Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

My interview guest today, Axel Marschik, is a veteran Austrian diplomat who has thought extensively about how the General Assembly can play a more robust role in peace and security when the Security Council fails to do so. In a paper that was widely discussed around the UN, Ambassador Marschik proposed that the General Assembly craft pre-authorized sanctions that would be automatically triggered if the Security Council is "unable or unwilling to act to confront some of the most serious violations of international law, including aggression and mass atrocity crimes." Under his proposal, the General Assembly would design a suite of sanctions in the abstract that would become very real—and automatically imposed on the offending party—through a General Assembly vote should the Security Council fail to take meaningful action. In our conversation, Ambassador Marschik fleshes out this idea, including what sorts of sanctions he has in mind and how to translate this concept into a General Assembly resolution creating such a mechanism. Ambassador Marschik currently serves as Austria's Ambassador to Germany and previously served as Austria's Permanent Representative to the UN from 2020 to 2025. This episode of Global Dispatches is produced in partnership with Lex International Fund, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to strengthening international law to solve global challenges. It's part of our ongoing series highlighting the real-world impact of treaties on state behavior, called "When Treaties Work."

On October 29, Tanzania held national presidential elections — and lo and behold, incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan "won" with a staggering 98% of the vote. Everyone knew what was going on. The election was a sham from the start: her main rival is sitting in prison awaiting a treason trial, and the election commission that certified her landslide is stacked with loyalists. Election hijinks aren't new in Tanzania, which has effectively been a one-party state for decades. What was new this time was the public reaction. Tanzanians — who don't have the same protest culture you see in nearby Kenya — poured into the streets in massive demonstrations demanding political change. For a moment, it felt like something was shifting. And then, just days later, security forces violently shut it all down, killing an unknown number of people. My guest today, Constantine Manda, an assistant professor at UC Irvine, helps unpack what happened and why this moment matters. We start with the political logic behind Samia declaring herself the 98% winner, then dig into what these protests and the crackdown reveal about Tanzania's political future.

2025 marks 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention. Back in 1975, the treaty entered into force, and by banning biological weapons worldwide, it became the first global treaty to prohibit a particular weapon of war. The Biological Weapons Convention is widely adopted — 189 States Parties have pledged to never develop, produce, stockpile, or use biological weapons. And thankfully, these weapons have not featured much in modern conflict. But over the last 50 years, profound advances in the life sciences and bio research have emerged which, according to my guest today, pose a distinct challenge to this treaty. Jaime Yassif is the Vice President for Global Biological Policy and Programs at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit global security organization focused on reducing nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats. We kick off by discussing the history of this treaty, including why the time was right 50 years ago for it to come together. We spend most of our conversation, though, exploring the ways in which this treaty might be strengthened to adapt to a changing landscape of potential biological weapons risks today. This episode is produced in partnership with Lex International Fund, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to strengthening international law to solve global challenges. It's part of our ongoing series highlighting the real-world impact of treaties on state behavior, called "When Treaties Work."

About a year and a half ago, I published an episode of Global Dispatches titled "A Genocidal Massacre Is Looming in Darfur." At the time, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had conquered nearly all of Darfur, in western Sudan, except for its largest city, El Fasher. The RSF was laying siege to the city in preparation for an assault, and everything we knew about how this group operates suggested that if El Fasher fell, a mass atrocity would follow. Earlier this month, as it became apparent that the RSF was poised to launch its final assault, I published another episode explaining what was at stake. On October 27, El Fasher fell. And now, hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the city are being systematically killed. What is happening in El Fasher today was both predicted and predictable. The RSF are the rebranded Janjaweed—the same militia that carried out the first Darfur genocide twenty years ago. And since Sudan's civil war began in April 2023, every city in Darfur that has fallen to the RSF has become the site of ethnic massacres and credible accusations of genocide. Now the largest city in the region and last bastion of resistance has fallen and a major mass atrocity event is underway. My guest today, Mutasim Ali, is the same person I interviewed for that episode a year and a half ago. He is from El Fasher and serves as a legal advisor to the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. We kick off discussing the significance of El Fasher in the context of Sudan's civil war and discuss the RSF's history of violence before having a long discussion about events ongoing in El Fasher today and what needs to be done to stop this violence. It's a heavy conversation, but worthy of your attention. Support our coverage with your paid subscription https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff

