaceful and most conflict-affected areas.

The overall trend shows a continuous decline in peacefulness for both regions, marked by severe conflicts, rising geopolitical competition, and acute economic stressors. Continue reading

21Nov/25

Global Peace Index: Fragmentation and Conflict Escalation

Nov. 18, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The report offers an extensive analysis of the current state of global peace, highlighting a deterioration in peacefulness for the sixth consecutive year, driven primarily by increases in Ongoing Conflict and Militarisation. It details rising geopolitical fragmentation, an increase in the number of internationalised conflicts, and a major jump in global military spending to a record $2.7 trillion in 2024. The report also examines the economic impact of violence, noting it reached $19.97 trillion and that developing countries are heavily burdened by debt, often spending more on servicing it than on public services, leading to increased domestic conflict risk in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Finally, the analysis identifies nine key factors that escalate conflict intensity and uses case studies—such as the Tigray War and the Kashmir conflict—to illustrate the risks of future large-scale violence. Continue reading

24Sep/25

Angolan President João Lourenço Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for Championing African Conflict Resolution

Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his significant contributions to peace and stability across Africa. The nomination, submitted by respected Angolan academic and international policy analyst Afonso Botáz, highlights President Lourenço’s effective diplomacy in mediating regional conflicts and his commitment to national reconciliation and justice. Continue reading

15May/25

Future Soldier Systems and Getac Rugged Computing

This press release announces that **Getac Technology Corporation**, a maker of **rugged computers**, will exhibit its devices at upcoming defence and public safety events in Spain and Germany, including the **FEINDEF** and **AFCEA 2025 events**. Getac will showcase a **new B360 Pro notebook** designed for military use and the **F110 tablet** alongside a defence docking solution. Additionally, **Rheinmetall AG** will present their **”Infantry Soldier of the Future – Enhanced System”**, which incorporates a Getac tablet. The article highlights the **durability, performance (including Edge AI capabilities), and connectivity** of Getac’s latest products for demanding defence environments, emphasizing their contribution to operational effectiveness. Continue reading

27Dec/24

Army launches 250th birthday celebration at the Rose Parade®

The U.S. Army celebrates its 250th birthday on June 14, 2025, and is kicking off a year of celebration this weekend with a float in the 136th Tournament of Roses® Parade. The float, titled “This We’ll Defend: 250 Years of Service,” highlights the U.S. Army’s greatest asset – its people – with a look at their unique stories and contributions from the Army’s founding to today. Continue reading

31Oct/24

Water investment key to averting global conflict surge

Today marks the launch of the 5th edition of the Ecological Threat Report (ETR) from international think-tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). The report concludes that without concerted international action, accelerating ecological degradation will amplify social friction and conflicts worldwide. These challenges will be further exacerbated by climate change. Continue reading

15Apr/24

Gaza war: Israel using AI to identify human targets raising fears that innocents are being caught in the net

Elke Schwarz, Queen Mary University of London

A report by Jerusalem-based investigative journalists published in +972 magazine finds that AI targeting systems have played a key role in identifying – and potentially misidentifying – tens of thousands of targets in Gaza. This suggests that autonomous warfare is no longer a future scenario. It is already here and the consequences are horrifying.

Continue reading