Tunisian protestors demonstrating against President Kais Saied on September 18th, 2021
Image credit: Riadh Dridi for The Washington Post
September 20-24 News
1. Russia Military Action in Africa
In the last two months, Russia has signed military deals with both Nigeria and Ethiopia, the two most populous nations in Africa, supplying the countries with military equipment, training, and technology. This took the international community aback, especially the United States who, one month back, had overruled its sales of military equipment to Nigeria due to its government’s human rights violations. Although both the United States and the European Union spoke out against these actions, Russia seemed unbothered, instead taking advantage of the dismantled US-Nigeria military deal to offer up its own. France was also caught up in the commotion due to President Emmanuel Macron’s recent comments on the death of an African military leader, increasing French resentment in the region especially given France’s extensive military presence over it. Given this, Russian military aid has been progressively welcomed and employed in the two involved African countries.
To learn more about this, have a look at the links below:
https://www.reuters.com/world/nigeria-signs-military-cooperation-agreement-with-russia-2021-08-25/
2. Tunisian Protests
Tunisia has recently seen the rise of protests for and against President Kais Saied’s seizure of power on July 25th, suspending Parliament and firing the Prime Minister, consequently taking full control of the country. Protesters gathered in the main square of the nation’s capital last Saturday but were challenged by the president’s supporters, exemplifying the country’s current divide as some claim the operation to have been a coup, fighting against the formation of an authoritarian state, and others see it as something necessary given the country’s previous political state. While several citizens have claimed to be fearing for their lives, Parliamentarians have been arrested for speaking out against the so-called coup and many Tunisians have been banned from leaving the country.
To learn more about this, have a look at the links below:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/world/middleeast/tunisia-government-dismissed-protests.html
3. Qatar Contests Accusations of Worker’s Rights Abuses
Over the last couple of months, Qatar has vehemently defended itself against accusations of worker’s rights violations in the country, especially in the use of migrant workers for the construction of stadiums to be used in the 2022 World Cup. Although the government claims that there have only been 37 work-related deaths (along with 3 non-work-related ones), reports state that more than 6,500 migrant workers have died in construction efforts. Both Qatar’s Secretary General and FIFA itself have spoken up against the allegations, telling journalists that workers’ rights were being maintained, something even overseen by FIFA officials. Nevertheless, human rights organizations allege that thousands of workers involved in these conditions are subject to labor exploitation and human rights violations. Moreover, soccer players have spoken out against the possible human rights violations, pressuring Qatar, even more, to prove that the accusations are fake.
To learn more about this, have a look at the links below:
[Research conducted by Global Politics student Maria Claudia Magalhães]
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