English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 28/2023
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give
for the life of the world is my flesh.
John 06/48-59: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the
wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so
that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from
heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will
give for the life of the world is my flesh. ’The Jews then disputed among
themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said
to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my
blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh
is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my
blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live
because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the
bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and
they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these
things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 27-28/2023
Mikati broaches situation in Lebanon,
region with Iranian Foreign Minister
Berri welcomes Iranian Foreign Minister, broaches developments with Caretaker
Defense Minister, receives Nigeria's Jigawa State President
Iranian Foreign Minister briefs Bou Habib on details of Iran-KSA agreement
An explosion heard in Dahyeh. Here are the details
The final batch of Lebanese nationals arrive in Jeddah from Sudan
Lebanese politicians absent from Iranian embassy meeting
The refugee crisis in Lebanon: Numbers and statistics
Lebanon launches the Baalbeck International Festival 2023
The factors behind Lebanese exchange rate stability
The refugee crisis in Lebanon: Numbers and statistics
Mikati tasks Baissari with Syrian repatriation file
Jumblat questions safety of Syrian refugees repatriation
LF says consensus needed but won't endorse Hezbollah candidate
Abdollahian urges Lebanese officials to elect a president
Berri: France not denying support for Franjieh, awaiting Saudi response
FPM denies Franjieh claims about 'Bassil role in port deal'
Franjieh says can be elected with 65 votes but waiting for KSA support
Alleged Hezbollah financier Mohammad Bazzi extradited to US from Romania:
Justice Department
Lebanon inflation hits 264% in March as currency devaluation bites
Assignment of New President of Lebanese Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers
Association
What's next for Riad Salameh as French inquiry speeds up?
Riad Salameh's assistant faces European investigators in Beirut
Hoayek appears before European investigators in Salameh case
Iran urges Lebanon to end its six-month presidential vacuum
Lebanon's economic crisis pushes isolated communities into healthcare misery
Lebanon a willing victim as long as the existing system remains/Arab News/Khaled
Abou Zahr/April 27, 2023
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 27-28/2023
US Navy: Iran Seizes Oil Tanker in Gulf
Abdollahian Points to ‘Initiatives’ to Resume Nuclear Negotiations
Belgium Says No Deal Reached to Free Jailed Iran Diplomat in Swap
Lavrov Warns Against Missing Chance to Revive JCPOA
Putin hails Turkey ties as first Turkish nuclear plant inaugurated
Russian army commander arrested for ‘selling tank engines’
Supporters of Israel's judicial overhaul rally in Jerusalem
Intelligence chief: Russian spy ring had 'source' in France
'Dead or alive': Iraq's Yazidis anxiously await IS-abducted relatives
Rights watchdog: Turkey border guards shooting, torturing Syrians
Tunisian President Appoints New Ambassador to Syria
Tunisia rounds up migrants at sea in unprecedented numbers
What is the latest on Netanyahu's corruption trial?
Why China is trying to mediate in Russia's war with Ukraine
Iran Guards seize oil tanker in Gulf of Oman: US Navy
Renewed air strikes hit Khartoum as clock ticks down on Sudan truce
Titles For
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 27-28/2023
New European Sanctions Target Assad Regime Narco-Traffickers/Natalie Ecanow//FDD/April
27/2023
What Is Venezuela Flying to Moscow?/Emanuele Ottolenghi/Townhall/April 27/2023
Biden is quietly encouraging Assad’s rehabilitation. He should reverse
course./David Adesnik/The Washington Post/April 27/2023
Re-integrating Syria into the region will require complex feats of diplomacy/Raghida
Dergham/The National/April 27/ 2023
Local solutions should come first in Syria/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab
News/April 27/2023
War of Generals Turns Sudan into Ukraine of the Horn of Africa/Huda al-Husseini/AsharqAl
Awsat/April 27/2023
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 27-28/2023
Mikati broaches situation in Lebanon, region with Iranian Foreign
Minister
NNA/April 27/2023
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Thursday met at the Grand Serail,
with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in the
presence of Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, and an accompanying
delegation. Discussions reportedly touched on the current situation in Lebanon
and the region, as well as the bilateral Lebanese-Iranian relations.
Berri welcomes Iranian Foreign Minister, broaches
developments with Caretaker Defense Minister, receives Nigeria's Jigawa State
President
NNA/April 27/2023
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Thursday welcomed at the Second Presidency in Ain
El-Tineh, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in the
presence of Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, and an accompanying
delegation.
Discussions reportedly touched on the current general situation in Lebanon and
the region, as well as the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Speaker Berri also met with Caretaker Minister of National Defense,
Maurice Sleem, with whom he discussed the latest political and security
developments.
Among Speaker Berri’s itinerant visitors for today had been the President-elect
of Nigeria's Jigawa State, Umar Namadi.
