SIPRI was pleased to participate in the 2019 Almedalen Week in Visby, Gotland (30 June–7 July). This yearly event is considered to be one of the most important political, social and business forums in Sweden.
On 2 July, SIPRI hosted a panel discussion in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP) about the link between hunger and conflict in Mali.
Since the military coup in 2012, Mali has been shaken by conflict, terrorism and unrest. The social indicators in Mali are among the lowest in the world and the country faces huge challenges. Nearly four million people do not have enough to eat, and over 120 000 people are displaced within the country and in need of emergency food assistance. With local conflicts intensifying, the Malian people are becoming increasingly vulnerable, at the same time as humanitarian access is being threatened. In a unique partnership, SIPRI and the WFP have been exploring the links between hunger and conflict.
During the panel discussion, initial conclusions were presented from a case study conducted in Mali. The panel then considered how hunger affects the conflicts in Mali and whether it is possible to build sustainable peace without securing access to food.
Participants in the panel included Ambassador Jan Eliasson, Chair of the SIPRI Governing Board, Silvia Caruso, WFP Mali Country Director, and Peter Eriksson, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation. Sigrún Rawet, SIPRI Deputy Director, moderated the discussion.
Read more about the event on the Facebook event here. Watch the recording of the discussion: