This is a roundup of news articles, reports, and other materials focusing on (in)security issues and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of Security in Context. The goal is to shed light on knowledge production on security-related issues of public interest from critical perspectives and from global south readings by highlighting media from four particular regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and developing Asia. Entries may include academic journal articles, think tank reports, non-governmental organizations releases, official documents or government-commissioned research, and regular news items. The material included covers SiC's key security issues: Climate Change, Security and International Relations, Migration and Displacement, Covid-19 and Capitalism, Technologies of Surveillance, Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Sexuality, Arms and the Military-industrial Complex, and Censorship.
You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to admin@securityincontext.com.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Maduro mulls creating new regional bloc allied to Russia and China
January 14, 2023
President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, looks to form a new alliance between Latin America, the Caribbean, China, and Russia in order to create “new poles of power.” Maduro says he has already spoken with the leaders of Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina.
South American nation's president calls out foreign infiltrators
January 14, 2023
Current leader of Peru, Dina Boluarte, issued a statement where she warned of foreign interference in the form of provocateurs in recent violent protests. Boluarte affirmed that she will not step down and will try to remedy the effects of the state of emergency, which has greatly restricted Peruvians rights, by inviting watchdogs from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
January 11, 2023
Héctor Béjar, former Foreign Minister of Peru under Pedro Castillo, offers a brief analysis of the illegal removal of Castillo and the state of emergency issued by the Dina Boluarte government. Héctor Béjar expresses his outrage with the illegality of his removal and the subsequent repression of Peruvians’ protest.
Authorities probe who was behind uprising in Brazil capital
January 9, 2023
Thousands of supporters of former President Bolsonaro stormed Brazil’s capital demanding that the military depose newly elected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and install the former president. Over 1200 protestors were detained as hundreds face indictments.
January 7, 2023
China has negotiated with Argentina in an effort to develop a military base in the city of Ushuaia, effectively granting China access to Antarctica. This would also allow China to have a permanent base in the Southern hemisphere and could serve as a foundation for further developments.
Africa
DRC: M23 pledges to pursue "orderly withdrawal", says Kenyatta
January 13, 2023
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been mediating the conflict between East African nations and the M23, has stated that the M23 is planning a withdrawal and ceasefire.
Ghana increases salaries by 30 percent amid economic woes
January 13, 2023
Due to record inflation of 50.3 percent in Ghana, the nation’s government has increased salaries by 30%, two months after enlisting the help of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to assist with their economic issues.
Kenya and South Africa are working to address trade barriers: where to start
January 10, 2023
Kenya and South Africa are seeking to expand trade between one another in 2023, but the hurdle of administrative barriers for different trade blocs will need to be addressed to make sure their plans follow through smoothly.
Detained Journalists Hunger Strike Highlights Press Freedom Woes in Senegal
January 7, 2023
An investigative reporter in Senegal, Pape Alé Niang, was arrested in November for disclosing secret government information. As the threat of press restriction has become a prominent issue in the country, Pape Alé Niang has gone on hunger strike inspiring many to protest government repression.
Climate change is leaving African elephants desperate for water
January 5, 2023
While African elephants suffer from poaching and loss of habitat, longer and more severe droughts in most of Africa have resulted in many elephants dying of dehydration.
January 3, 2023
Going by the name “Akil,” Meraghni El-Hadj Ali has confessed to using social networks to plan terrorist acts in Algeria, saying he was misled by groups that profit from terrorist behavior.
Middle East
US working with Congress towards Turkey F-16 sale
January 13, 2023
The U.S. plans on concluding a long awaited 20-billion dollar arms deal with Turkey and has informally notified key congressional members of the deal. Additionally, the U.S. looks to arm Greece as well, a geopolitical adversary of Turkey.
Iran releases taped 'confessions' by dual British citizen sentenced to death
January 12, 2023
Iranian media outlets have released tapes of Alireza Akbari confessing to his crimes of espionage. While Iran argues that his execution is adequate punishment given that his crimes against Iran allegedly contributed to the 2020 assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist. Some media outlets contend that Akbari was forced to confess through means of torture.
Egyptian pound plummets to record low against dollar, marking 50% depreciation over 1 year
January 11, 2023
The Egyptian fell to a record low value before slightly rebounding soon after. The depreciation of the currency is indicative of the severe economic hardships Egypt has suffered over the last year.
Syria’s Failed, Forgotten State
January 11, 2023
The mainstream media seems to have largely forgotten about Syria which continues to suffer serious hardships due to constant conflict and civil unrest. According to humanitarian reports, 97% of Syrians live in poverty and 80% are food insecure.
Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir bans Palestine flag in public
January 9, 2023
Itamar Ben-Gvir, recently elected Israeli National Security Minister, has implemented a number of far-right policies against Palestinians including banning any brandishing of the Palestinian flag. This harsh policy is part of Israeli’s far-right government and falls in line with its oppressive stance on Palestinians.
Developing Asia
January 14, 2023
India has a stated policy that it would not consider any project in Nepal that receives Chinese funding. For at least two international airports in Nepal, this would represent significant losses.
January 13, 2023
Urban guerrillas launched non-lethal strikes this week in Mandalay and Yangon to disrupt a demographic survey that the military dictatorship had ordered as a step toward hosting junta-controlled elections later this year. Two years ago, following the National League of Democracy's victory in the general election for Myanmar, the military advanced widely refuted allegations that the party had committed major fraud. In February 2021, the army used the election's results as justification for seizing power; since the coup, the junta has intended to organize fresh elections with its own backing.
January 12, 2023
In 2023, top defense and diplomatic leaders from both nations agreed to enhance their military alliance and security cooperation, seeing China as the "biggest geopolitical challenge." Chinese analysts warned that a deeper military partnership with the US and a more aggressive stance would make Japan more vulnerable and would not be welcomed by regional nations.
China's 'retaliatory' visa restriction foreshadows turbulent times ahead
January 12, 2023
China has imposed a visa restriction on South Koreans in response to Seoul's stricter immigration policies. COVID-19 restrictions on Chinese tourists are the type of tit-for-tat squabble that the two Asian neighbors will have to cope with on several fronts for some time.
IMF Managing Director says Vietnam is Asia's best performing economies
January 11, 2023
On January 10, IMF Managing Director Antoinette Sayeh urged Vietnam to sustain its performance and remain one of Asia's fastest-growing economies. Vietnam's macroeconomic variables were constant in 2022: inflation climbed by 3.15%, below the estimate (4%), while GDP rose by 8.02%. The country exported almost seven million tons of rice and agricultural goods worth US$53 billion, resulting in a US$10 billion trade surplus and global food security. In 2022, Vietnam had $409 billion in GDP and $4,110 per capita.
Bangladesh opposition conducts protest calling for the ouster of PM Hasina
January 11, 2023
Thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's biggest opposition party have gathered in rallies throughout the country's cities to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of a caretaker administration to hold general elections. On January 11, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its supporters organized protests in the nation's capital Dhaka and nine other cities. This was the most recent of numerous protests sparked by growing resentment over the rising cost of living.
Myanmar's coup has displaced thousands in Yangon.
January 10, 2023
In Myanmar, tens of thousands of houses have been demolished as part of the military's drive to quell civil unrest. The anti-regime strongholds in rural Sagaing Region and other relatively isolated locations have suffered the most destruction. However, scenes of utter devastation have also been seen in several major urban centers.
Key Issues
This section includes the latest and most pressing news regarding SiC's key security issues.
January 13, 2023
The Human Rights Watch is imploring international communities to ask Ethiopia to allow an independent investigation of the two year civil war that has been transpiring in the country, while also acknowledging how little attention the conflict has received thus far globally.
EU-NATO joint proclamation ‘reflects partiality, arrogance against China’
January 11, 2023
On January 10, the European Union (EU) and NATO signed a joint statement that clearly mentions the alleged "challenges from China." A spokesman for the Chinese delegation to the EU remarked on the same day that the proclamation shows the prejudice and haughtiness of the EU and NATO against China's image, which China vehemently rejects.
S.Africa will not impose COVID-19 restrictions on travelers from China
January 10, 2023
Addressing a surge of Covid-19 infections out of China, South Africa’s health ministry says there is no need to impose new restrictions on visitors from China, but that South Africa would pursue more rigorous Covid testing and vaccination campaigns.
Gold mining in Myanmar are damaging the environment and human life
January 8, 2023
Military-affiliated enterprises' gold mining in Myanmar's eastern Shan State intensified the eviction of farmers and significantly damaged the environment. Since the military takeover in February 2021, mining activity in Tachileik, a district in Shan State, has risen. Many fast-tracked licenses for new projects have been granted to businesses associated with the military. Local environmental and human rights organizations have conjectured that the military is looking for quick money to support itself during a spiraling economic collapse.