Iranian Foreign Minister briefs Bou Habib on details of Iran-KSA agreement
NNA/April 27/2023
Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, on Thursday visited the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held a meeting with his Lebanese
counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib. “I’ve welcomed our honorable guest in Lebanon,
and I hope that another meeting will bring us together, either in Beirut or in
Tehran,” Bou Habib said on emerging, noting that his Iranian counterpart has
briefed him on the details of the Saudi-Iranian agreement in Beijing, with hopes
that good things will come out of it for Lebanon. "I am optimistic; every
agreement between neighboring countries is good for Lebanon. Minister
Abdollahian has offered us assistance in the electricity sector, and I will pass
this offer on to my colleagues in the government,” Bou Habib added. In turn,
Minister Abdollahian said: "We held talks on bilateral relations, and the
internal situation in Lebanon. Iran has always wished well for Lebanon and
encourages all its parties to expedite holding presidential elections."
An explosion heard in Dahyeh. Here are the
details
LBCI/April 27/2023
An explosion was heard on Al-Jamous Street in Dahyeh, and ambulances rushed to
the scene. Preliminary information indicated that a female citizen was injured
because of material damage. Notably, the apartment was subject to an explosion
several weeks ago and was raided. The Lebanese army arrested a young man who was
preparing explosive devices.
The final batch of Lebanese nationals arrive in
Jeddah from Sudan
LBCI/April 27/2023
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants has been informed of the arrival
of the second and final batch of Lebanese nationals to the city of Jeddah, who
were evacuated from Sudan on board a Royal Saudi Navy ship in preparation for
their return to Lebanon. The Ministry announced the imminent end of the
evacuation process, noting that it is possible, when necessary, to contact the
Lebanese Ambassador to Sudan, Dima Haddad, at the following number to provide
all possible assistance: +249901748097.
Lebanese politicians absent from Iranian embassy
meeting
LBCI/April 27/2023
Iranian officials deny interfering in Lebanese affairs, but critics say that
following a meeting between Iran's foreign minister, Hussein Amir Abdollahian,
and a group of Lebanese MPs at the Iranian embassy may suggest otherwise, even
if it was to inform them of the effects of the Saudi-Iranian agreement and
Iran's willingness to help Lebanon in several fields. The meeting was called by
both supporters and opponents of Iran's policies in Lebanon and its ally,
Hezbollah. However, some parties, such as the Lebanese Forces, did not attend
due to the case of the four kidnapped Iranian diplomats. The Kataeb party was
invited but did not attend because their stance on Iranian policy is known, and
no results are expected. Other MPs, including the head of the National Liberal
Party MP Camille Chamoun, Neemat Frem, did not attend with the excuse of
traveling, as well as Nabil Badr. MP Ghassan Skaff also could not attend because
the meeting coincided with his surgery, and Elias Jradeh apologized for his
absence due to prior engagements. MP Yassin Yassin declined to participate,
citing the meeting's conflict with his political and reformist agenda. The
National Moderation Bloc also did not participate.
The only opposition party that participated in the meeting was the Democratic
Gathering party, represented by MP Bilal Abdullah. The Free Patriotic Movement
(FPM) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation also attended. The rest of the
participants do not oppose the Iranian policies in Lebanon, such as the Loyalty
to the Resistance and the Development and Liberation blocs, as well as the
National Bloc, supported by the Marada party. Moreover, sources involved in
organizing the meeting were surprised at the absence of some parties, such as
the Lebanese Forces, and some reformist MPs who missed an opportunity to discuss
Iran's alleged interference in Lebanon through Hezbollah with the Iranian
foreign minister. However, some absent parties responded by stating there were
no signs of change in Iran's policy towards Lebanon and its political, military,
and financial support for Hezbollah. Therefore, their absence from the meeting,
the discussion of which remains unclear, was a way of rejecting Iran's policy in
Lebanon. The timing of the meeting, coinciding with the expected visit of Saudi
Arabia's ambassador, Walid al Bukhari, to Lebanese leaders to discuss the latest
developments in the presidential file in light of contacts with France, raises
questions about whether the meeting constitutes a violation.
The refugee crisis in Lebanon: Numbers and
statistics
LBCI/April 27/2023
On Wednesday, we reviewed the numbers of Lebanese citizens versus Syrian
refugees on Lebanese soil. It is undeniable that refugees are scattered
throughout Lebanon, from north to south. However, some districts and areas are
considered red zones due to the high density of refugees, according to the
numbers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Starting with the Bekaa Valley, there are 318,000 registered refugees, with the
highest concentration in the Zahle district at 17%, followed by Baalbek at 14%.
