Mozambique Has Seen A Rise in Terrorist Activity

 

Mozambique has seen a gradual increase in terrorist activity. The group claims to be part of the Islamic State, but there has not been verification of this.  The intensity of fighting  has gotten so extreme Mozambique has requested the help of Tanzania and Zimbabwe. If the conflict gets larger it may have the SADC and African Union get involved. The rise of terrorist organizations in the southern African nation may not be entirely indigenous. Armed groups have been known to be backed multiple countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The other possibility is that Mozambique just like other African nations could be slipping into civil war. President  Fillpe Nyusi  will meet with other leaders of the region to address security issues. Cabo Delgado province  appears to be in a state of full scale insurgency. Mozambique could be at risk of intervention from major world powers on the basis of restoring stability. There were rumors that  Al-Shabab was active in the country, but there has been little credible evidence to indicate any reach outside Somalia. Mozambique experienced a brutal civil war from 1977 to 1992, which was complicated by Cold War politics. FRELIMO and RENAMO maintained peace until the renewed insurgency in 2013. Terrorist  violence did not become apparent until 2015, which indicates that the root of this current conflict is from people coming into Mozambique. The country is an important regional center due to its economic importance. South Africa will get more involved in Mozambique's affairs for that reason.   

The Leaked Audio of Joseph Biden

 

An audio recording of Joseph Biden talking with notable civil rights figures was released. The controversy about the audio was his tone and general lack of solutions to critical problems. Biden stated that African Americans need to collaborate more with Hispanics. Following that he noted that the white population could be in the minority by 2040. The way Biden articulated that sounded more like some negative future event. There is a subtle racism that is present among Biden and certain factions of his supporters. The African American community has done more to protect the rights of various ethnic groups in America's history. Without the Immigration Act of 1965 or the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Asians and Latinos would not have the opportunities they have now. Biden's statements come off as condescending  to civil rights groups who actively fight to improve race relations. He went on to blame the position of defund the police  for  the failure of the Democratic Party to win elections. Law enforcement get more funding compared to public education and infrastructure projects. This demonstrates a general lack of understanding of how poor allocation of resources will create sociological problems. Biden refuses to acknowledge that it is not African Americans and Latinos causing disunity in the country; it is a white population that wants to maintain dominance. A Biden presidency will not be dedicated to economic empowerment, fighting racism, or general reform. This is an indication that unconventional participation will have to be used to get the change the American public desires.  

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics Status

 

The Olympics were rescheduled   due to concerns related to COVID-19. Japan will be hosting the games in 2021. This will be the second time since 1964. The hope is that the pandemic will be either over or controlled by July 21 of 2021. If not, this could cause economic problems for Japan. Hosting the Olympics has been said to be good for a country's  growth. However, large scale investment in stadiums and venues is only temporary. Visitors will eventually leave, along with the financial support that tourism brings. The games have political significance as nations compete on  the world stage of sport. Many countries use the Olympics to deflect away from internal problems or to encourage nationalism in the public. Japan may not be able to do this with the dramatic changes coming from a post-Shinzo Abe era. The Olympics may not even provide unity among Asian nations. Anti-Chinese sentiment is growing globally, which has created tension among world powers. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be another extension of this rivalry. If the games to not happen in 2021, then they will be cancelled. So far, it appears Japan has COVID-19 under control to allow for the Olympics proceed as planned. 

Ethiopia Wages War on The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front

 

Ethiopia has come to a point of ethnic conflict. The Ethiopian military has sought to wipe out the Tigrayan People's  Liberation Front, which could result in a long term civil war. The tension between Tigray, Amhara, and Oromo has grown in recent years. The Tigray have accused the government of marginalizing them since the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The conflict will spillover into neighboring countries, which could attract external interference. Prime Minister Abiy Amed's peace with Eritrea could be jeopardize depending on how the military operations on the TPLF go. Somalia remains a failed state, with terrorist organizations active there. Refugees  have fled into Sudan, a country attempting to adjust in a post-Omar al-Bashir political atmosphere. Ethiopia still has a dispute with Egypt over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project. The Nile River is a pivotal water source which Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt have an interest in. The African Union has not made any immediate plans for action or possible pressure to stop the violence. The biggest fear is that Ethiopia could be starting a process of balkanization, with new states emerging constantly at war with one another.  

