Funding the people's defence forces in Myanmar
How Myanmar’s people’s defence forces are funded, and what it means for the future of the armed resistance.
A scalable typology of people’s defence forces in Myanmar
A framework for understanding PDFs and their evolving role in Myanmar.
Armed group economies | Southeast Asia
The M23 crisis
Q&A with Christoph Vogel
Armed group governance | Africa | Central Africa
Roadblocks and revenues: the politics of passage
What roadblocks reveal about the power and profit strategies of armed actors.
In focus
Protecting cultural heritage
Unlikely Allies: Engaging armed groups for the protection of cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is a powerful but underutilised entry point for engaging armed groups. This findings report drawing on evidence and practice to demonstrate how dialogue can limit destruction and build build common ground.
Our mission
The Centre on Armed Groups supports efforts to reduce violence and end armed conflict. We achieve this mission through conducting innovative research, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and providing practical advice.
Our reach
Made with Visme
Our network of experts focuses on conflict and violence focused in more than 30 countries and territories, with specialised expertise on over 50 different armed groups
Somalia
Our research focuses on the conflict with Al Shabab, examing the group's governance, taxation, and relationships with civilians. Our dialogue and advisory work supports engagement strategies grounded in evidence and local realities, with a focus on humanitarian access, protection and peacebuilding.
Myanmar
We provide research and advice on navigating the country's increasing complex conflict, with particular focus on understanding the armed opposition groups and understanding the war economy. We advise partners on conflict trends and access, focusing on protection, economic governance and negotiation.
Afghanistan
Our research tracks the Taliban’s governance practices and how civilians navigate life under Taliban rule, as well as the emergence of other armed actors in the region. We advise humanitarian, development, and diplomatic actors on access, programming, and principled engagement.
Sudan
Our work on the Sudan conflict has focused on understanding local protection arrangements and the political economy of armed groups. Our dialogue and advisory work has supported humanitarian access negotiations, cultural protection and violence reduction efforts.
Beyond compliance in conversation
What does everyday life during war and armed conflict look like? How do ordinary people engage with armed actors? And how can the law contribute to protecting civilians?
Expert commentary
-
Ashley Jackson
The Taliban ban on women studying basic nursing skills “makes absolutely no sense. Even according to the Taliban's own logic…but there are people inside the system fighting for more sensible policies who realize that Afghanistan needs midwives, it needs female doctors, it needs female nurses.”
Speaking to NPR
-
Jerome Drevon
“In a way, this is his Zelensky moment. Zelensky was criticized before the war in Ukraine, and then he became a statesman. The question is can Jolani make the same transformation.”
Discussing how HTS will govern in the New York Times -
Nadwa Dawsari
“The Houthis’ missile and drone arsenal and other military capabilities make them superior to other forces in Yemen. If they succeed in taking over the country, the violence will not end. The Houthis see themselves as a regional and global actor—their ambitions extend beyond Yemen’s borders, posing a threat to the broader region...”
Speaking to the Washington Institute
Our donors and partners
