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PEACE & SECURITY REPORT
IPSI's Peace & Security Report (PSR) is a concise weekly e-publication intended to brief busy students, academics, advocates, and conflict management practitioners on pertinent global news, events, and trends. The PSR empowers us all to take a step back from our immediate deadlines each Friday and gain a greater understanding of the week's global events.


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Featured Article

Mali: An Imposed Peace?
 
International Crisis Group


After eight months of negotiations between Malian parties, the government and some armed groups signed an agreement on 15 May 2015 in Bamako. Fighting has resumed, however, in the north and centre of Mali. Crucially, the Azawad Movements Coalition (CMA) has still not signed the agreement. It initialled the text on the eve of the ceremony but demands further discussion before fully accepting it. An agreement without the signature of the main coalition opposing the government is of little value and will likely make disarmament impossible. The mediation team should establish a framework that would allow for further talks and Malian parties should return to the negotiating table at the earliest opportunity. The UN Security Council and its UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), backed by France, must take a stronger stance against violations of the ceasefire.

 

Africa  

BURUNDI: Opposition leader shot and killed

Unidentified gunman shot and killed Zedi Feruzi, chairman of Burundian Union for Peace and Development, in a drive-by shooting on Saturday, along with one of his bodyguards. Feruzi led protests against President Nkurunziza's run for a third term. Since the shooting, the opposition suspended peace talks with the Burundi government and resumed protesting. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Burundi to seek justice for both the killers of Feruzi and those involved in a grenade attack a few days earlier. Comment: As the Burundi election draws closer, analysts predict that protests against the President's campaign for a third term will likely continue to escalate. (Business Standard, Associated Press, Bloomberg, CNN, The Independent)

 

ETHIOPIA: Ruling party EPRDF maintains full control of parliament

Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) gained control of all of the parliamentary seats counted thus far from elections this past weekend. According to polls released May 27, the party won 442 of 547 parliamentary seats. As the ruling party for the past 20 years, ERPDF campaigned on its past decisions regarding the economy and poverty. The final tally of parliamentary seats will be announced June 22. Comment: ERPDF's victory maintains the status quo of the Ethiopian government. The European Union and the African Union's election observation mission praised the peaceful manner of the elections. (Al Jazeera, New Business Ethiopia, Bloomberg)

 

KENYA: Kenyan Police attacked by Al-Shabaab in Garissa County, one dead

On May 25, suspected Islamic militants associated with Al-Shabaab attacked Kenyan police in Garissa, leaving one officer dead. The police conducted a search for Al-Shabaab militants when militants began shooting, killing one officer and injuring four others. Militants also burned a convoy of four vehicles transporting police reinforcements. Al-Shabaab propaganda claimed credit for the attack and insisted they killed 20 police officers, which the Inspector General of Police refuted. Comment: Al-Shabaab is an Islamic militant group based in Somalia that recently increased its attacks in Kenya. Just last month, Al-Shabaab militants carried out another attack at Garissa University, killing 148 people. (The Standard, Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC)

 

NIGERIA: Deal reached with government to end fuel strike

Fuel distributors and the Nigerian government reached an agreement on Monday, May 25 to resume the distribution of fuel. The government keeps fuel prices low for Nigerians by paying the difference to fuel marketers; however, since fuel companies claimed the government owed them money, marketers shut down fuel distribution to force the government to pay. Nigerians, especially in the country's largest city Lagos, have been unable to obtain fuel and use electricity, virtually shutting down the economy. The government and fuel companies agreed to lift the strike, but companies intend to take up the issue with the new government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari once he takes office on May 29. Comment: The agreement did not entirely resolve the issue of fuel distribution and payment, and the newly elected government will have to deal with the demands of fuel companies once it takes office. (Vanguard, News24, Reuters, CNN, BBC)

 

Researched/Written by Kaitlin Demchuck
Americas 

COLOMBIA: Police seize three tons of explosives near Ecuadorean boarder

On Sunday morning, Colombia's national police arrested two men transporting over three tons of ammonium nitrate and 600 meters of safety fuses across the Ecuadorian boarder. After receiving a tip from the Ecuadorian officials, police discovered the explosives concealed in bags of rice in the back of a van traveling through the Nari�o Department. Local authorities charged the two men with manufacturing and transporting explosives and firearms, and speculated that the materials were to be used by FARC guerrilla to attack security forces. Comment: The Nari�o chief of police praised the interdiction as a successful example of international communication and cooperation regarding transnational crime in the region. FARC is considered a "terrorist organization" by the Colombian government, the EU, and the U.S., although neighboring countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, and Nicaragua refuse to label it as such. The seizure of these explosives comes amidst an escalation of violence that could threaten the peace process currently underway in the country.  (El Espectador, Radio Santa Fe, Colombia Reports)

