Disruption of chaos in global politics

Image by engin akyurt from Unsplash

Nothing is new under the sun.

The governor of South Kivu confirmed that 171 bodies of mass graves have been found in Kiromoni and Kavimbira which are neighborhoods located eastern DRC which was under the security of M23. Within days, news of the Supreme Leader of Iran was also killed by the Israeli Defense Force with details provided by U.S Intelligence. The first recent attack was provoked by Israel in June 13,2025, causing a 12 day bombardment. The ramifications in both regions are catastrophic and ongoing yet not isolated from geopolitics occurring around the world. Social and progressive movements are creating organized cohesion which is putting pressure on heads of states. The capitulation to right wing populism is dumbfounding especially since populism is hijacking efforts made in disguise of bringing about democratic process. At a time when co-opting legitimate political agendas, it’s apparent to highlighting movements necessary to silence the populism.

Solidarity in midst of chaos.

On January 21, 2017, right after Trump’s Inauguration, Women’s March became the largest march in U.S history and globally reached five million people also igniting Me-Too movement founded by Tarana Burke in 2006. The Women’s March and Me-Too movement meshed into an inclusive and broad coalition of people that were not only tied to a specific policy but came together to create spaces for women to be heard. The movement continued to expand regardless of gender spectrum while creating a healing space from sexual trauma and violence to creating healthy dialogues.

Even though the movements were not tied to specific policy, some sense of justice to people that have experienced sexual violence and trauma have been able to have their voices heard. People are emboldened to speak out when they necessarily wouldn’t. From public offices, churches, communities, coalitions have been good.

In DRC, various regions have been battling conflicts for decades and often in remote areas that involve communities that inhabit regular people, but also densely forested. During conflict, infiltration in communities causes all sorts of horrors, from burning communities, ethnic cleansing, genocide and human rights abuses has been unstoppable. There are many organizations to stumble upon that has been helping communities in the eastern region and all over DRC. The most notable one was founded by Dr. Denis Mukwege who in 1999 became overwhelmed as a gynecologist doctor when he witnessed what women were going through during the first and second Congo war.

Through organizing of women within the community, he was able to build a coalition of other doctors to provide various treatments, rehabilitations, and teaching them how to also rehabilitate their fellow women when they go back into their communities. Dr. Mukwege together with his staff at Panzi hospital has so far treated 87,000 sexual survivors since 1999. In 2003, he launched mobile first clinics that were designed to use holistic methods especially in underserved residents as well as psychosocial support in communities. In 2017, 11 men were convicted of crimes against humanity for the rape of dozens of girls and the murder of two men. Panzi’s legal team was able to not only support but also provide reparations for the parties affected. The advocacy of Dr. Mukwege in combating sexual violence as a weapon of war has awarded him Noble Peace and has highlighted the ongoing conflict in DRC.

In Iran, Sedigheh Vasmaghi, a renown theologian, politician and poet publicly removed her hijab, recorded and published her video as symbol of protest stating “We cannot remain silent against the killing of women and girls like Mahsa (Jina Amini) or Armita (Geravand) who were killed merely because of their hijab.” More women followed suit by removing hijabs in public spaces in solidarity. This was a year after Woman, Life and Freedom protest occurred. On the economic side, apart from US sanctions that has been making it harder for Iran’s economy to overcome regime loyalists, corruption and nepotism became another issue that was causing movements to erupt within the country.

Woman, Life, and Freedom protest in 2022 coincided with political and economic crises that faced it and the youth’s discontent of lack of reforms in the government. State-sanctioned killing of Amini, a Kurdish from historically marginalized community, cited a public outcry for democratic transformation within Iran and which, like the Women’s march and Me-Too movement, brought diverse communities of ethnics, class, religion and other identities to protest with a demand for change. In January 8th and 9th, the Iranian regime is reported to have massacred 36,500 people in 400 cities to repress the Iranians. Sedigheh, Lawyers, and other cultural figures publicly held the supreme leader responsible for the atrocities.

It’s not about democracy.

Direct alignment with loyalists of authoritarian and fascist regimes stifles economic process and progress. Invasion of Iran, peace process and economic funding of initiatives like the ones proposed of rebuilding crisis and genocide in torn areas without affirming the initial causes not only shows the callousness of political loyalists but further harms efforts that has been put in place with the communities like the Women March, Me-Too, Panzi Foundation, and Woman, Life, and Freedom movement.

As the war in Iran ensues, the shift of media attention is directed towards another ongoing conflict and removes the gaze off of Gaza, West Bank and the Palestinian people while Trump’s regime is still on the next phase. *A proposal held by the Board of Peace was held at Davos by Trump and Jared Kushner and other autocrats hailing “a new Gaza” which would give U.S Gaza takeover, and “relocating” Palestinians.* The plan is to create a utopian takeover that is intended to invite tourism, and vacation spots. That has not been the requirements of Palestinians communities, rather the opposite.

Saying no to apartheid is to affirm the Palestinian people, their state, and their existence while denying any occupation of military invasion. All efforts should be sounding the alarms of real political reform through democratic process by the people of those states and treating political demonstrations and protests as a sign of solidarity away from autocracy. Demonstration especially diverse peaceful protests is disrupting the chaos and putting the power back in the hands of the people.