In Arsal alone, there are over 30,000 registered refugees, while in Bar Elias,
there are over 27,000. In Majdal Anjar, there are over 12,000 refugees; in
Baalbek, there are over 11,000; and in Ghazze, over 10,000. From Bekaa to the
north, Akkar has 13% of the registered Syrian refugees, with the highest number
in towns such as Al Amayer, Jabal Akroum, Halba, and Bebnine. In the north, the
highest concentration of refugees is in Tripoli, with over 50,000 registered
refugees, followed by Miniyeh, with over 10,000. Moving to Mount Lebanon, the
largest concentration of refugees is in South Mount Lebanon, with Chiyah having
over 27,000 registered refugees and Borj el Brajneh with over 14,000. In the
North of Metn, Bourj Hammoud has the highest number of registered refugees, with
around 7,000. In Aley district, there is also a large number of displacements.
Choueifat has over 13,000 refugees, more than 6,000 in Aaramoun and more than
3,000 in Aley. Moreover, the highest number of refugees are in Chouf and Iqlim
al Kharroub, and in Barja alone, there are more than 5,000 registered refugees.
In the south, the largest concentration of refugees is in Sahel al Zahrani,
specifically in Ghazieh, Bissariye, and Sarafand. In Tyre, there are over 4,000
registered refugees, and in Nabatieh, there are around 4,000 registered refugees
in the cities of Nabatieh, Kfar Roummane, and Toul. In Marjayoun and Hasbaya,
the highest concentration is in Al-Khiyam and Chebaa. Therefore, it is essential
to note that these figures only represent registered refugees, which means
814,000 registered refugees by the UNHCR. At the same time, the former head of
the General Security Directorate, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, announced that
the actual number of refugees is around 2.4 million. These numbers give a
general overview of the geographic distribution of refugees and indicate the
urgent need for a capable state to address this issue and the international
community's need to recognize its severity before it leads to an inevitable
social, economic, and demographic explosion.
Lebanon launches the Baalbeck International Festival 2023
LBCI/April 27/2023
Despite the circumstances the country is facing, Lebanon still enjoys a vibrant
cultural life represented by concerts, a booming upcoming summer season, and the
many anticipated festivals, including the 2023 Baalbeck International Festival,
which is taking place between July 1 and July 16, 2023, and will include many
performances. The President of the Baalbeck International Festivals, Nayla De
Freige, launched the Baalbek International Festival for the summer of 2023 in a
press conference held between the temples of Bacchus and Jupiter. During the
press conference, De Freige explained the development of the growing
international festival movement 65 years ago, which has always come in
cooperation with the private sector, and this year it comes with the help of
several financiers and sponsors who have been the primary support for these
festivals for 24 years. In turn, Caretaker Minister of Tourism, Walid Nassar,
heralded a promising tourism season, which revenues will exceed those in 2022,
which amounted to $6.4 billion, hoping for the election of a President as soon
as possible, and that the institutions will return to their correct role. He
stressed that Lebanon, despite the political and social conditions in which it
is living, has demonstrated, through these festivals, its love and faith in its
homeland through cooperation and partnership with the private sector, and
despite the COVID-19 pandemic that afflicted Lebanon, the festivals last year
proved their successes. He congratulated the Festival’s Committee for its will
and success and asked those who have guesthouses in Baalbek to join the tourist
guesthouses for those who want to tour the city, adding “With our meager
capabilities as a ministry, we will be by your side.”
The factors behind Lebanese exchange rate stability
LBCI/April 27/2023
The Lebanese exchange rate has been relatively stable in the past few weeks,
hovering below the LBP 100,000 mark. According to experts, two main reasons have
contributed to this current stability. The first reason is the intervention of
the Banque du Liban (BDL), which has injected dollars into the market. This can
be seen through the increase in trading volumes on the Sayrafa platform, which
have reached between 70 and 90 million dollars daily, compared to around 30
million dollars during the same period in March. Moreover, the influx of
Lebanese expatriates and tourists during the Easter and Eid al-Fitr holidays has
brought an estimated $400 million to the country in addition to the dollars
accumulated by the BDL in previous months, which helped stabilize the exchange
rate that reached a high of LBP 140,000 in late March. The second reason for the
stability in the exchange rate is the intention of the governor of the BDL to
end his term on July 31st in a relatively calm environment, both in terms of the
exchange rate and in terms of preserving what remains of the BDL's foreign
currency reserves. This relies on the influx of dollars from expatriates during
the summer season. However, it is essential to remember that the exchange rate
was at LBP 40,000 at the beginning of the year and was around LBP 25,000 at this
time last year, while it was LBP 12,000 two years ago and LBP 3,000 before that.
The refugee crisis in Lebanon: Numbers and statistics
LBCI/April 27/2023
On Wednesday, we reviewed the numbers of Lebanese citizens versus Syrian
refugees on Lebanese soil. It is undeniable that refugees are scattered
throughout Lebanon, from north to south. However, some districts and areas are
considered red zones due to the high density of refugees, according to the
numbers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Starting with the Bekaa Valley, there are 318,000 registered refugees, with the
highest concentration in the Zahle district at 17%, followed by Baalbek at 14%.