PERU: State of emergency declared in southern provinces after violent anti-mining protests
A state of emergency, announced late last Friday by the Peruvian president, went into effect on May 23 in the southern province Arequipa. Military personnel were brought in to monitor the 40,000 citizens living in the area, and the state of emergency will remain in place for 60 days. The government has since been criticized by international organizations for its suspension of civil liberties during this state of emergency; suspended rights include the freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, and protection against searches without warrants. Activists, many of them farmers, defied the order on Wednesday and continued their protests against the proposed $1.4 billion copper mining project. Comment: The announcement states that "The government of President Humala will defend the constitution firmly and forcefully for the right of all the people of Peru to live in peace." (AP, ReutersCNN)

UNITED STATES: Internal Revenue Service victim of cyber attack
On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a U.S. government department responsible for all tax collecting information, announced that its system had been hacked, compromising the personal information of over 100,000 taxpayers . The hackers gained access to the sensitive information through a new system called "Get Transcript," which allows taxpayers to go online and view their own tax record history. The fraud was detected this week after an increase in use of the new system was observed, despite some threats dating back to February. The stolen personal information was used to file fraudulent tax returns totaling approximately USD $50 million. The IRS has opened an investigation into the theft, but has refused to officially comment as to whether the hackers are domestic or foreign. On Wednesday, media reports claimed the hacks could be traced back to Russia. Comment: Senator Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, claims that the IRS has been repeatedly warned that its data security systems are inadequate against the growing threat of international hackers and data thieves; however, the IRS has recently asked Congress for more funds to improve its quality of services and security, wherein no action has been taken to address the issue thus far. (The Washington Times, New York Times, Reuters)

Researched/Written by Rebecca Oswalt
East Asia & Pacific 

CAMBODIA: China delivers military equipment and training to Cambodian forces

China delivered a cache of weapons and equipment to the Cambodian military on May 26, underscoring deepening military ties between the two countries. The delivery included logistical and support equipment, as well as anti-aircraft guns and mobile rocket launchers. The transfer was formalized between Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and Chinese Ambassador Bu Jianguo at a ceremony held at the Infantry Institute located in Kampong Speu province. The facility trains about half of all Cambodia's officer candidates, and is largely funded by China. Comment: Cambodia is the largest single recipient of Chinese military aid, and this exchange represents the continued and potentially deepening security cooperation between the two nations. Cambodia faces internal divisions and development issues some two decades after the official end of its 13-year civil war. (Cambodia Daily, Phnom Penh Post, Xinhua)

 

JAPAN: Joint military exercises with U.S. and Australia in July

This week, Tokyo announced that it will participate in the "Talisman Sabre" biennial exercises in Australia this July. The exercise will take place at a number of locations in and around Australia, and will test amphibious, urban, special operations, and naval warfare tactics. About 40 Japanese personnel will participate in the exercise embedded with U.S. units, while New Zealand troops will embed with their Australian counterparts. Comment: Japan's participation in the Talisman Sabre exercise is the first of its kind and is consistent with the foreign policy tone of the Shinzo Abe government, which has espoused an interest in "normalizing" the nation's defense apparatus by allowing its armed forces to prepare for at least some degree of expeditionary, overseas operations. The exercise comes at a time of growing concern in the region over China's efforts to reclaim land in the South China Sea, which some analysts have claimed is a reaction to the Obama Administration's "Pivot to Asia" strategy. Japanese defense officials denied that the country's participation in the exercise was aimed at China. Japan's constitution bans the use or threat of use of force for the resolution of international disputes, although it recognizes the right to self-defense.  (Reuters, Economic Times, International Business Times Aus.)