Jerry Rawlings Condemns The ICC (2012)

 

Jerry Rawlings (1947-2020) has passed away. The fourth president of Ghana will be remembered for his revolutionary ideology. He was a controversial figure serving as both a military ruler and then elected civilian president of the country. After serving as president, Rawlings was active as an elder statesmen. Always vocal about foreign policy and the status quo set by the international community, he exposed the most obvious bias. Jerry Rawlings stated in 2012 the flaws of the International Criminal Court. The ICC has only targeted African leaders for war crimes. Never has there been any political figures from the UK, US, France, Germany, or Italy. The deaths that occurred in the NATO intervention in Libya demonstrate that the most powerful nations will never face charges for war crimes. Jerry Rawlings was not afraid to also criticize African leaders who acted as collaborators in neocolonial projects. The myth of humanitarian intervention has been used to wage aggressive war around the world and the UN does nothing to prevent this. Rawlings argument is a reminder that African nations must work together to prevent violence directed at them through political and military means. 

The Escalation of Armenia and Azerbaijan Conflict

 

The world is in many ways still dealing with the effects of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Armenia and Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union collapsed became independent nations. No longer under Russian control, old ethnic tensions reemerged. The source of contention is the region known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Both nations claim certain areas of what was at one time an autonomous region as their own. A ceasefire was agreed upon in 1994. Conflagrations once more erupted in 2016. However, the difference in the 2020 clashes reveal that this could escalate into a much larger war. The issue is that a Portion of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh wants to merge with Armenia. Azerbaijan does not want to lose any territory to its enemy. The Soviet Union created this space to act as a buffer zone against possible ethnic conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. The biggest fear was that any ethnic revolt would would cause the U.S.S.R to fall. Armenian forces occupy territories surrounding the disputed region. Azerbaijan starting in July of 2020 made attempts to gain more territory in   Nagorno-Karabakh. The fighting has intensified with other nations calling on a ceasefire to be made. A large long term war will gain the attention of  Iran, Russia, and Turkey. Armenia and Azerbaijan need to have a permanent peace settlement rather than just temporary ceasefires. A conflict between two nations can easily spread to its neighbors.  Being between both the Caspian and Black Sea makes an Armenia- Azerbaijan war   too geopolitically significant to ignore. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta Calls For An End To Sanctions on Zimbabwe

 

President Kenyatta demanded that sanctions placed on Zimbabwe be lifted. Kenya has shown a level of solidarity with another African state, that could be setting a change in foreign policy. Zimbabwe has been under sanctions since 2002 and it has contributed to harming its economy. The reason the UK and US imposed sanctions was based on the elections of 2002, which they claimed were fraudulent. The real motive was about land distribution and the fact that the UK in particular did not honor the Lancaster House Agreement. At the time, President Robert Mugabe took the land that was suppose to be given to those who were victim of the 1960s land theft from white settlers. President Emmerson Mnangagwa  wants to see sanctions lifted, but not at the expense of Zimbabwe's sovereignty. African leaders are growing tired of sanctions imposed by the West arbitrarily. Besides mentioning Zimbabwe, President Uhuru Kenyatta also stated he would like to see sanctions lifted on Sudan and Cuba. Imposing sanctions for  political disagreement or regime change should be considered a violation of international law. Making the people suffer by denying an economic lifeline or basic supplies is a human rights violation. Nations that seek investment in a sanctioned nation could find themselves facing penalties.  Other leaders may join President Kenyatta to put an end to sanctions that clearly have an ulterior motive in mind. Overtime diplomatic relations between Kenya and Zimbabwe may become stronger.