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😦 Malawi vice-President goes missing?

😦 Malawi vice-President goes missing?

and UNSC supports Gaza ceasefire resolution

Billy Robinson
June 11, 2024

Good evening from Australia!

The past 24 hours have yielded developments for conflict zones worldwide, as the UNSC votes for a Gaza ceasefire, almost 100 states plan to travel to Switzerland for peace talks on Ukraine, the EU moves to sanction senior Sudan war perpetrators, and the US begins its execution of a new multilateral strategy for Haiti.

Elsewhere, China and Pakistan enhance economic ties, tension at the Korean DMZ simmers, and Malawi’s vice-President goes missing aboard a plane.

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇨🇭🇺🇦 🇷🇺 Ninety states head to a peace summit on Ukraine: Switzerland has announced that ninety nations worldwide will attend a conference focused on establishing sustainable peace in Ukraine, but Russia will be absent. Swiss President Viola Amherd stated in Bern that the goal of the June event is to chart a path toward ending the 28-month-long conflict sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite hosting the conference at Kyiv's request, Switzerland excluded Russia—citing Moscow's lack of interest in participating—to which Moscow responded that Switzerland's adoption of EU sanctions renders it no longer neutral. Switzerland plans to deploy up to 4,000 military personnel to ensure security at the conference.

2️⃣ 🇵🇰 🇨🇳 Pakistan and China enhance bilateral economic relations through CPEC enhancement: During Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's first visit to China since his February election victory, Pakistan and China announced plans to enhance the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and begin Phase II. The $62-billion project connects Pakistan's Gwadar Port to China's Xinjiang region and includes roads, railways, power projects, and economic zones. Sharif's visit aimed to reassure China of Pakistan's commitment to security and project revival. Discussions with President Xi Jinping focused on aligning the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Pakistan's development and expanding cooperation in various sectors. This action indirectly challenges India's geopolitical position, as it has faced conflicts with both Pakistan and China over disputed territories along its northern border.

3️⃣ 🇲🇼 Malawi vice-President goes missing: Saulos Chilima, Malawi's vice-President, is amongst those aboard an aircraft that has gone missing, according to a statement from the president's office. The Malawi Defence Force plane "went off the radar" after departing the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning. In a Monday evening address, President Lazarus Chakwera announced that search and rescue efforts were ongoing. "Soldiers are still conducting the search, and I have ordered the operation to continue until the plane is found," he said, "I know we are all frightened and concerned—I too am concerned. But I assure you that no resource is being spared to locate the plane, and I remain hopeful that we will find survivors."

4️⃣ 🇪🇺 🇸🇩 EU hold talks for sanctions on Sudan war’s financiers: The European Union imposed sanctions on six companies Monday, accusing them of destabilising conflict-ridden Sudan. The targeted firms are primarily involved in weapons procurement and manufacturing. Additional sanctions are expected later this week against senior military figures from Hamdan Dagalo 'Hemedti's' Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been implicated in massacres and severe human rights abuses in Darfur. The conflict has displaced 7 million people and killed 12,000, according to the United Nations, though local doctors and activists claim the actual death toll is much higher.

5️⃣ 🇰🇷 🇰🇵 Increased tensions in the Korea DMZ: South Korea fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border amid rising tensions over Pyongyang's trash-carrying balloons. The incident occurred on Sunday in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) believe the breach was accidental due to dense forest obscuring border markings. The soldiers, about 20-30 carrying tools, retreated north after the warning shots.

Major Story

🇺🇳 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL VOTES FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION:

Overview

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has passed a resolution supporting a US-backed ceasefire plan to halt Israel's eight-month offensive in Gaza. The resolution was adopted with a 14-0 vote, while Russia abstained. This follows previous UNSC ceasefire attempts that were blocked by US vetoes.

Although the resolution is now binding under international law, the crucial issue now is whether the ceasefire will be effectively enforced and implemented.

Washington has announced that Israel has agreed to the ceasefire proposal, even as some Israeli officials continue to call for a continuation of military action until the complete elimination of Hamas.

After the vote, Hamas released a statement expressing their readiness to work with mediators and participate in indirect negotiations to implement the agreement's principles.

A Three Phase Plan:

The resolution endorses a three-phase ceasefire plan announced by US President Joe Biden last month. The first phase calls for a six-week ceasefire, the exchange of some Israeli captives in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and the large-scale distribution of humanitarian aid, with Biden aiming for 600 trucks of aid to enter Gaza daily.

The second phase proposes a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The third phase focuses on rebuilding the Gaza Strip through a multi-year reconstruction plan and returning the remains of any deceased hostages to their families.

What next?

Despite Israel's non-compliance with International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders regarding the prevention of food supplies entering Gaza and the Rafah offensive, as well as its condemnation of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas officials (citing "false equivalence" between the two sides), the UNSC remains the most powerful and binding international body for peace and security. Furthermore, Washington's sponsorship of the resolution, combined with its close relationship with Israel, means the measure is projected to effectively curtail violence in Gaza.

The main concern now is whether this will lead to another surge in violence in Lebanon, as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently emphasised the need to eliminate Iran-backed Hizbollah in Lebanon to facilitate the return of displaced Israelis. Confronting Hizbollah directly would have catastrophic consequences for both Lebanese and Israeli populations, similar to the devastation seen during the 2006 war and the 1985-2000 conflict.

The US has repeatedly cautioned Israel against engaging in war with Hizbollah.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇨🇱 🇻🇪 Venezuelan gangs threaten instability in Chile: Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang has infiltrated Chile—one of Latin America's safest and most developed economies—and established a trafficking ring in downtown rented rooms. Experts attribute this to a regional trend where organised crime groups adopt business models independent of their home territories, gaining autonomy while staying connected with their bases. Formed in a Venezuelan prison in 2014, Tren de Aragua exploited the migration of 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees, expanding its reach. The recent surge in organised crime, coupled with conflicts involving separatist indigenous groups in southern Chile, has heightened security concerns ahead of next year's elections.

2️⃣ 🇭🇹 🇺🇸 🇰🇪 New US strategy for Haiti: Two years after President Jovenel Moïse's assassination, Haiti grapples with political turmoil and gang violence. US President Joe Biden, speaking at a joint press conference with Kenya's President William Ruto, emphasises a collaborative international peacekeeping approach, with Kenya leading the intervention. Biden pledged support for Haiti through logistical intelligence and equipment supply. The Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti (MSS) seeks to forge a legitimate international coalition, signalling a shift from the US' tendency to opt for interventionist policies.

3️⃣ 🇧🇪 Belgium seeks new government: Belgium has begun forming a new coalition after elections boosted centre-right parties. The conservative New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) retained control in Flanders, while the centre-right Reformist Movement ousted the Socialist Party in Wallonia and Brussels. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo resigned following his party's significant losses. "We have lost this election," he admitted, taking full responsibility. N-VA leader and mayor of Antwerp—Bart De Wever—is the leading PM candidate, with his party securing the most seats in the 150-seat federal parliament.