 

NORTH KOREA: Pressure to stem nuclear program

South Korean, Japanese, and U.S. envoys met in Seoul this week to discuss how to move forward in stemming North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The talks come shortly after the Kim's government tested what appeared to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead stealthily and with little warning. Also under discussion were ways to encourage China to apply pressure to North Korea over its weapons programs. The U.S. representative to the "Six Party Talks" aimed at stymying North Korean nuclear progress will reportedly meet with Chinese diplomats later this week to discuss the possibility of further joint sanctions against North Korea. Comment: Despite long-term, if intermittent, international sanctions, North Korea has consistently reneged on agreements to limits its nuclear warhead and ballistic missile ambitions, which the Kim regime claims are natural elements of the state's sovereign right to self-defense. North Korea has tested nuclear warheads three times since 2006, with varying degrees of success. (Reuters, New York Times, The Straits Times

 
Researched/Written by Leet Wood
Europe & Central Asia

KOSOVO/MACEDONIA:  Thousands attend funeral for militants killed by Macedonian police in Kosovo

On Tuesday, thousands of people in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, attended the funeral of eight ethnic Albanian militants killed earlier this month by Macedonian security forces. Many of those who attended the funeral wore the black uniforms of the now-defunct Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an armed group that took part in Kosovo's brief war for independence with Serbia from 1998-1999. The militants were slain during clashes with police in the Macedonian town of Kumanovo on May 9 during a series of raids by police targeting a supposed ethnic Albanian militant group operating in the region. The fighting resulted in the deaths of eight Macedonian policemen and fourteen of the militants, 9 of whom allegedly came from Kosovo.  Thirty people were arrested by police forces during the raids and charged with terrorism. Comment: The violence in Kumanovo is regarded as the worst seen in Macedonia since a brief conflict between Albanian rebels and the government in 2001. Albanians make up approximately one quarter of Macedonia's population, and this recent spate of violence has prompted fears within the international community of future ethnic unrest in the region.  (Gulf Times , Reuters, Independent Balkan News Agency)

 

KAZAKHSTAN:  Constitutional Council strikes down controversial "homosexual propaganda"law

Kazakhstan's Constitutional Council struck down a controversial law on Wednesday that would have outlawed "homosexual propaganda"to minors. The law, which was designed to govern the "protection of children from information causing damage to their health and development," was passed by Kazakhstan's parliament earlier this year; however, the Council ruled that the legislation was not legal, as it contained "unclear wording."This announcement follows criticism by several well-known sports stars and Olympic athletes, who called on the International Olympic Committee to reject Kazakhstan's bid to host the Winter Games in 2022 out of human rights concerns stemming from the proposed law. Comment:  The legislation is very similar to a law passed in Russia in 2013, which similarly outlawed targeting minors with "homosexual propaganda."That law also sparked international outcry and controversy in the months leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics, which were hosted by Russia in the popular Black Sea resort town of Sochi.  (BBC Russian, EurasiaNet, Moscow Times)

 

RUSSIA:  Legislation regarding designation of NGOs signed into law

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law legislation granting the Justice Ministry the authority to designate non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Russia as "undesirable." Under the law, organizations that allegedly "pose a threat to Russia's defense capabilities, security, public order, [or] public health," are listed under the new designation, and individuals who work with or for such organizations may be subject to fines or sentences of up to six years in prison. Russian authorities have already begun raids of the headquarters of several NGOs in Russia, including Amnesty International in Moscow, which underwent an unexpected raid by tax officials on Monday. Representatives from Memorial, Russia's oldest human rights organization, have stated that they will refuse to register and plan to challenge the law in the European Court of Human Rights. Comment:  This legislation follows a law passed in 2012 that allowed Russian prosecutors to designate NGOs that received funding from abroad as "foreign agents." Russia's Constitutional Court did not rule the 2012 law as discriminatory despite pressure from many NGOs and the international community.  (Euronews, Moscow Times, RFERL)

 

REGIONAL:  Proposed plan by Commission on migrant relocation in EU

The European Commission on Wednesday called on EU member states to accept some 40,000 asylum seekers from Eritrea and Syria over the next several years. This announcement follows a visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to Brussels, where he urged European governments to contribute more to aiding migrants, particularly from Syria. Under the Commission's proposed plan, participating member states would be designated quotas to resettle migrants coming in to Europe, with Germany, France, and Spain receiving the largest numbers of asylum seekers. Each country would receive funding in the form of EUR 6,000 per migrant in order to see to their relocation. Comment:  Italy, Malta, and Greece have experienced an influx of tens of thousands of asylum seekers, especially Greece, which received more than 1,200 migrants, mostly from Syria, across its islands over a period of two days this week. (AlJazeera, BBC, Euronews)


 

