2020 by the Young Diplomats Society

F O R G E T T I N G : A N U P D A T E O
M I S S E D I N T H E W
Forgotten are the days we shake each other’s hands, hug our loved ones or even cough in public. In the year that
caused immense pain, suffering and loss, 2020 has also been the year many of us have forgotten about ongoing
conflicts and disasters around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen many of those concerns, regarding human
rights, corruption and civil wars around the world, forgotten.
Following the declaration of a global pandemic, the United Nations Secretary-General called for a global ceasefire in
March, 2020. Despite this, long term conflicts have continued to contend with the pandemic. It is therefore important
the world continues to stay abreast of these continuing conflicts in the hopes that our roles in trying to solve them
aren’t curtailed, especially in a year of reactive politics.
Here are eight newsworthy developments you may have missed
this year:
2.
LIBYAN CIVIL WAR
1.
SYRIAN CIVIL WAR
The Northern Syrian province of Idlib has seen an increase in
hostilities throughout 2020. Syria confirmed its first case of
COVID-19 on March 23, 2020, and its first COVID-19 death on
March 30, 2020. Despite this, earlier in the month Russia and
Turkey agreed to a three-part ceasefire agreement. With
speculation over its ability to withstand the tensions in the
region, this agreement aimed to impose a ceasefire in the
rebel-controlled province of Idlib and stop the further
displacement of Syrian civilians. However, as with previous
ceasefire agreements, this ceasefire did not last. The
agreement has been consistently broken since its inception.
On June 3, 2020, Russia carried out airstrikes targeting rebelheld
regions which border Hama, Idlib and Latakia. This was
the first major attack by Russia since the ceasefire deal.
Retaliation from Turkish forces saw 309 Syrian troops killed. A
suspected Russian air raid was also carried out on October
26, 2020, killing rebel fighters in the Idlib province. Continued
aggression by both Russian and Turkish forces in the Idlib
region means a continued humanitarian crisis. The UN has
declared numerous human rights violations from all sides of
the conflict and calls for all parties involved to refrain from
these continuous abuses.
This year saw the Libyan Civil War continue to
strengthen an “unfolding geopolitical power play”
between Turkey, Russia, Egypt and the United Arab of
Emirates. The UN-recognised Government of National
Accord (GNA) has since acquired control of much of
western Libya and pushed the Libyan National Army
(LNA), led by General Khalifa Haftar, out of key strategic
geographical regions. Following the defeats of the LNA
by the GNA throughout 2020, militias have since
realigned themselves with the GNA, strengthening the
GNA’s momentum in gaining control of oil fields in the
region.
3.
THE FIGHT AGAINST
ISIL
Throughout 2020 ISIL have continued to lose key posts
throughout Syria and Iraq. This has hurt their ability to
perform “large-scale internal and external attacks”.
However, ISIL has continued to source funding via illicit
activities and strengthened its low-level operations. ISIL
inspired attacks have continued across both the Middle
East and Western countries, including the recent
attacks in France and Iraq. Despite their ensuing
presence throughout the world and their ideologies, ISIL
fighters have continued to be prosecuted throughout
2020.