In August 2023, the U.N. completed an operation to remove 1.1 million oil barrels onboard the FSO Safer, a decaying oil supertanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast. On October 24, USIP hosted a conversation with U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking to unpack the FSO Safer operation.

Timothy Lenderking 
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen

Lise Grande, moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more informtation about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/how-creative-diplomacy-prevented-oil-disaster-yemens-coast

Blending historical fact with creative imagination, “Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home” is a play that offers new insights into the lives and legacies of two of the most important figures in modern South Asian history. On October 18, USIP hosted a conversation with playwright Akbar Ahmed, director Manjula Kumar and several of the play’s performers.

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed
Distinguished Professor and Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University; Playwright, “Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home”

Manjula Kumar
President and Executive Director, Global Performing Arts; Program Director, Smithsonian Institution Emeritus

Farhan Bhaba
Performer, “Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home”

Soumya Kini
Performer, “Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home”

Sri Mirajkar
Performer, “Gandhi and Jinnah Return Home”

Tamanna Salikuddin, moderator
Director, South Asia Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace 

For more informtion about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/human-rights-democracy-and-identity-south-asia

On October 12, USIP hosted a conversation with Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo on ways to address governance opportunities and challenges in West Africa.

His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo 
President of the Republic of Ghana

Lise Grande 
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Ambassador Johnnie Carson, moderator
Senior Advisor, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/ghanas-leadership-building-peace-west-africa

South Sudan’s first elections since their 2011 independence referendum are scheduled for December 2024. On October 11, USIP held a discussion with four South Sudanese leaders as they shared their insights on what’s at stake ahead of the 2024 national elections, what strategies they are using to promote nonviolence across the country, and what advice they have for Washington decision-makers.

Susan Stigant, welcoming remarks
Director, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace 
 
Nyachangkuoth Tai
Managing Director, Assistance Mission for Africa

Bol Bulabek
Program Manager, Detcro

Lupai Stephen 
Executive Director, I AM PEACE

Paula Itoo
Project Lead, I AM PEACE

Ola Mohajer, moderator
Senior Program Officer, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/talk-peace-vote-peace-south-sudans-2024-elections

On October 3, USIP and the Vietnam Society hosted a profound exploration of healing and harmony as part of an open dialogue on Vietnamese and Vietnamese American accomplishments and the road ahead for lasting reconciliation and peace. The conversation explored the profound impact of art and culture on healing and unity and offer young Vietnamese Americans a chance to contribute to a brighter and more united future.

Erin Steinhauer, welcoming remarks
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Vietnam Society

Le Ly Hayslip
Author, “When Heaven and Earth Changed Places”

Kenneth Nguyen
Podcast Host, “The Vietnamese”

Long Tran
Assistant Professor and Washington Faculty Fellow, Ohio State University

Andrew Wells-Dang, moderator
Senior Expert, Southeast Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace

Ambassador Ted Osius, closing remarks
President and CEO, US-ASEAN Business Council

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/bridging-past-and-future-vietnamese-conversation

On October 3, USIP hosted a conversation on tribal fighting and sorcery accusation-related violence. The discussion examined how this violence manifests in Papua New Guinea, explored approaches for putting out these “wildfires,” and considered how international partners can assist homegrown efforts.

Dr. Gordon Peake, moderator
Senior Advisor, Pacific Islands, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Elizabeth Kopel 
Senior Research Fellow, National Research Institute

Mr. William Kipongi
Research Officer, National Research Institute

Dr. Paige West
Claire Tow Professor of Anthropology, Barnard College, Columbia University

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/local-approach-papua-new-guineas-wildfires-violence

On September 27, USIP hosted a conversation with regional experts on how Pacific Island countries view the increased engagement of the United States and other outside powers, what challenges the region is facing, and the implications for the Pacific Islands’ international partners.

Dr. Gordon Peake, moderator 
Senior Advisor, Pacific Islands, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Dr. Kenneth Kuper
Assistant Professor of Political Science, CHamoru and Micronesian Studies, University of Guam 

Teekoa Iuta
Former Kiribati Ambassador to Taiwan 

Maureen Penjueli
Coordinator, Pacific Network on Globalization

Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka
Associate Professor, Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/examining-regional-security-pacific-islands

On September 19, USIP hosted a conversation with the Maldives ambassador to the United States, Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, on the presidential elections and what to expect from a new era of Maldives-U.S. relations. The discussion provided insight into the Maldives’ election results and what they mean for its ongoing work with international partners, particularly the United States. 

Andrew Wilder, welcome and opening remarks
Vice President, Asia Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace  

Ambassador Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed 
Maldives Ambassador to the United States

Nilanthi Samaranayake, moderator
South Asia Program, Visiting Expert 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/roundtable-maldives-presidential-election-and-new-era-us-maldives-relations

On September 18, USIP, The Institute of Current World Affairs and American Purpose Magazine hosted the first in a new series of conversations with Russian exiles. This discussion explored the challenges these new exiles are facing as they look to continue their work abroad, what their future might hold, and how the media can spread their message and reach audiences both inside Russia and around the world. 

Natalya Lunde 
Vice President, Global Operations, Free Russia Foundation

Andrei Soldatov 
Co-founder and Editor, Agentura.Ru 

Dr. Margarita Zavadskaya 
Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin, moderator
CEO, Radio Free Europe; Co-founder, American Purpose 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/russias-new-exiles

On September 13 and 14, USIP hosted a three-part livestream of the Institute’s Dialogue on War Legacies and Peace, an annual event bringing government and non-governmental experts together to discuss the full range of war legacy issues and U.S. relations with Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Further to Go: Next Steps in War Legacy Remediation and Peacebuilding

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/2nd-annual-dialogue-war-legacies-and-peace-vietnam-laos-and-cambodia