Staffan de Mistura, veteran UN diplomat and currently the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, shares insights from a career spanning more than fifty years, twenty-one missions, and service under four UN Secretaries-General. From humanitarian beginnings to senior political roles in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, de Mistura has been at the heart of some of the world’s most complex conflicts.

He speaks about his enduring passion for the art of mediation—how moments that seem impossible can suddenly become entry points, why mediators must avoid preconditions that stall progress, and the crucial role of timing in both peacemaking and life. He also reflects on the personal costs of a career in conflict resolution and the lessons it offers about balance and commitment.

Above all, de Mistura shows that effective mediation depends on both speed and patience, the ability to seize fleeting opportunities, and a deep understanding of human connection—even in the most dangerous and unpredictable contexts.

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Recorded in November 2025, Dr Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister of Qatar and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shares first-hand experience from the front lines of mediating today’s most brutal and entrenched conflicts. From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Russia–Ukraine war, Qatar has found itself at the table in crises where dialogue can feel impossible.

Dr Al-Ansari reflects candidly on what it takes to bring adversaries back into the same room, even when violence has claimed their loved ones, and why lasting peace requires confronting that pain directly. Above all, Dr Al-Ansari emphasises learning from people on the ground, reminding us that effective mediation is shaped as much by human connection as by diplomacy.

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The fourth President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, shares his unique perspectives on mediation efforts both during his tenure as head of state and within regional peace initiatives, including in Eastern DRC and Ethiopia’s Tigray region. He highlights the challenges posed by frequent changes in mediators and the importance of collaboration to build on prior progress and address root causes. As the son of Kenya’s first president, he reflects on invaluable lessons passed down from his father and on early encounters with various heads of state during his childhood. President Kenyatta also opens up about his passion for politics while candidly discussing the 2007-2008 electoral violence that shook Kenya and his leadership, and the path forward toward lasting peace.

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