Doha, Qatar – The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) hosted a launch event on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for the 'World Mediation Report 2026: Peace Mediation in an Era of Normative and Institutional Collapse'.
The report arrives at a critical juncture for global peace and security. Armed conflicts are escalating worldwide while the normative and institutional frameworks that have historically underpinned mediation and peacebuilding are weakening. Drawing on case studies from protracted conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region, the report offers a rigorous analytical assessment of peace mediation in high-complexity environments.
The launch brought together a distinguished panel of experts and scholars in mediation, diplomacy, and peacebuilding. Speakers included Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation; Sara Hellmüller, Research Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute; and Dan Smith, former Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The discussion was moderated by Professor Mahjoob Zweiri, Professor of Contemporary Politics and History of the Middle East.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ghassan Elkahlout, Director of CHS, described the report as an annual reference combining policy analysis, practitioner expertise, and comparative case studies. He explained that it seeks to understand the structural transformations reshaping international mediation and to assess the implications of a weakening multilateral system and the resurgence of power politics for practical mediation prospects. Dr. Elkahlout emphasized that the report builds on the Center's founding mission since 2016 to address a longstanding knowledge gap regarding the Arab region's contribution to conflict and mediation research.
Seán Deely, CHS Senior Fellow and editor of the report, noted that it was produced in partnership with an international group of researchers and experts. Deely explained that the publication documents deep shifts in the international order, including the erosion of norms prohibiting the use of force and the targeting of civilians. He observed that traditional peacebuilding models are in crisis as Western influence recedes and new actors pursue more flexible, pragmatic approaches. Achieving sustainable peace, Deely stressed, requires moving beyond temporary ceasefires to address the root causes of conflict and engage all parties in comprehensive peace processes.
Panel Discussion: Conflict, Mediation, and the Changing Global Landscape
Alex de Waal highlighted the growing fragility of the Horn of Africa, observing that a once-robust international peace architecture in the region has weakened significantly over the past fifteen years. Peace agreements increasingly depend on short-term deals financed by regional actors, he noted, while declining engagement from traditional global powers—particularly the United States—has left peace efforts vulnerable to shifting political calculations. De Waal stressed that durable peace requires tangible gains for citizens, including improved services, enhanced security, and economic stability—conditions that have deteriorated across the region.
Sara Hellmüller broadened the discussion to encompass the Syrian and Israeli–Palestinian conflicts, arguing that global trends have prioritized military over political solutions and shifted mediation away from multilateral frameworks toward bilateral initiatives. This trend, she suggested, has diminished the role of the United Nations and regional organizations in peace processes.
Dan Smith provided a global overview of conflict dynamics, pointing to a rise in active conflicts worldwide alongside worsening risks driven by increased military spending and nuclear proliferation. He also highlighted the weakening of international cooperation on shared challenges such as climate change and its impact on conflict. Smith concluded by underscoring the urgent need to reinvigorate international norms and institutions and to build a credible global peace architecture before a major catastrophe occurs.
The World Mediation Report 2026 is available [Here].
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