Rise to Peace

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Rise to Peace One story grew into a global network of voices—understanding terrorism and building peace. Preventing Terrorism. Shaping Peace.

We are a registered tax exempt 501 c (3) non-profit focused on empowering peace, education and tolerance as tools to eliminate extremist ideology and its pervasive brutality around the world. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on working in conflict zones with local partners to provide actionable information, sharp analysis and educational tools to help prevent terrorism, counter violent extremism, and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world. Rise to Peace seeks to fulfill its mission with a series of educational efforts. The foundation of these efforts is the “Interview Project,” in which we personally interview young people who formerly embraced extremist ideology and became misguided foot soldiers for groups such as the Taliban, al-Shabaab and ISIS. We travel around the globe to conduct these interviews and understand how these youngsters were recruited by these groups and what eventually enabled them to break the chains of extremism. Rise to Peace works closely with the communities and foreign governments to create programs that benefit the locals, support the governments and counter extremist ideologies on the ground in the conflict zones. We believe in the power of communities as the true path to countering violent extremism and sustainable peace. Our objective is to develop resilience in the communities to be the frontline in countering violent extremism and in peacemaking through trainings, engagements and establishing effective communication.

A generation’s future depends on access to education.In August, UNICEF reported that more than 2.6 million girls in Afgh...
10/11/2026

A generation’s future depends on access to education.

In August, UNICEF reported that more than 2.6 million girls in Afghanistan have been denied secondary education since 2021. Behind that number are young people whose opportunities continue to narrow.

On March 13, 2019, Rise to Peace hosted “Elections, Extremism and the Next Generation” at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. Today’s restrictions give us reason to revisit that conversation about the country’s future.

We thank our colleague Abdul Hamid Nejrabi, pictured speaking to the press, for helping us organize the symposium, and our team working from Washington to Kabul for making it possible.

Our commitment to dialogue and preventing violent extremism continues. Education and opportunities for young people remain central to that work. Keeping Afghanistan’s next generation in the conversation means paying attention to whether they can learn, participate, and help shape their communities.

Current source:
https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/more-26-million-girls-afghanistan-have-been-denied-secondary-education-2021

Revisit our 2019 symposium:
https://www.risetopeace.org/our-story/?record=auaf-2019

In a world where events can change by the hour, understanding what is happening—and what the evidence actually shows—mat...
10/10/2026

In a world where events can change by the hour, understanding what is happening—and what the evidence actually shows—matters.

Rise to Peace’s Active Intelligence network brings together open-source reporting, data, technology, and human verification to build a continuously updated picture of conflict and security developments around the world.

As wars, drone attacks, political violence, disinformation, and emerging technologies increasingly overlap. Recent Rise to Peace analysis has examined issues ranging from Ukraine’s air-defense challenges to satellite connectivity and the changing role of AI in security.

Intelligence isn't just about predicting the next crisis. It is about organizing evidence, challenging assumptions, and helping people understand a rapidly changing world.



https://www.risetopeace.org/live/

Violence linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State in the Sahel is on course to reach record levels in 2026.In July 2021, Ris...
10/09/2026

Violence linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State in the Sahel is on course to reach record levels in 2026.

In July 2021, Rise to Peace published “The Sahel Region: Current Crisis and Challenges,” examining how weak public services, corruption, and exclusion allow extremist groups to gain ground.

That analysis helps explain why today’s response must include education, livelihoods, and accountable government alongside security measures.



https://www.risetopeace.org/2021/07/12/the-sahel-region-current-crisis-and-challenges/risetopece/

Ten years after Colombia’s 2016 peace agreement, renewed calls to fully implement it highlight the work still needed to ...
10/08/2026

Ten years after Colombia’s 2016 peace agreement, renewed calls to fully implement it highlight the work still needed to turn commitments into lasting peace.

In March 2021, Rise to Peace published “Lessons To Be Learnt From Colombia’s Economic Reintegration Programs,” examining the employment barriers and stigma former combatants face.

That analysis helps explain why peace depends on what follows an agreement: steady livelihoods, community trust, and support for returning to civilian life.

https://www.risetopeace.org/2021/03/31/lessons-to-be-learnt-from-colombias-economic-reintegration-programs/icortez/

We remember the victims of the October 7 terror attack and all civilians who have suffered in the violence and war that ...
10/07/2026

We remember the victims of the October 7 terror attack and all civilians who have suffered in the violence and war that followed.

We pray for peace, and for a future where no child, no family, and no innocent person has to live trapped in violence or fear.

May humanity always come first.

The way of the word over the way of the gun.

— Rise to Peace

Afghanistan’s political landscape has changed dramatically since 2018, but the central question remains: can the country...
10/07/2026

Afghanistan’s political landscape has changed dramatically since 2018, but the central question remains: can the country reach a political settlement without another cycle of war?

