Ongoing Conflict in Syria - Key Actors and Interests, Impact of Conflict, and Peace Negotiations - Report Example

REPORT OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION Name Course Tutor University Date Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Source of the conflict 4 Key Actors and interests 5 Impact of conflict 6 Peace Negotiations 7 Conclusion 7 Abstract This report investigates the ongoing conflict in Syria. A brief history of the conflict and its changing dynamics over time is discussed. The discussion further focuses on the main actors in the conflict and their vested interest. The sources of the conflict have also been discussed sighting how they contributed to the war. Additionally, the short term and long term effects of the conflict have been highlighted and briefly discussed. Introduction The purpose of this report is to survey the scope of the Syrian conflict and briefly assess conflict resolution approaches by examining a range of literature on the topic. The report highlights the chronological uprising of simple grass root protest which turned to an armed rebellion lasting for more than five years. It further considers the massive implications of the conflict to the Syrian citizens and maps the key actors of the conflict. The Syrian conflict was originally sparked in 2011 by protest from a small group of people from a southern province over the arrest and of a group of students who had written anti government graffiti on the school wall. The students were arrested and consequently tortured by the security forces thus leading to the protests. The security forces reaction to the protest through opening fire to the protestors and killing some aggravated the people leading to the escalation of the protests. The media reports revealing the security forces brutality also triggered further protests countrywide. Rebel groups emerged demanding for President Bashar al Asad’s resignation. By 2012, the violence had increased as the rebels’ attacks became more frequent and the Government began to use aircraft weapons to attack them. The local armed groups soon started to seize territories around the country thus descending to a civil war. The death toll had risen to over 100,000 by the end of 2013. The war took a different dimension from that of opposing the government to territorial control. The Islamic State (IS) seized territories from the local armed groups and demanded for recognition of their leadership. The government also lost a number of their territories to IS in 2015. The Syrian Government got combat aircraft and military equipment support from the Russians to fight the now lethal IS militia. Reports also indicated the United states possible back up to Russia in 2016 to target rebel groups such as the Islamic state.(Blanchard, Humud & Nikitin 2016, pp10-12) To date, the unrest in Syria continues with many international bodies like United states and Turkish government offering military support to Syria. The Syrian government on the other hand has attempted to hold cease- fire negotiations with opposition groups.(Blanchard, Humud & Nikitin 2016, pp10-12)The united nations has also attempted to have negotiations between the opposing groups which has bore less fruits with the opposing groups still insisting on the resignation of Asad. Source of the conflict The government response to various issues played a big role in breeding the war in Sura. The arrest and torture of the 15 students due to in appropriate graffiti in on the school wall was insensitive and uncalled for. Further, the security officer’s brutality against the protesters who demanded for the children’s release was extreme. The political response to the escalating protests and violence was also slows and ineffective. The government took time to decide the cause of action against the opposing groups. It also took the leadership time to realize that their retaliation efforts bore no fruits and by then the violence had spread further. The role of the media in the spreading of the protests cannot be overlooked. People depend on and tend to believe the information given by the media all over the world. In what is seen as inciting Syrians to rise up against the regime, the Syrian media focused on reporting all the violent incidences and blaming them all to the security forces. The armed attacks to the forces by the protestant were rarely reported and thus igniting negative opinion towards the president and his regime. Finally, the involvement of Alqaeda also known as the Islamic state played a big role in triggering more violence. Reports indicate active involvement of the Syrian conflict from the very beginning. The IS was reportedly responsible for operations in the southern part of Syria early 2011. Their involvement in territorial control especially near the border was also a cause for more violence. Key Actors and interests The Syrian conflict like any other conflict has an array of actors who play big roles in the conflict dynamics. These actors are economically, politically, militarily or socially involved in the trajectory of the conflict. The Syrian government is characterized by single party rule and dictatorship from the Assad family. Senior government and military positions are held by direct relative of the family. The family and their loyalist are therefore having a vested stake in the conflict in order to protect and maintain their