In Arsal alone, there are over 30,000 registered refugees, while in Bar Elias,
there are over 27,000. In Majdal Anjar, there are over 12,000 refugees; in
Baalbek, there are over 11,000; and in Ghazze, over 10,000. From Bekaa to the
north, Akkar has 13% of the registered Syrian refugees, with the highest number
in towns such as Al Amayer, Jabal Akroum, Halba, and Bebnine. In the north, the
highest concentration of refugees is in Tripoli, with over 50,000 registered
refugees, followed by Miniyeh, with over 10,000. Moving to Mount Lebanon, the
largest concentration of refugees is in South Mount Lebanon, with Chiyah having
over 27,000 registered refugees and Borj el Brajneh with over 14,000. In the
North of Metn, Bourj Hammoud has the highest number of registered refugees, with
around 7,000. In Aley district, there is also a large number of displacements.
Choueifat has over 13,000 refugees, more than 6,000 in Aaramoun and more than
3,000 in Aley. Moreover, the highest number of refugees are in Chouf and Iqlim
al Kharroub, and in Barja alone, there are more than 5,000 registered refugees.
In the south, the largest concentration of refugees is in Sahel al Zahrani,
specifically in Ghazieh, Bissariye, and Sarafand. In Tyre, there are over 4,000
registered refugees, and in Nabatieh, there are around 4,000 registered refugees
in the cities of Nabatieh, Kfar Roummane, and Toul. In Marjayoun and Hasbaya,
the highest concentration is in Al-Khiyam and Chebaa. Therefore, it is essential
to note that these figures only represent registered refugees, which means
814,000 registered refugees by the UNHCR. At the same time, the former head of
the General Security Directorate, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, announced that
the actual number of refugees is around 2.4 million. These numbers give a
general overview of the geographic distribution of refugees and indicate the
urgent need for a capable state to address this issue and the international
community's need to recognize its severity before it leads to an inevitable
social, economic, and demographic explosion.
Mikati tasks Baissari with Syrian repatriation
file
Naharnet/April 27/2023
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday tasked acting General Security
chief Brig. Gen. Elias Baissari with following up on the issue of returning the
displaced Syrians to their country. In the memo sent to Baissari, Mikati said
that his decision is related to the ministerial meeting that was held on
Wednesday, in which it was decided to take stricter measures in the file.
Accordingly, the premier tasked Baissari with securing “a safe and voluntary
repatriation of the displaced Syrians, implementing the decisions of the
ministerial panel, and communicating in this regard with the relevant Syrian
authorities in order to complete the mission, while seeking help from the public
administrations and institutions and civil society groups.”The ministerial panel
has also asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to submit all
available data on displaced Syrians within a week. It also decided to strip any
Syrian who leaves Lebanese territory of the displaced status.
The Lebanese Army had recently raided homes in various parts of the
country, arresting hundreds and deporting dozens who had entered the country
irregularly or held expired residency cards. While Kataeb and Lebanese Forces
leaders Sami Gemayel and Samir Geagea both urged for the repatriation of the
refugees after meeting U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka,
Amnesty International has called on Lebanon to "immediately stop forcibly
deporting refugees back to Syria."
Jumblat questions safety of Syrian refugees repatriation
Naharnet/April 27/2023
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat asked which Arab or
international side would secure a safe return to the Syrian refugees, and if
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants them back. In an interview with MTV,
Jumblat urged for the establishment of "decent camps" for the displaced Syrians
in Lebanon. "There is no Arab fold," he said, adding
that al-Assad does not want to listen to a political solution."The Lebanese Army
had recently raided homes in various parts of the country, arresting hundreds
and deporting dozens who had entered the country irregularly or held expired
residency cards. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had on Thursday tasked
acting General Security chief Brig. Gen. Elias Baissari with following up on the
issue of returning the displaced Syrians to their country, after a ministerial
meeting on Wednesday decided to take stricter measures in the refugees' file.
LF says consensus needed but won't endorse
Hezbollah candidate
Naharnet/April 27/2023
The Lebanese Forces on Thursday said that it knows that “the election of the
president can only occur through consensus.”“But Hezbollah is asking us to
choose between its candidate and vacuum, and we will maintain our stance until
they back down from their stance,” LF spokesman Charles Jabbour told al-Jadeed
TV. Moreover, Jabbour called on the Free Patriotic Movement to “publicly declare
the names of candidates so that an agreement can be reached with the various
opposition parties and not only with the LF.” “Michel Mouawad was part of the
FPM bloc, so what prevents them from electing him, and if this is impossible
let’s agree on another candidate,” Jabbour added.