Rise to Peace has been engaging with Afghan political figures, including Ata Mohammad Noor, a leader of Jamiat-e Islami and a member of the Supreme Council of National Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan, alongside Abdul Rashid Dostum and other Afghan political leaders. In our conversations, Mr. Noor has emphasized dialogue and a negotiated political path forward. These discussions are part of the Afghanistan Project’s broader effort to understand and document positions across Afghanistan’s political landscape.

This is a conversation Rise to Peace has been part of for years. In 2018, in conjunction with the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., we convened “Afghanistan in 2020: Is Peace Possible?” The forum brought together diplomatic, national security, policy, and Afghan perspectives to examine negotiations with the Taliban, regional interests, and what a durable political settlement might require.

Eight years later, the political environment is fundamentally different. The former republic is gone and the Taliban are back in power. Yet a broadly accepted political settlement has not followed. Afghanistan still has political movements, civil society, women leaders, community figures, and longstanding constituencies whose participation will matter in any credible political process.

Rise to Peace’s position remains clear: there is no durable military solution in Afghanistan. A sustainable path forward requires an Afghan-led negotiated political settlement, supported by serious regional and international diplomacy.

The circumstances have changed. The need for a political settlement has not.

Through the Afghanistan Project, Rise to Peace will continue its research and analysis, engage Afghan political and civic leaders, document different perspectives, and examine possible pathways for Afghanistan’s future. More from these conversations, including our engagement with Mr. Noor and other Afghan leaders, will follow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KTq3I7pK4Y

In July 2017, Gail helped us bring together one of our first community gatherings at Peet’s Coffee in Fairfax, Virginia....
10/06/2026

In July 2017, Gail helped us bring together one of our first community gatherings at Peet’s Coffee in Fairfax, Virginia.

The idea was simple: say hello. Talk to someone you don’t know. Break the ice. Listen.
Because when we don’t speak to one another, it is easy to assume someone doesn’t want to talk, doesn’t care, or has nothing in common with us. Sometimes one conversation changes everything. Nearly 10 years later, Gail remains an Advisor to Rise to Peace, while continuing her work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with decades of experience helping people navigate trauma, adversity, and some of life’s most difficult moments.

Today, we recognize Gail for her leadership, advice, encouragement, and belief in this work from the beginning.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWV2HicjezJ/

In 2026, Somalia continues its military campaign against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization that rema...
10/06/2026

In 2026, Somalia continues its military campaign against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization that remains capable of carrying out attacks and controlling territory in parts of the country. In 2017, Rise to Peace hosted a dialogue on the global war on terrorism with students, researchers, and professionals to discuss the myths, realities, and solutions surrounding global terrorism. With terrorism continuing to affect countries around the world, Rise to Peace’s research and educational work provides reliable information that helps people understand the facts behind these conflicts and the challenges involved in combating terrorism.
https://www.risetopeace.org/conferences/?record=gwot-elliott-2017

In 2018, Ahmad Shah Mohibi, Rise to Peace founder, held a public discussion on extremism with experts Leanne Erdberg, U....
10/03/2026

In 2018, Ahmad Shah Mohibi, Rise to Peace founder, held a public discussion on extremism with experts Leanne Erdberg, U.S. Institute of Peace; Jesse Morton, Parallel Networks; and Edward Burkhalter, U.S. Department of State.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) operates across the Sahel, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In 2026, JNIM continued to conduct major attacks and expand its influence, contributing to the Sahel remaining a major center of militant Islamist violence.

Almost a decade later, this discussion highlights the importance of not simply defining extremism but countering it. Rise to Peace's mission is to understand these complex topics, join us as we expand our awareness
https://www.risetopeace.org/2018/11/16/defining-the-problem-and-reaching-a-solution-a-reflection-on-how-to-counter-violent-extremism/risetopece/

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In 2020, Rise to Peace founder Ahmad Shah Mohibi moderated a Panel Discussion on Afghanistan 2020, which included expert...
10/02/2026

In 2020, Rise to Peace founder Ahmad Shah Mohibi moderated a Panel Discussion on Afghanistan 2020, which included experts on the subject such as Reuters’ Security Correspondent Jonathan S. Landay, Voice of America’s Afghan Service Reporter Said Sulaiman Ashna, and the Middle East Institute’s Director for Pakistan Studies Dr. Marvin G. Weinbaum. The panel discussion focused on U.S.-Taliban peace negotiations, the prospects for a U.S. withdrawal, regional powers’ influence, the implications for Afghanistan’s political future, and the rights of women and children. Shortly after this panel discussion, US forces completed their full withdrawal from the territory on August 30, 2021, and the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan soon after. Over five years later, this panel remains prescient, as many of the concerns raised have materialized, especially the precipitous decline of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. At Rise to Peace, we support the equal and inalienable human rights and dignity of women, girls, and all people. Our work informs and contributes to the realization of this objective through policy analysis, education, outreach, and advocacy.

https://www.risetopeace.org/2020/01/29/transcript-of-a-panel-discussion-on-afghanistan-2020/risetopece/

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1201 Wilson Boulevard
Washington D.C., DC
22209

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