Peace Report: Are modern warlords in power?
Key takeaways
- Russia invades Ukraine, Israel and the US attack Iran, civil wars drag on in Africa — and what about international law?
- During that time, it was used to describe leaders who waged war to further their own interests, with no regard for the degradation of countries.
- "The new warlords undermine the international order," said Conrad Schetter from the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies as he launched the report on Monday in Berlin together with three other institutes.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Russia invades Ukraine, Israel and the US attack Iran, civil wars drag on in Africa — and what about international law? German researchers paint a grim picture in their latest annual Peace Report.
https://p.dw.com/p/5F5c AThere is no end in sight for Russia's war against Ukraine Image: Iryna Rybakova/93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade/AFPAdvertisement"Warlord" is a term that was commonly used in the 1990s in connection with civil wars in Liberia, Afghanistan and Somalia. During that time, it was used to describe leaders who waged war to further their own interests, with no regard for the degradation of countries. The 2026 Peace Report from four leading German peace and conflict research institutes focuses on the comeback of such actors in the 21st century.
"The new warlords undermine the international order," said Conrad Schetter from the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies as he launched the report on Monday in Berlin together with three other institutes. The conflict researchers listed several names, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.