Cameroonians went to the polls earlier this month in national elections, and on October 27th, a constitutional commission packed with loyalists confirmed that 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya had won an eighth consecutive term in office. If he serves out his term, Biya will be 99 years old.  After 43 years in office, Cameroonians are used to the electoral shenanigans that have kept Biya in power. But this time, things feel different, according to my guest today, Tony Vinyoh. He's a Cameroonian writer who spoke to me from an undisclosed location in Cameroon. There are protests underway throughout the country, and people are being detained by security forces for questioning the official election results (hence the need for this security protocol.) We kick off discussing the volatile political situation in Cameroon right now, with two politicians claiming victory. Tony Vinyoh then explains why the prevailing mood in the country is profoundly different compared to the aftermath of previous (rigged) elections. He lays out where the unrest is headed and why Cameroonians are clamoring for outside mediation. Please support our global reporting with your paid subscription https://www.globaldispatches.org/ 

North Korea has been extremely repressive for a very long time. But over the last several years, the crackdowns have gotten worse. New reporting from The Economist shows how the regime is clamping down on South Korean cultural influences, strengthening its border to prevent escape, and sharply curtailing what were already limited free markets. My guest today, Patrick Foulis, calls this the "North Koreafication of North Korea," and it comes after a period of relative easing. Patrick Foulis is the foreign editor of The Economist. We kick off by discussing the various ways in which these crackdowns are happening before having a longer conversation about why Kim Jong Un's North Korea is tightening repression — much of which has to do with its changing relationships with Russia, China, and even the United States.  

The Security Council is deep into negotiations around authorizing an international stabilization force for Gaza.  But even if the Council approves such a mission, will it actually deploy? In this episode of To Save Us From Hell,  Mark and Anjali share their doubts. Also up: the Trump administration blew up a global deal to put a price on carbon in international shipping — a move that would have pushed the industry toward zero emissions. Mark and Anjali break down this latest clash between Washington and the U.N. But first, Anjali and Mark sit down with Heba Aly, director of a new coalition called Article 109, which is taking on a bold mission: reforming the U.N. Charter itself. Article 109 is a little-known provision of the Charter that enables member states to review and revise it — but it's never been invoked. So, is now the right time to open up the U.N. Charter to review? What would that actually entail? And is it even a good idea? Listen and learn! The full episode is available for our paying subscribers. https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff 

Rhetoric and actions from the Trump administration suggest that the United States is seeking to forcibly oust Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela Is the U.S. really going to attempt regime change in Venezuela, and what would that even look like? Joining me from Caracas is Phil Gunson, Senior Analyst for the Andes Region at the International Crisis Group. We kick off discussing the mood in Caracas right now amid this increasingly threatening American posture before having a longer conversation about whether the U.S. is indeed seeking regime change, what that might entail, and the profound risks of American intervention in Venezuela.

A ceasefire is holding in Gaza. Aid is beginning to flow. The remaining Israeli hostages have been released, as have nearly 2,000 Palestinians from Israeli detention. This has been a truly remarkable day in the Middle East. But can this positive momentum be sustained? I recorded this conversation with Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy just moments after Donald Trump met with an impressive array of world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in a ceremony designed to cement his personal investment in this peace plan. We kick off by discussing the significance of the spectacle and ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh, then have a longer conversation about how the ceasefire came together and the many pitfalls that remain. This ceasefire is fragile. Hamas is reconstituting. And the Israeli government remains opposed to a viable Palestinian State. But this is nonetheless a significant inflection point after two years of brutal war.  

UNGA is over. But its legacy lives on. We recorded this episode as news broke of a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and so we look back at UNGA80 to trace the ways in which the world's largest diplomatic gathering may have provided some key momentum for a breakthrough on Gaza. Mark and Anjali also go deep on a new Gang Suppression Force that the Security Council just authorized for Haiti. But can this international intervention in Haiti succeed when so many before it have failed? Finally, Mark and Anjali make their Nobel Peace Prize picks. Spoiler alert — it ain't Donald Trump. Unlock full access to this episode with a 40% discount.  https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff

On September 16th, Morocco became the 60th country to ratify the High Seas Treaty, triggering a countdown to January, when the treaty will officially enter into force. The High Seas Treaty establishes a kind of "rules of the road" for international waters that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single country—particularly around conservation and the preservation of ocean biodiversity. At the core of the High Seas Treaty is the creation of Marine Protected Areas—think of them as national parks for the high seas. And even though the treaty has not yet entered into force, it is already influencing ocean conservation efforts, according to my guest today, Nichola Clark, a senior officer for ocean governance at the Pew Charitable Trusts. We begin by discussing why the international community felt the need for a High Seas Treaty in the first place, and then trace the story of how this agreement came to life. We wrap up with a conversation about what the treaty has already accomplished—and what it may achieve in the near future. This episode is produced in partnership with Lex International Fund, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to strengthening international law to solve global challenges. It's part of our ongoing series highlighting the real-world impact of treaties on state behavior, called "When Treaties Work."