Abdollahian urges Lebanese officials to elect a president
Agence France Presse/April 27/2023
Iran's foreign minister called on Lebanon Thursday to overcome political
deadlock and elect a president, urging foreign governments not to interfere in
the choice. "We encourage all sides in Lebanon to expedite the election of a
president," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a press conference, after he met with
caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib in the capital Beirut.
"We will support any election and agreement reached between all Lebanese
sides... and we call on other foreign parties to respect the choice of the
Lebanese without interfering in the country's affairs," he added. Lebanon, in
the throes of a crushing economic crisis, has been without a president for
almost six months amid deadlock between entrenched political barons. "Lebanese
officials and all political parties and sides in the country have the capacity
and the competence to reach a consensus on electing the president," said
Abdollahian, on his second visit to Beirut this year. Countries including
France, the United States and Saudi Arabia hold regular consultations on
Lebanon. Their representatives met in February in Paris to discuss the crisis,
without achieving any tangible progress. Iran's top diplomat said he and
Lebanese counterpart Bou Habib discussed "comprehensive cooperation between Iran
and Lebanon" and Iran's readiness "to further strengthen the ties in economy,
trade, tourism, science, technology and other fields". Abdollahian expressed
Iran's willingness to help Lebanon with the electricity file and offered the
crisis-hit country a fuel donation, Bou Habib said after the meeting. He added
that he has discussed with his Iranian counterpart the Iranian-Saudi thaw. "We
hope that the Iranian-Saudi agreement would reflect positively on Lebanon," Bou
habib cheerfully said. Media reports had said that Abdollahian might ask
Tehran’s allies in Lebanon to consider ending their support for Suleiman
Franjieh’s presidential nomination to protect the renewed relation with Riyadh.
Abdollahian also met caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri and is reportedly set to meet with Lebanese MPs at the
Iranian Embassy, before travelling to ally Damascus on Friday.
Lebanese Forces MPs and MP and presidential candidate Michel Mouawad were
not invited to the meeting, media reports said, while Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel,
MP Camille Chamoun and other Change MPs decided to boycott it.
Berri: France not denying support for Franjieh,
awaiting Saudi response
Naharnet/April 27/2023
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri considered that France was just softening its
stance, when it said in a statement that it doesn't support any presidential
candidate. "The statement does not necessarily deny" France's support to Marada
leader Suleiman Franjieh, Berri told al-Akhbar, in remarks published Thursday.
"We are awaiting the Saudi response to the Franjieh-Durel meeting," he said,
adding that "it is unfortunate that foreign forces are working on the
presidential file, and not us." "Unfortunately, I can only see negativity now,"
Berri said.
FPM denies Franjieh claims about 'Bassil role in port deal'
Naharnet/April 27/2023
The Free Patriotic Movement on Thursday stressed that its chief Jebran Bassil
does not have “any role or link to the Beirut port deal,” denying accusations in
this regard by Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh. “How can this happen in
a ministry and file that the FPM has nothing to do with at all, and accordingly
what can be hoped from a presidential candidate who launches false accusations
against his political rivals other than his reinforcement of the impunity
policy?” the FPM said in a statement. MP Ghassan Atallah of the FPM for his part
called on Franjieh to present “documents” to “confirm Jebran Bassil’s ties to
the port.” In an interview on al-Jadeed TV overnight, Franjieh had alleged that
“the Beirut port deal was made with Jebran Bassil and not with Hezbollah.”
French shipping giant CMA CGM in February 2022 won a 10-year contract to
run the container terminal at Beirut port, caretaker Public Works and Transport
Minister Ali Hamieh, who is loyal to Hezbollah, said. The contract will provide
cash-strapped Lebanon "tens of millions of dollars" every year, Hamieh said,
adding that authorities chose the French company over its UAE-based competitor
Gulftainer because it offered a better rate and more favorable conditions. The
company's French-Lebanese CEO Rodolphe Saade said his firm was looking to
develop a "high-performance" container terminal that could renew Lebanon's trade
ties. Saade had visited Beirut with French President Emmanuel Macron in the wake
of the catastrophic 2020 blast at the port, offering a plan to reconstruct the
entire facility in less than three years. His company, which manages several
investment portfolios in Lebanon, also operates the container terminal at the
Tripoli port, the country's second largest.
Franjieh says can be elected with 65 votes but
waiting for KSA support
Naharnet/April 27/2023
Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh on Wednesday said that he prefers to
wait for Saudi support for his presidential nomination.
“I will not go to a session in which I challenge Saudi Arabia, and maybe
I can become president but I won’t be able to rule, that’s why I say that I’m
not in a hurry and that the time will come,” Franjieh said in an interview on
al-Jadeed TV. “With calm calculations, I can be
elected with 65 votes, but I won’t be able to rule, and the battle is not a
battle of quorum but rather a battle of including everyone,” the Marada chief
added. “The settlement is coming and it must involve everyone, but we can’t
force anyone to join it,” Franjieh went on to say.
