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📰 Afghan border clash escalates

📰 Afghan border clash escalates

and Senegal expels troops

Ross Crabtree & Billy Robinson
December 31, 2024

Hello,

In East Asia, South Korea has appointed its second acting president in two weeks, while in Latin America, Panama's President rejects the possibility of Panama canal talks with Donald Trump. At the UN, the World Health Organisation condemns Israel's attack on the last functioning hospital in North Gaza, and the Security Council holds talks on Israel–Houthi de-escalation.

Today's main story focuses on the escalating cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, signaling a sharp rise in tensions.

More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇮🇱 🇾🇪 UN Security Council hold Israel–Houthi de-escalation talks: December saw escalating clashes between Israel and the Ansarullah (Houthi) coalition, with over ten missile and drone attacks launched at Israel. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, targeting ports and energy facilities, marking the third instance of direct Israeli action in Yemen this year. UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced concern over civilian casualties and damage to Red Sea ports, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions in Yemen. Following further Houthi assaults, Israel struck Sana’a International Airport, narrowly missing a UN delegation. The strikes risk crippling humanitarian efforts, with millions reliant on aid flowing through Yemen’s ports, threatening to undermine UN mediation efforts.

2️⃣ 🇦🇿 🇷🇺 Azerbaijan president Aliyev accuses Russia of shooting down airliner: Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed in Kazakhstan last week was shot down by Russian forces, though unintentionally. Aliyev criticised Moscow for attempting to conceal the incident, expressing frustration over conflicting explanations from Russian officials. The plane, hit by ground fire over Russia, became uncontrollable due to electronic warfare, leading to the deaths of 38 passengers. The Kremlin claimed the crash resulted from air defence operations against a Ukrainian drone near Grozny. Aliyev demanded Russia apologise, acknowledge fault, punish those responsible, and compensate victims.

3️⃣ 🇸🇳 🇫🇷 Senegal to remove all foreign military bases ‘in the very near future,’ says president: Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko unveiled sweeping reforms in parliament, signalling a decisive shift in the country’s governance. He proposed overturning amnesty laws enacted by the previous administration, potentially paving the way for legal action against former President Macky Sall. Sonko also echoed President Diomaye Faye’s call to expel foreign military forces, reinforcing Senegal’s push for full sovereignty. As France withdraws troops from Chad and the Sahel, Dakar’s new stance disrupts Western efforts to maintain influence in the region, where Russia’s footpring is expanding.

4️⃣ 🇵🇦 🇺🇸 Panama’s president Mulino asserts ‘Canal is Panamaian’, rejects prospect of Trump talks: Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed threats by US President-elect Donald Trump regarding potential US control of the Panama Canal, firmly stating there is “nothing to discuss.” Mulino also rejected lowering canal tolls for US ships and denied Chinese influence over the waterway. “The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians,” Mulino declared, emphasizing the national sacrifice made to secure sovereignty over the canal. Trump, set to take office next month, recently criticised Panama’s toll rates, suggesting the US could reclaim control. The canal, under US administration for decades, was formally transferred to Panama in 1999.

5️⃣ 🇹🇩 Chad goes to the polls for first elections for a decade, opposition parties boycott: Chad is holding its first parliamentary, regional, and municipal elections in over a decade, marking a significant step in the military-turned-civilian government's efforts to guide the country towards democracy. Authorities in N'Djamena state that the elections will formally conclude a three-year "transitional period" following the death of long-time president Idriss Deby Itno in 2021, after which his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, assumed power. Despite this, many opposition groups are boycotting the elections, calling them a façade and accusing the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) of attempting to cement a political dynasty.

Major Story

🇦🇫 🇵🇰 AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN’S CROSS-BORDER CLASHES SIGNAL STEEP ESCALATION OF TENSIONS

Afghanistan’s Taliban forces have launched retaliatory strikes against several points across the disputed border with Pakistan, following a series of Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. The Afghan Ministry of Defense, in a statement on Saturday, did not confirm direct attacks on Pakistan but referred to operations "beyond the 'hypothetical line,'" a term used by Afghan authorities to describe the controversial Durand Line, which they do not recognize.

Disputed Border and Clashes

The Taliban targeted locations used by groups allegedly responsible for cross-border attacks on Afghan soil, though specifics on casualties or the areas hit were not provided. This exchange follows claims from Afghanistan’s Taliban that Pakistani airstrikes killed 46 civilians, including women and children, near the border earlier in the week. Pakistan, in turn, accused Afghan militants of launching attacks from Afghan territory, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claiming responsibility for a deadly raid that killed 16 Pakistani soldiers.

Strained Relations

The ongoing violence has strained relations between the two countries. Despite initial hopes for improved ties after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister has warned that further attacks by the TTP will not be tolerated.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 World Health Organisation condemns Israeli attack on North Gaza’s last functioning hospital: WHO has expressed its outrage over an Israeli raid that targeted the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, describing the attack as a blow to the region's already weakened health system. The raid, which partially destroyed the hospital, comes after 80 days of siege on northern Gaza, putting the lives of the remaining 75,000 Palestinians at severe risk. Initial reports indicate that several key departments, including the laboratory, surgical unit, and medical stores, were heavily damaged or burned. While most of the medics detained during the raid were released, the hospital's director, Hussam Abu Safiya, remains missing.

2️⃣ 🇰🇷 South Korea names its 2nd acting president in two weeks: Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok became South Korea’s second acting president in two weeks, following the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo by lawmakers. This move intensifies political uncertainty in Asia's fourth-largest economy. The impeachment stemmed from a dispute with the opposition over judicial appointments to the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment after his controversial martial law declaration on December 3. Choi, a seasoned economic technocrat with over 30 years at the finance ministry, assumed an unprecedented role. Despite initially warning that Han's impeachment could harm the country's economic credibility, Choi pledged to make an "all-out effort" to stabilise state affairs and resolve the crisis.