The Khojaly Tragedy happened on the 26th of February, 1992, during the Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenian forces, with help from Russian troops, attacked the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly, killing hundreds of civilians. Despite extensive negotiations, the Minsk Group failed to achieve a lasting peace, culminating in the Second Karabakh War in 2020. This article explores the shortcomings of the Minsk Group, the factors that contributed to its ineffectiveness, and the broader implications for international mediation. Continue reading The Karabakh Conflict and the Minsk Group: A Case of Failed Mediation

Although private military companies appear little more than remnants of historic mercenary forces, they are as politically-connected and internationally powerful as ever. In January the BBC reported that 300 mercenaries, mostly Romanian nationals, had been captured by the M23 rebels whilst fighting on the side of the Congolese government. Continue reading Romanians in the Congo: The Politics of Mercenaries