“There will be good days in Lebanon and days of openness in the region,” he
said. As for the Saudi stance on his nomination, Franjieh said: “The atmosphere
is relieving but the settlement has not been finalized yet. As for a negative
atmosphere, I’m only hearing about it from Lebanese politicians.”
“When (French presidential advisor Patrick) Durel went to Saudi Arabia he
informed me that the atmosphere was positive and I can believe the French,” the
Marada leader added. Noting that he has no problem if someone else gets elected,
Franjieh stressed that it is not his nomination that is delaying the election of
a president. He added that he would resign as president should he find himself
incapable of making achievements. As for the issue of Syrian refugees in
Lebanon, Franjieh said that he is “not willing to conspire against Lebanon for
the sake of Syria” but would rather “conspire against Syria for the sake of
Lebanon.”“I cannot accept that the refugees stay if (Syrian) President (Bashar)
al-Assad does not accept their return although I know that he would accept it,”
Franjieh added. “If I manage to secure guarantees for the safety of the refugees
in their country, we will be able to disregard the international community,
seeing as that would be a patriotic stance,” Franjieh said.
Alleged Hezbollah financier Mohammad Bazzi extradited to US from Romania:
Justice Department
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/117723/117723/
Joseph Haboush, Al Arabiya English/ 26 April ,2023
The US successfully extradited an alleged key Hezbollah financier from Romania
earlier this week, according to the Justice Department.
Mohammad Bazzi, deemed a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in
2018, was arrested by Romanian authorities in February.
He is accused of assisting in, sponsoring, and providing financial,
material, and technological support and financial services to Iran-backed
Hezbollah.
Bazzi was extradited from Romania to New York on Tuesday, according to a
spokesman for the US Attorney’s office in Brooklyn. He was arraigned on the
indictment in Brooklyn Federal Court and he entered a plea of not guilty to the
charges on Wednesday. The magistrate judge, Peggy Kuo, ordered him detained
pending trial, the spokesman told Al Arabiya English. Hezbollah was designated a
terrorist group by the US in 1997 and is responsible for several terrorist
attacks against US servicemembers, government employees, and civilians abroad.
According to the US Justice Department, Bazzi allegedly provided millions
of dollars to Hezbollah from his businesses in Belgium, Lebanon, Iraq and West
Africa. In February, the Justice Department unsealed the indictment against
Bazzi and another Lebanese citizen, Talal Chahine.
Bazzi and Chahine proposed numerous methods to conceal from the Treasury
Department and US law enforcement officials their methods of money laundering.
These included looking to a third party in China as well as a fictitious
franchising agreement for the rights to operate a Lebanese-based restaurant
chain throughout the US. The extradition of Bazzi
comes a week after US prosecutors charged another alleged Hezbollah financier,
Nazem Ahmad, with evading US sanctions and selling hundreds of millions of
dollars worth of diamonds and artwork. Ahmad has not
been arrested, but one of the men alleged to have worked with him, Sundar
Nagarajan, was arrested in the UK last week. British media reported that the US
is seeking Nagarajan’s extradition as well. The US has
a history of extraditing wanted individuals accused of helping fund terror
groups, especially Hezbollah. Ghassan Diab, a Lebanese
citizen accused of facilitating funds for the group, was charged and identified
as a Hezbollah associate in 2016. He was arrested in Cyprus in 2019 and
extradited to the United States a year later. Kassim
Tajideen, another alleged Lebanese financier of Hezbollah, was arrested in
Morocco in 2017 and extradited to the US. In 2019, he was sentenced to five
years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to evading sanctions
against him. But the Trump administration released and deported him back to
Beirut, despite government opposition to a judicial order granting an emergency
request for compassionate release.
Lebanon inflation hits 264% in March as
currency devaluation bites
Massoud A Derhally/The National/April 27/ 2023
The consumer price index was 33 per cent higher compared with February.
Inflation in Lebanon hit an annual rate of about 264 per cent in March as the
Lebanese pound continued to lose value on the parallel and official markets
since it was devalued by 90 per cent at the start of February. Hyperinflation
continued for the 33rd consecutive month, led by soaring communication,
alcoholic beverage and tobacco costs, restaurant and hotel prices, health, as
well as rising food prices and water and energy rates, the Central
Administration of Statistics' Consumer Price Index showed. The CPI increased by
about 33 per cent from February 2023. Inflation had begun to decline after
hitting 171 per cent last year, the highest in nearly four decades, and 155 per
cent in 2021. Lebanon's central bank devalued the pound/lira in early February,
with the official exchange rate changing to 15,000 to the US dollar, compared
with the peg in place since 1997 of 1,507.50 to the greenback.
This led to a surge in consumer prices in March and the Lebanese pound trading
in the parallel market as much as 140,000 to the dollar earlier this month.
