Hello and welcome back to Geopolitics Daily.

Today, the UN has endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara despite strong Algerian opposition; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to rebuild Iran’s nuclear facilities following US strikes; and police have clashed with demonstrators as political unrest intensifies in Serbia.

Our lead story: Tanzania descends into chaos after disputed election.

 More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇪🇺 🇺🇸 CIA chief seeks to reassure Europe amid doubts over US reliability: CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a discreet visit to Brussels this week, meeting EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and senior European intelligence officials to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to transatlantic cooperation. The outreach follows growing unease in Europe over the Trump administration’s unpredictable foreign policy and politicisation of intelligence, including the suspension of battlefield data-sharing with Ukraine. 

2️⃣ 🇲🇱 JNIM blockade cripples Mali as jihadists advance toward Bamako: Al-Qaeda-linked fighters from Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) have cut off key fuel routes to Mali’s capital, Bamako, choking supplies and paralysing the city amid escalating attacks on army convoys. The blockade has triggered fuel shortages, blackouts, and shuttered businesses as analysts warn the junta faces collapse and the threat of a third coup in five years. 

3️⃣ 🇳🇬 🇺🇸 Abuja calls for calm dialogue after Trump threats: Donald Trump vowed a “swift and fierce” response to what he described as an “existential threat” facing Christians in Nigeria, accusing the government of inaction — claims widely echoed by US evangelical conservatives but dismissed by researchers as baseless. Abuja stressed its openness to cooperation against terrorism, provided its sovereignty is respected.

4️⃣ 🇨🇦 🇰🇷 Carney declares end of postwar free trade era: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Asia-Pacific leaders at the APEC summit in South Korea that the postwar era of liberalised global trade has ended, warning that rules-based free markets can no longer sustain prosperity in a rapidly changing world. Carney said Canada would pivot away from its reliance on the US by doubling non-US exports and reviving ties with China, signalling a strategic rebalancing amid rising protectionism. 

5️⃣ 🇷🇸 Police clash with protesters as tensions mount in Serbia: Hundreds of riot police intervened in central Belgrade to separate supporters and opponents of President Aleksandar Vučić amid escalating unrest following a year of anti-government protests. As demonstrators demand accountability and early elections, authorities have tightened security around pro-government camps and intensified crackdowns on protesters, whom state media have branded “terrorists.”

Major Story

🇹🇿 TANZANIA DESCENDS INTO CHAOS AFTER DISPUTED ELECTION

What was meant to confirm President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s mandate has instead plunged Tanzania into its worst unrest since independence. Although early returns suggest a landslide victory for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, thousands have taken to the streets across Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Tunduma, denouncing the election as fraudulent. Opposition party Chadema claims more than 700 people have been killed as security forces fire on demonstrators and impose a strict curfew, while civil society groups report even higher casualties.

Widespread violence and state suppression

Gunfire, military helicopters, and a city-wide internet blackout have turned Tanzania’s largest cities into conflict zones. Soldiers now patrol the streets, and communication with the outside world has been severed. Images that escape censorship show vandalised polling stations, burning infrastructure, and police firing tear gas into crowds.

Growing condemnation and political fractures

The European Parliament has condemned the election as a “fraud unfolding for months,” echoing claims of mass arrests and torture of opposition activists before the vote. Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, was barred from running and later arrested for treason, while visiting foreign activists were reportedly assaulted by security forces. Analysts warn the crisis could deepen divisions within the CCM, strain relations between the police and army, and inflame tensions between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. What began as a disputed election now threatens to unravel the political order of one of East Africa’s most stable states.

Other News

1️⃣  🇺🇳 🇲🇦 🇪🇭 UN backs Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara amid Algerian opposition: The UN Security Council has passed a US-backed resolution endorsing Morocco’s proposal to grant limited autonomy to Western Sahara, marking Washington’s strongest support yet for Rabat’s claim over the disputed territory. The measure also renews the UN peacekeeping mission for another year.

2️⃣ 🇮🇷 🇺🇳 Pezeshkian vows to rebuild Iran’s nuclear sites after US strikes: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would rebuild its damaged nuclear facilities “with greater strength,” insisting the country’s programme remains civilian in nature. Visiting the Atomic Energy Organisation, Pezeshkian dismissed the attacks as futile, saying Iran’s nuclear work is aimed at advancing public welfare and medical research, not weapons development.

Tips & Suggestions

Before we see you again:

We welcome your news tips and suggestions for regular sections, just let us know the stories you want to see covered here: [email protected]

Weekly Updates?

Want weekly updates as well as daily?

Subscribe to our sister publication Geopolitics Weekly here ⤵️

Shop

Our Products

Ukraine Wallpaper Pack