 Researched/Written by Matthew Brainovich
Middle East & North Africa 

IRAQ: IS targets Iraqi army through suicide attacks

The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) launched a series of car bombs against an Iraqi military convoy on Tuesday that killed at least 17 soldiers with the upper estimate at 55 deaths. The suicide attacks came in the midst of preparations by the Iraqi military and allied Shi'ite militias for an offensive assault to retake the city of Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province. This planned offensive is part of the larger Shi'ite-led campaign against IS in the province. The militias recently faced criticism over the choice of a sectarian codename honoring Hussein ibn Ali, an important figure in Shi'ite Islam. The campaign was rebranded on Wednesday in an effort to gain the support of Sunni Iraqis and now operates under the name "Labeyk Ya Iraq," which translates to "At Your Service, Iraq." Comment: Ramadi has been controlled by IS since May 17. The liberation of Ramadi and western Anbar could provide the Iraqi government and its allies with crucial momentum in their fight against IS. The controversy surrounding the campaign's codename evidences the precarious nature of this Sunni-Shi'ite alliance against IS. (Reuters, Daily Star, Al Jazeera)

 

LIBYA: Attempted assassination of prime minister

The internationally recognized prime minister of Libya, Abdullah al-Thinni, survived an assassination attempt by assailants from an unnamed group on Tuesday. Prime Minister al-Thinni claims that gunmen opened fire on his car as he left a meeting of the Council of Deputies. According to lawmaker witnesses, Council President Aqila Saleh Issa requested that al-Thinni leave the parliamentary meeting after protesters gathered outside of the building and set fire to a car. The army warned on Wednesday that further aggression would be responded to with force. Comment: The attack evidences the uneasy position of al-Thinni and his government, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, despite the support of the international community. A rival government, known as the General National Congress, was established in Tripoli in August 2014. The ongoing power struggle between the two governments has allowed supporters of the Islamic State to gain power in some parts of Libya. (Reuters, BBC, Daily Star)

 

YEMEN: Violence continues after postponement of UN-backed negotiations

Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition killed at least 40 civilians on May 27 in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa and along the Saudi-Yemeni border. Estimates of the death toll are as high as 80, which would make Wednesday's bombings the deadliest since the strikes began in March. The air raids came after UN-supported peace talks scheduled for Thursday were postponed earlier in the week. The exiled government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi withdrew from the talks, citing the Houthis' refusal to commit to UN Security Council mandates. Comment: Hadi's government demands that Houthi forces surrender occupied territory in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2216 before talks can begin. Analysts say the indefinite postponement of negotiations likely means continued violence in Yemen amongst internal groups and by the Gulf State coalition. (Reuters, Al Jazeera, Daily Star)

 

Researched/Written by Marlee Clayton

South Asia

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN: China hosts Afghanistan peace talks

Last week, China hosted peace talks between Taliban and Afghan officials in Xinjiang province, which were partially organized by Pakistan. Acting Defense Minister Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai led the Afghan government delegation, while three former members of the Taliban government were on the other side. The Afghan Taliban denied knowledge of the talks, and it was later revealed that the three Taliban emissaries are not official emissaries of the Afghan Taliban, but currently live in Pakistan and have ties to the Pakistani Taliban and intelligence services. Commentary: This summit occurred after China hosted talks with Afghan Taliban and Pakistani intelligence officials at the end of 2014 in Beijing, as China seeks to play a larger role in the regional peace process. (New York Times, Times of India, Voice of America)

INDIA: Countrywide heat wave claims over 1,000 lives

The death toll for a heat wave sweeping India surpassed 1,200, with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states in the southeast bearing the brunt of the casualties. Temperatures reached a high of 47� Celsius in parts of the country, with temperatures hovering in the mid-40s for much of India. The heat wave began after an early end to pre-monsoon rains and is expected to continue until the Southwest Monsoon hits India at the end of May. Commentary: The majority of the victims of the heat wave are poor or elderly, and increased energy usage to combat the heat is stoking fears of a blackout similar to the 2012 blackout in Northern India, which left over 600 million people without power. (Hindustan Times, CNN, Time)

BANGLADESH: Government plans to move thousands of Rohingya refugees to Hatiya Island

This week, the Bangladeshi government announced plans to relocate thousands of Rohingya refugees from camps near the border with Myanmar to Hatiya Island in the Bay of Bengal. The government made the decision in part because it believed the camps were affecting tourism in nearby Cox's Bazar, a popular local beach and resort destination. Commentary: This decision comes as the international community increasingly scrutinizes the treatment of the Rohingya in Southeast Asia. Rohingya refugees routinely endure adverse conditions and treatment aboard boats run by human trafficking organizations; many are literally pushed back into the sea upon arrival at their destination. (Daily Mail, Malaysian Insider, The Daily Star)


Researched/Written by Lawson Ferguson

May 29, 2015
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