Difficult times have increased the demand for CMI’s work. In 2023, the number of requests for cooperation remained high. Wars and polarisation have narrowed the space for official diplomacy, and as a result CMI’s added value as an independent conflict resolution organisation has become increasingly important.
In 2023, international developments were characterised by military conflicts and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continued, and major conflicts in Gaza and Sudan caused widespread death and suffering, displaced millions of people and severely threatened regional stability. Much of the international attention focused on containing the consequences of the wars.
The wars and polarisation have left international and regional organisations struggling to deal with these crises. As the space for official diplomacy has diminished, the role of independent mediators such as CMI has become more crucial. 2023 saw a growing need to maintain contacts with regimes and actors who are shunned by the international community. “Independent actors who do not legitimise their counterparts have a growing role to play in bridging this gap”, writes CMI’s CEO Janne Taalas in our 2023 Annual Report.
Reflecting the diminished capacity of official diplomacy, the number of requests that CMI receives for new or expanded cooperation has steadily increased in recent years. In 2023, CMI received 99 such requests. The requests are a strong endorsement of the credibility of and trust in CMI’s work.
During the year, CMI was involved in 32 peace and dialogue processes from Asia to sub-Saharan Africa. CMI continued to strengthen links with emerging mediation actors beyond the traditional Western ones. In 2023, cooperation was initiated or intensified with several organisations in the Middle East and China.
2023 will be remembered for the passing of our founder, President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari (1937-2023). The 2023 Annual Report focuses on his living legacy for mediation, as Ahtisaari’s core principles are ever more relevant for promoting peace in an increasingly unstable world.