political status quo. The Syrian Armed Forces (SAF) and other security institution which are headed by Assad loyalist are also vested in the war. They are mandated to quell the regime opposers using their extensive military intelligence. They therefore use lethal arms, torture, kill and exile the opposers. Due to the fear of retribution due to humanitarian crimes by either the opposition or international justice institution, these institutions are vested in their mission to keep the Assad’s in power. Similarly, due to the rise of the Islamic opposition in Syria, the religion minorities like the Christian become accessories to the Assad regime and therefore actors in the conflict. (ARK 2016, 19-21) This is due to the fear of the empowerment or worse the victory of the Islamic state which would threaten their religious freedom and socio economic opportunities. The Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is also a major actor in the Syrian conflict. The organizations objective is to oppose the concept of nation-state. They instead vouch for maintaining the territories where they can build support bases and raise other generations of fighters. ISIL is therefore against the opposition groups and the regime. (ARK 2016, pp22) Other international forces are also invested in the conflict by either offering supporting the regime or the opposers. The Russian government has for instance been a great supporter of the Assad regime from the beginning of the conflict. The United state and Saudi Arabia on the other hand are some of the states that have offered support to the opposition in order to put an end to the monarchy regime by the Assad Family. (Asseburg and Winnmen 2012, pp 5-7) Impact of conflict More than five years of war in Syria has affected the socio-economic status of the country and also the livelihoods of its citizens. As of September 2016 it was reported that more than half the population in Syria needed humanitarian support. The death toll has risen over the years and More than 6million citizens had been internally been internally displaced. There are also cases of repeated displacement whereby some citizens flee from their homes when the violence escalates and comes back when it decreases only to run again when violence erupts again ( Blanchard, Humud & Nikitin 2016 pp14).the prices of Other Syrians have also been registered as refugees abroad. Economic sanctions faced by Syria over the years have also had serious impacts on the country. The Syrian pound exchange rate has risen resulting to the rise in the cost of living. The prices of basic commodities like food rose tremendously proving to be unaffordable to most people. Additionally it has led to the increase in cost of health services especially medication. (Al-faisal, Alsaleh, & Sen 2012 pp 196) Finally, the education sector has consequently. According to UNICEF(2016 pp10), school going children are deprived the opportunity to access education across Syria. Attendance is hindered by the violence and displacement. A lot of schools were reported to have been closed. Peace Negotiations Since the eruption of unrest in Syria, the United Nations, endorsed by the United States has attempted to have peace negotiation with the opposing sides. The UN called for a coalition transitional government based on mutual consent by both sides. The negotiations however made little progress due to different interpretation of the agreement by both sided. The opposition insisted on the exclusion of Asad while the government maintained Asad should maintain the presidency. The HNC also participated on talks with the Syrian Government in January 2016 to urge the government to restore peace in the country. The talks however ended prematurely due to the government violence and brutality to the citizens. Conclusion The report has given a brief synopsis of the protest turned civil war in Syria. The war in Syria has changed dynamics over the years whereby it more than the opposing groups demanding for a change of regime. Different actors vested in the wedging war have joined in escalating the severity of the violence. The country is in chaos with different groups fighting to control different asset territories. The social economic sectors have been highly been affected. Children less than five years of age know nothing but war. They also face the disadvantage of lack of access to education. Health services cost have also been increased making it difficult for citizens to access medication incase of injuries. The impact of the conflict has also spilled over to the neighboring states as displaced people seek refuge there. International bodies have also invested directly or indirectly to the war supporting either the government or the opposition. There is no indication of a resolution on sight as negotiations by different organizations bore no fruits. References Al-Faisal, W, Alsaleh, Y & Sen, K. “Syria: effects of conflict and sanctions on public health” journal of public health, vol 35, no. 2, pp. 195-199. ARK group. Feb 2016.The Syrian conflict: a systems conflict analysis Asseburg, M, Wimmen, H, Dec 2012, Civil war in Syria: External actors as Drivers of conflict, Berlin. Blanchard, C.M, Humud,C.E, Nikitin, MB.D September 2016, Armed conflict in Syria: Background and U.S response. UNICEF, March 2016. The impact of five years of war on Syria’s children and their childhoods, New York. Read More