Lebanon's worst economic and financial crises has been exacerbated by a
political impasse that has blocked the formation of a new government and the
enactment of reforms required to unlock billions of dollars in aid from the
International Monetary Fund and other international donors. Communication costs
increased more than sevenfold in March, compared with the same month in 2022,
while alcoholic beverages and tobacco jumped more than fivefold. Health costs
increased more than four times. Clothing and footwear prices and the rates of
restaurant and hotels leapt more than threefold. Transport costs rose by three
times. Lebanon's economy contracted by about 58 per cent between 2019 and 2021,
with gross domestic product falling to $21.8 billion in 2021, from about $52
billion in 2019, according to the World Bank — the largest contraction on a list
of 193 countries. Lebanon's political elite have yet to enforce critical
structural and financial reforms required to unlock $3 billion of assistance
from the IMF. Securing the IMF funds would pave the way for an additional $11
billion in assistance that was pledged by international donors at a Paris
conference in 2018. Reforms hinge on the formation of a new government, the
election of a president and consensus among the country's political elite.
Politicians are deadlocked over the formation of a new cabinet 11 months after
parliamentary elections were held and five months after the six-year term of
former president Michel Aoun expired at the end of October.
Assignment of New President of Lebanese
Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association
NNA/April 27/2023
Following the general assembly's election of four new members upon the end of
the mandate of former members, the council of Pharmaceutical Importers and
Wholesalers Association (LPIA) held a meeting during which it decided to assign:
- Mr. Joseph Ghorayeb, as the President.
- Mr. Adnan Dandan, as the Vice-President.
- Mr. André Fadel, as the Secretary General.
- Mr. Marwan Hakim, as the Treasurer.
- Mr. Bertrand Fattal, as an Advisor.
- Mr. Walid Mroueh, as an Advisor.
- Mr. Karim Gebara, as an Advisor.
- Mr. Jean de Freige, as an Advisor.
The new council extends its gratitude to the former council for its work and
unwavering dedication during challenging times. Furthermore, it pledges to
continue working following the same approach, to preserve the quality of
medication and to serve the best interest of the Lebanese citizens.
What's next for Riad Salameh as French inquiry speeds up?
Nada Maucourant Atallah/The National/April 27/ 2023
As the French judiciary steps up its embezzlement case, what is next for
Lebanon's embattled Central Bank Governor?
As the French investigation into Riad Salameh gathers pace, with recent reports
indicating that French judges intend to press preliminary charges at his hearing
on May 16, many wonder what lies ahead for Lebanon's embattled Central Bank
Governor. The French judiciary, along with five other countries, is part of a
cross-border investigative team looking into an alleged scheme allegedly
designed by Mr Salameh to embezzle millions of dollars from the central bank
through commissions paid by commercial banks to a shell company owned by his
brother Raja. The investigators suspect that the embezzled funds were then
invested in high-end property across several European countries, including
France, Belgium, the UK and Germany, using the banking systems of Switzerland
and Luxembourg. Both brothers have denied any wrongdoing. With multiple
investigations spanning different countries and a litany of charges, it can be
challenging to discern the precise legal consequences at hand, and what they
would entail. What would happen if Riad Salameh does not show up at his hearing
in France? Could he be indicted in absentia? Would Lebanon be willing to
extradite him? What are the chances that the once acclaimed governor will be
sentenced to jail?
Here is our analysis of the different scenarios after May 16:
Red notice for Salameh?
Pierre Olivier Sur, the governor's lawyer in France, stated that his client has
not yet decided whether he will show up at his hearing in France, where he faces
potential indictment, Reuters reported. According to sources close to the
matter, intense negotiations are currently under way between the governor and
the French judiciary about his attendance. Riad Salameh, who is a dual citizen
of Lebanon and France, may attend if he secures a good deal with the judiciary,
which includes certain advantages such as freedom of movement during the time of
the proceedings in exchange for posting bail. He could also receive a reduced
sentence in exchange for providing information. In the event that no deal is
found and Riad Salameh fails to attend, France could issue an international
arrest warrant and ask Interpol to issue a red notice, which is a request to law
enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual.
This would effectively prevent Riad Salameh from leaving Lebanon. It is worth
noting that under French law, an indictment means that an investigation has
advanced to a stage where there is enough evidence to support a formal
accusation of wrongdoing. Yet, it is not the end of the investigation. It could
take several more months before an order of settlement, which will present the
judge's findings to a prosecutor, is issued. Sources suggest that French judge
Aude Buresi initially aimed for her investigation to be done by June. Depending
on the judge's evaluation of the case, the outcome could be a non-lieu decision,
meaning a dismissal of charges against the indicted individuals, or a referral
to court. If the evidence is considered compelling enough and a trial is
initiated, Riad Salameh could face up to 10 years in prison based on the charges
outlined in the French file. A final verdict may take several years to be
reached, but his assets would remain frozen during the legal proceedings. If he
is found guilty, his misappropriated assets could be recovered by Lebanon
through mechanisms proposed in the new “ill-gotten assets” law passed in France
in 2021. This law allows harmed states to recover stolen assets, on certain
conditions. These include measures ensuring that they do not fall into the same
patterns of corruption.
