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💥 Kenya descends into chaos

💥 Kenya descends into chaos

and North Korean hypersonic missile launch

Ross Crabtree
June 27, 2024

Good evening and good morning,

Today, we cover two significant developments from Pakistan, along with cabinet updates from India and Haiti.

Malawi mourns the loss of its vice-President, while an unidentified missile hits northern Lebanon.

Renewed concerns arise over Mozambique's Cabo Delgado state insurgency, as a coalition of Southern African states prepares to withdraw.

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇵🇰 Israeli Defence Forces transfer power in the West Bank to far-right politicians: The Israeli military has discreetly transferred substantial legal authority in the occupied West Bank to pro-settler civil servants under far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich. An order posted by the IDF shifts responsibility for numerous bylaws at the Civil Administration from the military to officials led by Smotrich at the defense ministry. Smotrich and his allies view control of the Civil Administration as a step towards extending Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, aiming for direct control by the central government. This move diminishes legal checks on settlement expansion and development, aligning with Israeli politicians' long-standing aim to annex the West Bank—home to millions of Palestinians—which was captured by Israel in 1967. Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard commented, “This order clarifies any doubts about annexation, transferring significant administrative power from the military to Israeli civilians in government.”

2️⃣ 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 UN Security council hold talks on Children in armed conflict: The Security Council will hold its annual open debate on children and armed conflict, where Special Representative Virginia Gamba will present the Secretary-General’s annual report, covering grave violations against children in 25 countries and one regional arrangement. The report, highlighting a 21% increase in violations from the previous year, attributes this surge to intensifying conflicts and disregard for international laws. Key issues include the rise of violence in Palestine, Sudan, and Haiti. The debate aims to mobilize member states to protect children and enforce measures to end these violations, stressing the need for immediate action and continued international support.

3️⃣ 🇭🇹 Iran’s upcoming elections: With Iran's presidential elections imminent, conservative factions and media are urging hardline candidates to unify behind a single contender to avoid losing to Reformists. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has gained traction, partly due to support from former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. On June 24, the hardline newspaper Kayhan—directed by the supreme leader's appointee—emphasized the necessity of consensus among conservatives. Editor Hossein Shariatmadari warned that failure to unite would undermine their commitment to continuing the late Ebrahim Raisi's legacy. Tasnim News Agency, linked to the IRGC, echoed this sentiment on June 22, suggesting that either conservative Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf or former negotiator Saeed Jalili should step aside for the other. They noted Pezeshkian's lead in some polls and stressed the importance of conservatives consolidating their support to secure a first-round victory, highlighting Qalibaf's stronger prospects against Pezeshkian.

4️⃣ 🇵🇰 Chinese Premier opposes decoupling, impeded supply chains: China's Prime Minister Li Qiang urged the global community to address economic growth challenges head-on and adopt a more open-minded approach to development to avoid raising global economic costs. Speaking at the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, known as the Summer Davos, in Dalian, Li criticized the focus on self-interest and warned against decoupling industrial and supply chains, which he argued would elevate operational costs and exacerbate global tensions. The event saw attendance from Polish President Andrzej Duda, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and over 1,600 representatives. Li met with World Economic Forum Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab and foreign business leaders, emphasizing that the global economy's growth is hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and worsening debt. He advocated for a broader, more inclusive approach to development.

5️⃣ 🇮🇳 South Korea report North Korean hypersonic missile launch: South Korea reported that North Korea may have launched a hypersonic missile towards its east coast, originating from Pyongyang on Wednesday morning. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated the missile appeared to fail and landed in the sea without causing damage. Initially, it was believed to be a ballistic missile. Japan's defense ministry stated the missile reached an altitude of about 100 km (62 miles) and covered a range of over 200 km (124 miles) before falling outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, an area where a country claims economic activity rights.

Major Story

🇲🇿 CONTROVERSIAL TAX BILL SEES KENYA DESCEND INTO CIVIL UNREST

Multiple fatalities occurred after police fired live rounds at protesters storming Kenya’s legislature, following a contentious finance bill vote that would increase taxes.

Thousands, led by youth, demonstrated in Nairobi, urging lawmakers to reject the bill amid a cost-of-living crisis. After passing the bill—some legislators fled as protesters breached Parliament—setting parts of the building ablaze. Police dispersed the crowd with tear gas and gunfire, evacuating lawmakers through underground tunnels.

The Kenya Medical Association reported five deaths and 31 injuries, including 13 from live bullets. Despite government assurances of protected assembly rights, the protests escalated into violence, while President William Ruto emphasized that Kenyan security is his top priority.

Protests broke out in multiple Kenyan cities, with demonstrators calling for President Ruto's resignation and opposing recent tax hikes. The finance bill progressed to a third reading in Parliament and now awaits presidential approval. Last year, President Ruto swiftly signed a similar tax increase. The Nairobi governor's office, near Parliament, was briefly set on fire but was quickly extinguished by police using water cannons. Protesters were heard shouting, "We’re coming for every politician!".

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇲🇼 First round of Kenyan troops arrive in Haiti: Hundreds of Kenyan police officers have arrived in Haiti as part of a US-backed security mission to stabilize the country following a criminal uprising that ousted the prime minister and brought widespread violence. Around 400 officers from the Kenyan-led multinational force landed at Port-au-Prince’s international airport on Tuesday. US President Joe Biden welcomed their deployment, emphasizing the need to address Haiti's severe security challenges. Their immediate responsibilities are expected to include protecting critical infrastructure like the airport, port, presidential palace, and key highways controlled by gangs, aiming to restore safety and order amidst ongoing unrest since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

2️⃣ Score of EU media outlets banned by Russia: Russia has responded to broadcast bans imposed by the European Union last month by prohibiting 81 media outlets from EU countries. The EU had previously banned four Russian media organizations in May, citing their dissemination of propaganda related to the Ukraine conflict. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the banned EU outlets are accused of consistently spreading false information about Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Russia criticized the EU for what it termed politically motivated harassment of domestic journalists and unfounded bans on Russian media, describing its own action as a proportional response. The banned outlets include various media from 25 European countries, notably affecting French entities such as Agence France-Presse (AFP), Le Monde, and Liberation, along with pan-European outlets like Politico.