A genocidal militia called the Rapid Support Forces has been laying siege to the city of El Fasher, in Darfur, for nearly 500 days. But in recent weeks, the situation has grown far worse. Some 250,000 people are now trapped in the city and are enduring relentless bombardment from drones and artillery. Food is scarce, and an untold number of people are starving to death. To make matters worse, recent moves by the Rapid Support Forces suggest they may be preparing for an all-out assault on the city. This is a pivotal moment in Sudan's civil war, which erupted in April 2023 when two generals—once allies in toppling a civilian-led government—turned their guns on each other, unleashing what is now the world's largest humanitarian crisis. After two and a half years of fighting, the Sudanese Armed Forces control most of the country's east, including Khartoum and a key port city. The Rapid Support Forces, meanwhile, hold much of the west, including resource-rich Darfur—with one critical exception: Darfur's historic capital, El Fasher. Joining me to discuss this precarious moment in Sudan's war and what might finally bring an end to the conflict is Noaman Elwaleed Mousa, a PhD student in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies civil wars in Africa. We begin with the situation on the ground in El Fasher and the broader significance of this battle for Sudan's future.

In 1995, there was a landmark meeting on gender equality in Beijing: the Fourth World Conference on Women. The conference produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a highly influential blueprint for advancing women's rights. It was at this conference that then–First Lady Hillary Clinton famously declared, "Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all." Last week, at the United Nations General Assembly, there was a 30-year commemoration of this landmark conference, which has become a touchstone for advocates around the world — particularly from civil society. Today, I'm joined by two of those advocates: Bani Dugal and Liliane Nkunzimana, representatives of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. They explain why the conference 30 years ago was so significant, how it continues to influence debates on gender equality today, and how to keep advancing gender equality in a profoundly different geopolitical context three decades on. This episode is produced in partnership with the Baha'i International Community, an NGO that represents the worldwide Baha'i community at the UN and other international forums, where it emphasizes that recognizing humanity's interconnectedness is key to a shared global future. The Baha'i International Community recently released the book "In Full Partnership: Thirty Years of Women's Advancement at the United Nations and Beyond, " which honors 30 years since the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the creation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. You can find the book at BIC.org.  

Over the last two weeks, the United States has at least twice bombed boats in the Caribbean that the White House claims were smuggling drugs to the United States, killing an unknown number of people on board. This is extraordinary. Under normal circumstances, the United States Navy or Coast Guard would interdict alleged drug smugglers and turn them over to law enforcement for prosecution. But the Trump administration is apparently unleashing the full weight of the U.S. military against people it deems to be smuggling drugs. What's more concerning, according to legal experts across the spectrum, is that these targeted killings do not seem to be operating under any apparent legal framework. The administration is using the language of the War on Terror to justify these killings, but there has been no authorization for the use of military force against drug smugglers. Nor has the administration put forward a legal rationale for these strikes. And all this comes amidst an unprecedented American naval buildup in the Caribbean — a show of force against the regime of Nicolás Maduro. "It's truly extraordinary for the U.S. government to be conducting premeditated killing of individuals merely for suspected drug smuggling," says my interview guest Brian Finucane, senior advisor at the International Crisis Group. We begin by discussing what is known about these two strikes, before turning to a longer conversation about the implications of using the language and tools of counterterrorism to kill alleged drug smugglers absent any clear legal constraint. https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff

It was Donald Trump's fifth speech before the United Nations General Assembly. It was also his most rambling. For 55 minutes, the President of the United States riffed: on migration, windmills, hot air, London's mayor, offshore oil in Aberdeen, even the flooring and décor of UN headquarters. At one point, Trump told the assembled world leaders: "Your countries are going to hell!" But was there a method to this madness? What can we discern about U.S. foreign policy and Trump's approach to the United Nations from this speech? Joining me for a timely conversation on these questions and more are Anjali Dayal and Maya Ungar—two seasoned UN watchers. Anjali Dayal, of course, is my To Save Us From Hell co-host and a professor of international relations at Fordham University. Maya Ungar is a UN analyst at the International Crisis Group. We spoke just moments after Trump's speech concluded, beginning with our knee-jerk reactions to a very odd address before turning to a longer conversation about what Trump's UNGA remarks reveal about American foreign policy and its approach to the UN. https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff 

