A Changing Ethiopia - What is the Legacy of Ethnic Federalism

With more than 100 million people, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most important and populous countries. It’s also unusual: Ethiopia is Africa’s only explicitly ethnically federal state. But amid opening political space and historic national reforms, this model of federalism is coming under strain and the country’s broader national stability is being tested. How ethnic federalism endures, or is discarded, will be a critical question for the future peace and prosperity of the country.

Speakers:
Alemayehu Weldemariam

Dr. Yohannes Gedamu
Lecturer, Political Science, Georgia Gwinnett College

Dr. Daniel Mains
Associate Professor of Anthropology and African Studies, Oklahoma University

Aly Verjee, moderator
Senior Advisor, Africa Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

One Year In - A Conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan made his first visit to the United States since taking office last year.  Immediately following his meeting with President Trump, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted Prime Minister Khan to speak directly on developments in Pakistan and the U.S.-Pakistan relationship at this critical time.

The North Korea Sanctions Regime a Year After Singapore

With the prospects of U.S.-North Korea working-level negotiations rekindled after President Trump’s recent surprise meeting with Kim Jong Un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, sanctions relief remains one of the key sticking points. Pyongyang is demanding relief from economic and financial sanctions in exchange for steps toward denuclearization, raising questions for U.S. policymakers about whether and how to roll back the complex regime of U.S. and multilateral sanctions.

USIP hosted this discussion that examined the scope and purposes of the North Korea sanctions regime, considered the constraints and opportunities for providing partial and complete sanctions relief, and provided a comparative look at other such regimes.

Speakers:
Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt
Member, U.N. Panel of Experts (Resolution 1874)

Elizabeth Rosenberg
Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security

Joshua Stanton
Blogger, One Free Korea

Daniel Wertz
Program Manager, National Committee on North Korea

Frank Aum, moderator
Senior Expert, U.S. Institute of Peace

A Conversation with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad

Five years after ISIS’ genocidal campaign in Iraq, Yazidis and other religious minorities are struggling to recover from the trauma of occupation and the heinous crimes committed by the terrorist group. On June 28, USIP partnered with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to host Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence, to discuss her work to help Iraq recover, the plight of the Yazidi people, and stabilization and resilience in the country.

Speakers:
Dr. Michael Yaffe, welcoming remarks
Vice President, Middle East and Africa Center, United States Institute of Peace

Nadia Murad, keynote speaker
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Founder and President of Nadia’s Initiative, and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking

Ambassador Kelley E. Currie
Office of Global Criminal Justice, Department of State

The Honorable Stanley Kao
Representative of Taiwan

Knox Thames
Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South/Central Asia, U.S. Department of State

Sarhang Hamasaeed, moderator
Director, Middle East Programs, United States Institute of Peace