Stopping Ethnic Violence – A Global Challenge

In a world where violence prevails, ethnic violence has become a devastating reality, especially in the last few months. To date, clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribes have caused the death of more than 140 people and displaced thousands in India's state of Manipur.

Myanmar's Rakhine state has been in the grip of ethnic violence since the Rohingya crisis started in 2017. Satellite images released by the UN have revealed evidence of what they describe as "ethnic cleansing" in the area.

Despite this, hope has been kept alive by people such as Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai who has urged the international community to take action to help the victims of the crisis. In Kazakhstan, inter-ethnic violence has been a regular occurrence since the fall of the USSR.

In Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, for example, violence between the Kyrgyz and Dushanbe people has been reported. More recently, in Zhambyl, dozens were killed in a violent clash between the Kyrgyz and Kazakh communities. Additionally, sectarian violence has caused a great deal of suffering in the Middle East.

In Libya, Benue, and other parts of Africa, ethnic violence has been a major issue, with hundreds of people killed and millions more displaced. In Trumbull, Connecticut, for example, residents have urged the authorities to take action to prevent further violence. In Kenya, the majority of the population are of Kikuyu and Kalenjin origin.

However, ethnic chieftains have caused instability in the country, with violence between tribes leading to the displacement of thousands of people from Makueni and other parts of the country.

At the same time, the US has been vocal in calling out the violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar as 'ethnic cleansing'. In Canada, protests have been held in Toronto's King Street to raise awareness of the plight of the Rohingya people.

Despite the numerous attempts to prevent ethnic violence, it continues to be a global challenge. To put an end to it, there must be an end to the root causes of such violence, such as poverty, inequality, and ethnic marginalization.

Governments must be held accountable, and proper enforcement of laws and regulations must be put in place to ensure that perpetrators are held responsible for their actions.

Additionally, there must be greater awareness and education about the consequences of ethnic violence, and the need to respect diversity and promote peaceful coexistence. It is only through effective international cooperation and a strong commitment to peace and justice that we can hope to put an end to ethnic violence.

We must all take responsibility for our actions and strive to build a world where all people can live in safety and harmony, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.