the brief: issue forty-six

Africa

Bloodshed in three villages as rebel violence escalates
by Nadia Ronnoco

Around 170 people in three villages across the north of Burkina Faso have been executed by rebel groups last week, according to regional prosecutor Aly Benjamin Coulibaly. The attacks on Komsilga, Nodin and Soroe included dozens of children amongst the victims, however no specific group has been held responsible by Burkina Faso’s military junta for the bloodshed. It came on the same day as an attack on a mosque in the east of the country, believed to have left 15 casualties.

The violence is part of a wider conflict between the Burkinabe government and a range of different rebel and jihadist groups which control about half of the country. The chaotic armed struggle has taken the lives of over 20,000 people and displaced nearly two million. Targeted airstrikes by the government against rebel groups had appeared to put the government on the offensive, however following last week’s bloodshed, its aspiration to secure and stabilise Burkina Faso has no clear line to success.

Europe

Slovakia PM takes heat from European allies over Russia and the rule of law
by Harvey Young

The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government has come under heavy criticism from his country’s European and NATO allies for a series of controversies relating to his positioning on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the future of the rule of law in Slovakia. On 4 March, the Polish and Lithuanian Prime Ministers openly criticised the Slovak government for a meeting between the Slovak Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanar and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov the previous day. The Slovak government claimed this meeting was ‘balanced’ and aimed at achieving peace talks between Russia and Ukraine whilst preventing an ‘iron curtain’ between Russia and the EU.

Returning to power in 2023, Fico’s populist government has previously been mired in controversy surrounding its rhetoric which has parroted Russian talking points, blamed the West for the Russia-Ukraine war and questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Furthermore, reforms making their way through the Slovak parliament have closed the high-level anti-corruption office and weakened penalties for white-collar crime. Critics have said these reforms are intended to protect Fico himself as well as his political and business allies from prosecution. Various EU institutions have also warned that the reforms endanger the rule of law and have threatened legal action.

America

The everyday war: death and destruction in Haiti
By Neo Allert

Haiti has long been plagued by instability and gang violence. Many Haitians have grown accustomed to their daily lives being interrupted by the sound of gunfire, the smell of rotting corpses and the sight of burnt bodies, set alight during yet another escalation of violence. Death and destruction have become as natural as the sunrise.

What has been happening recently is, however, far removed from the quotidian raids, shootings and murders. Haiti has become engulfed in a full-blown war between heavily armed gangs and the government led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Starting with an attack on Haiti’s two main prisons on 2 March, violence has spread to Haiti’s largest international airport on 4 March. Coordination between the gangs, who currently occupy about 80 percent of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, has been increasing, with the leader of the largest gang, Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier, calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister. As this is unlikely to happen, the war in Haiti will inevitably continue.

Nicaragua puts Germany on trial
By Aidan O’Connor

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced that Nicaragua has sued Germany for violating international law. The Central American nation claims that by cutting aid to the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) as well as continuing military assistance to Israel, Germany has helped facilitate a genocide.

While a date for the hearing is yet to be known, the case has highlighted the decision of nine countries including Germany, to withdraw their funding from UNRWA following claims from Israel that 12 of the organisation’s employees were involved in the 7 October terror attacks. However, after more than a month since Israel made the allegation, they have failed to provide any evidence whatsoever to UN investigators. The lack of funding is expected to affect UNRWA’s ability to provide humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, where food supplies and health facilities have been crippled.

Nicaragua’s case against Germany is not the only case related to the Israeli-Gaza conflict brought to the ICJ in recent months, however the court’s ability to enforce ruling to end the violence remains in doubt.

Asia

Resistance still strong three years later
By Mac Brennan

In February 2021, the democratic government of Myanmar was overthrown by the military. The leader of the elected government, Aung San Suu Kyi, and many party members, were jailed. The people responded peacefully at first, demonstrating across the country and halting the economy with a general strike. Sadly, the military responded with unfettered cruelty, shooting into dense crowds, burning demonstrators alive, and bombing civilian centres.

Popular resistance reignited when separate armed groups decided to cooperate. Operation 10/27, named after the day it was conceived, has led to the surrender of over 100 military units in the Shan State. The volunteer army representing the opposition National Unity Government reported a 60 percent territorial reclamation with the caveat that they do not hold large cities or important military bases. On 10 February , the junta announced it would begin conscripting citizens in April. Students have been on the frontline of protests, refusing to participate in a civil war. Additionally, people fear becoming human shields. The junta is infamous for using newer recruits as landmine and gun fodder to protect their best soldiers. Many families are trying to leave for Thailand, but the visa claims system is overrun and threatens to shut down.

Oceania

Australian man charged after allegedly detaining three children with cable
By Freddie Weaver

A 45 year old Western Australian man has been charged with aggravated assault following allegations that he tied three Aboriginal children to cable ties outside a house in Broome, approximately 2000 km (1200 miles) north of Perth.
Police were called to the house at 2:15pm on 5 March after the man reported a trespassing incident; they arrived to find two children, aged six and seven, ‘physically restrained’ with cable ties. Footage streamed live on Facebook shows the two children tied to the man’s driveway, with the man arguing with members of the public pleading him to let the children go. The third child, aged eight, had already fled the scene.

One of the onlookers later told local media how the children were ‘crying, shaking and singing out for their mum’, despite the fact that the children remained restrained in the footage, appearing visibly frightened. Paramedics assessed the children at the scene, who were reunited with their parents shortly afterwards. The man was investigated and taken into custody by police, who allege the force used was inappropriate, and charged with aggravated assault. He has been granted bail and will appear in court at a later date.