Regional Content Writers
Holly-Rose Harwig
Anet McClintock
Brendan McGing
Celine Lau
Nanthini Sambanthan
Declan Curtin
Katia Leiva
Middle East/North Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Europe
East Asia
Southeast Asia
North America
Latin America
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LATIN AMERICA
Week 28: 4 July - 11 July 2020
Katia Leiva - The sons of former President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, are linked to a widespread corruption scandal uncovered in 2014. They are accused of being intermediaries for nearly $28m in bribes. In Haiti, Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, ex-paramilitary leader, could soon be released from jail.
EUROPE
Week 27: 27 June – 4 July 2020
Brendan McGing — Russia has voted in favour of constitutional amendments which will enable President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036. French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Jean Castex as Prime Minister following the resignation of Edouard Philippe.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 20: 9 – 16 May 2020
Anet McClintock — At least six people have been killed in Guinea during protests against coronavirus restrictions. In Somalia, the armed group al-Shabab orchestrated a car bomb that has killed a governor and three of his bodyguards. Also in the brief: updates on the spread of COVID-19 in the region and government responses.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 17: 17 – 25 April 2020
Anet McClintock — Various African ambassadors in China have met with Chinese officials to address concerns about the mistreatment of African nationals in China. Recent ethnically motivated attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo have raised fears of a resurgence of ethnically motivated violence in the region. 44 members of Boko Haram were allegedly poisoned while in a Chad prison. The crash in oil prices owing to the pandemic has hit oil-rich economies hard.
LATIN AMERICA
Week 14: 28 March – 4 April 2020
Katia Leiva — Tensions between the US and Venezuela ramp up: the Trump administration proposes a “Democratic Transition Framework”; and deploys warships in the Caribbean in an effort to stop illegal drug imports, one week after accusing top Venezuelan officials of, among other things, “narco-terrorism”.
EUROPE
Week 9: 22 – 29 February 2020
Brendan McGing — COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in 27 European countries. As a protective measure, Italy quarantined eleven of its towns. Anti-corruption campaigner Igor Matovic and his Olano party win the national election. Greece suspends asylum applications after Turkey halts its efforts to prevent refugees from crossing the border.
2019 IN REVIEW
Published 24 January 2020
The YDS regional content writers each take a look at some of the major developments in international relations and global politics last year. Includes: the ongoing relevance of ASEAN; rising corruption and instability in Latin America; the Hong Kong protests; the US impeachment proceedings; elections in Sub-Saharan Africa; and more.
EUROPE
Week 3: 11 – 18 January 2020
Brendan McGing — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigns in the wake of President Vladimir Putin's announced constitutional changes; Mikhail Mishustin, current head of the Federal Tax Service, is poised to take over the position. Turkey makes unauthorised attempts to drill for natural gas in Cypriot coastal waters.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 28: 4 – 11 July 2020
Anet McClintock — Thousands attend anti-government rallies in Mali’s capital, Bamako, calling for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Malawi has become the first Africa country to overturn official democratic elections through a re-vote, but new President Lazarus Chakwera is already battling controversy.
LATIN AMERICA
Week 26: 20 – 27 June 2020
Katia Leiva — The Netherlands deploys troops on Curaçao after unrest broke out following the announcement of austerity measures. Nicaraguan opposition parties form a National Coalition to oust President Ortega, who has been criticised for human rights abuses and his response to the coronavirus pandemic.
LATIN AMERICA
Week 22: 23 – 30 May 2020
Katia Leiva — Parliamentary elections may see President Desi Bouterse of Suriname, convicted last year of overseeing the execution of fifteen political opponents in 1982, defeated. Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has expressed frustration with the Trump administration, which continues to send deportees infected with COVID-19 to Guatemala. Venezuela’s First Lady Cilia Flores will likely face US charges of drug trafficking and corruption.
LATIN AMERICA
Week 20: 9 – 16 May 2020
Katia Leiva — Despite already strained relations, a US official has anonymously announced that Cuba may be re-added to the US list of “state sponsors of terrorism”. In Brazil, mere weeks following the firing of Health Minister Luiz Mandetta, his replacement Nelson Teich has resigned.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 15: 4 – 11 April 2020
Anet McClintock — Chad’s former ruler has been granted temporary leave from prison over concerns of the high risk of coronavirus infection in jail. The current President of Chad has stated the country will not longer participate in the regional war against armed insurgent groups. Violence and kidnappings mar the Malian elections.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 13: 21 – 28 March 2020
Anet McClintock — An attack by Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria kills at least 50 Nigerian soldiers. In Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo is installed as the new President; however, the election results have been contested. One of Nigeria’s most influential leaders, Muhammadu Sanusi II is removed from his throne.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
Week 9: 22 – 29 February 2020
Holly-Rose Biskup — After months of negotiations, an agreement has been signed by both US officials and Taliban representatives. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the Middle East sees countries in the region take various steps to protect their citizens.
LATIN AMERICA
Week 4: 18 – 25 January 2020
Katia Leiva — January 25, 2020 marked the one year anniversary of the collapse of a Brazilian dam in the state of Minas Gerais. 270 people were killed. On the other side of the country, the Mura indigenous group is fighting against mining giant Potàssio do Brasil.
EAST ASIA
Week 27: 27 June – 4 July 2020
On June 30, Beijing passed The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Celine Lau provides a primer on the new offences it introduces, how they will be enforced and criticisms levied against it.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 26:20 – 27 June 2020
Anet McClintock — In late June, Malawi held a new election following the annulment of the outcome of the 2019 presidential election. Evariste Ndayishimiye is sworn in as Burundi’s new president following the sudden death of his predecessor. Also in the brief:updates on the coronavirus pandemic in the region.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 5: 26 January – 1 February 2020
Anet McClintock — The Gambia takes Myanmar to the International Court of Justice regarding allegations its military has been committing mass genocide against the Rohingya people. In South Africa, many refugees have waited over a decade to have their asylum applications processed. The bodies of nine Lesotho nationals were found in Johannesburg. They were mining illegally and appear to have been stoned to death.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Week 3: 11 – 18 January 2020
Anet McClintock — Al-Shabaab, a radical islamist terror organisation, claims responsibility for multiple attacks in East Africa. Africa's richest woman, Isabel dos Santos, has announced her intention to run for the 2022 presidential election in Angola, despite her assets being frozen. She is accused of diverting billions of dollars of state money.