Immunization has transformed the health trajectory of millions in Africa — but the job is far from done. This discussion moves beyond vaccines as a medical intervention, framing them instead as a trust-building exercise between communities and health systems. You'll come away with a clear sense of what it will take to protect Africa's health gains and prepare for future threats. Helen Clark offers high-level insights on vaccine diplomacy, while Dr. Jamal Ahmed unpacks the operational and political hurdles to reaching every child. Dr. Esias Bedingar adds a front-line perspective on combating misinformation and delivering care in fragile settings. Vaccines have saved millions of lives across the continent — but more work remains. This episode explores both the progress made and the gaps that still need to be closed. Guests Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, former Director of UN Development Program and member of the Elders Dr. Jamal Ahmed, WHO Director for Polio Eradication Dr. Esias Bedingar, Program Manager at Big Win Philanthropy and former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Chad.   Background Materials Vaccination Progress in Africa – Millions of Lives Saved, WHO Africa

Africa's future will be written by its girls and women — if they have the resources and rights to lead. Graça Machel calls for a generational shift in how girls' education and leadership are supported, while Françoise Moudouthe challenges donors and policymakers to back feminist movements with flexible, sustained funding. Satta Sheriff brings the voice of a new generation, connecting women's leadership to broader fights for climate justice, peace, and economic inclusion. This episode is full of hard truths about the barriers girls and women face, paired with inspiring examples of what happens when those barriers come down. Guests Graça Machel, women's and children's rights advocate; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique; co-founder of The Elders. Françoise Moudouthe, CEO of the African Women's Development Fund Satta Sheriff, Human Rights Activist & African Union Panel of the Future Member Background Materials Women's Rights in Review 30 years after Beijing, UN Women Futures Africa: Trends for Women by 2030, The African Women's Development Fund African Young Women B+25 Manifesto, African Union

Hundreds of presidents and prime ministers are coming to the UN for the annual opening of the General Assembly. UNGA officially kicked off on September 9, but the big events—including the parade of speeches from world leaders—begin on September 22. In this special episode of To Save Us From Hell, Mark and Anjali preview the key storylines, speeches, events, and encounters that will shape the agenda at this, the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This is always one of our most popular episodes because we bring you a true insider's account of what to watch for at UNGA80. And this year, we're offering a special 40% discount off our regular subscription price so that as many of you as possible can access one of our most anticipated episodes of the year. https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff

A few weeks ago, my To Save Us From Hell co-host Anjali Dayal and I joined Tammam Aloudat, CEO of The New Humanitarian, for an episode of their podcast ReThinking Humanitarianism. The questions Tammam posed—and the topics we explored—were big-picture ones: how can the UN, a fundamentally liberal institution shaped by liberal values, function and survive in an era when those very values are under sustained challenge? It was a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation that I'm delighted to share directly with Global Dispatches subscribers. If you want even more UN-focused content, consider becoming a paying subscriber at GlobalDispatches.org. A subscription gives you full access to To Save Us From Hell, my premium podcast about the UN, as well as UN Dispatch, where I publish regular UN-focused analysis. We're running a UNGA discount this month: 40% off. Subscribe now to unlock my personal UNGA preview along with all UNGA-related coverage. You can sign up at GlobalDispatches.org or use this direct link: https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff   

Education in Africa must do more than keep up — it must leap ahead. Vimbai Masiyiwa champions entrepreneurship education that sparks job creation, while Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam draws lessons from reforming Senegal's school system for a digital future. Tina Muparadzi links skills development directly to economic transformation, making the case for public–private partnerships that align learning with labor market needs. The conversation digs into how digital literacy, innovative financing, and gender equality can work together to equip Africa's next generation. It's a blueprint for education that prepares students for the future of work and leadership. Guests Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Global Partnership for Education High-Level Envoy and Advisor for Education and former Minister of Education of Senegal Ms. Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director for the Education and Transitions programming platform at Mastercard Foundation's Education, Learning & Youth Livelihood Team Vimbai Masiyiwa, Entrepreneur & CEO of Batoka Africa Background Materials Educating Girls Generates Economic Transformation In Africa, Mastercard Foundation Why Africa Urgently Requires Transformation of its Education Systems, Brookings Education Multiplies Possibility: Young People's Call for Action, Global Partnership for Education