A Carlos Ghosn déjà vu
If Riad Salameh fails to co-operate, he may face indictment and trial in
absentia, allowing the legal proceedings to move forward in France while he
stays in Lebanon. There, the governor would be out of the French judiciary's
reach thanks to Lebanon's long-standing policy of not extraditing its own
citizens, former Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm explained in an interview
with The National. “Extradition is governed by Articles 30 to 36 of the criminal
code and is not allowed when it concerns Lebanese citizens unless there is an
extradition treaty that provides for such between the involved countries,” she
said.
“Mr Salameh would not be extradited based on Lebanese legal provisions and in
the absence of an extradition treaty.”This scenario draws a comparison to that
of Carlos Ghosn, the Lebanese businessman who fled from his house arrest in
Japan to Lebanon. Despite being subject to an international arrest warrant,
Lebanon has refused to extradite him, and he now lives a — seemingly — normal
life in Beirut. “The major difference is that Mr Salameh does not work in the
private sector, like Mr Ghosn. He is the head of the banking system regulator
and a key interlocutor of the international community,” said lawyer Wadih Akl, a
member of the political bureau of the Free Patriotic Movement political party. A
French diplomatic source who chose to remain anonymous, does not believe that
this case could have an impact on diplomatic relations between France and
Lebanon, in the event of non-extradition, emphasising the separation of power
between politics and the judiciary. “The case against Mr Salameh is not
political, it is rooted in allegations of financial crimes in Europe and
therefore does not fall under the diplomatic sphere,” the source told The
National. However, the diplomat conceded that if charges were brought and Riad
Salameh remained in his current position, “it would not reflect well on
Lebanon”, at a moment when the cash-strapped country is negotiating with the IMF
for a loan to address its steep economic crisis.
'Lame duck'
In any case, if extradition seems out of the question, Lebanon appears to
recognise the potential damage to its reputation by retaining Riad Salameh as
governor while he faces increasing legal challenges. “There are already
continuing talks to find his successor,” said political scientist Karim Emile
Bitar. While Riad Salameh's mandate, which started in 1993, is set to expire at
the end of June, “an indictment could expedite the process of finding a
replacement,” he added. There appears to be both international and local
consensus on appointing Camille Abou Sleiman, a lawyer and former labour
minister, to replace Riad Salameh, as local media has been widely reporting. As
he loses his political backing, he will probably be viewed “as a lame duck”, Mr
Bitar said. But he still holds a valuable card — the information he acquired as
one of the most influential figures of the now completely collapsed Lebanese
financial system, which could implicate others in wrongdoing and potentially
bring them down alongside him. “His security in Lebanon will be the main issue
as he could face retaliation or other threats,” Mr Bitar said.
Riad Salameh's assistant faces European investigators in
Beirut
Nada Maucourant Atallah & Jamie Prentis/The National/April 27/ 2023
Marianne Hoayek, a senior adviser at Lebanon's central bank, was questioned on
Thursday by European investigators looking into the alleged embezzlement of
millions of dollars from the bank. Judicial officials from Luxembourg, France
and Germany are visiting Lebanon as part of a cross-border inquiry into the
financial dealings of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, who is suspected to
have embezzled more than $330 million from Banque du Liban. Ms Hoayek, 42, is
suspected of having received funds embezzled from the central bank through Forry
Associates, a company owned by Mr Salameh's brother, Raja Salameh, which is at
the heart of an alleged money laundering scheme that dates back to 2002. She
arrived for questioning at Beirut's Justice Palace on Thursday morning at around
10.30am, with hearing ending just before 3pm. The European investigators
questioned the central bank governor in Beirut in March and returned on Monday
for further hearings. They were set to quiz Raja Salameh as part of the probe on
Tuesday and Wednesday, but he was unavailable due to health reasons. In 2002,
the BDL reportedly entered into a secret brokerage agreement under which banks
were unknowingly paying commissions to Forry for each transaction with the
central bank. Investigators suspect Forry was not performing any services and
was set up only to siphon money from the central bank that was then used to
purchase high-end real estate in Europe Germany, France, Belgium and the UK
belonging to the governor and his relatives. According to a leaked request for
assistance from Swiss investigators to the Lebanese judiciary in 2021, Ms Hoayek
is suspected of receiving a portion of these commissions. The Swiss letter said
that more than $1.1 million was transferred indirectly from Forry to Ms Hoayek
through her company, Rise Invest SA, between 2008 and 2013. Switzerland is one
of six European countries investigating transactions related to the alleged
embezzlement from BDL.
Illicit enrichment?
The value of Ms Hoayek's assets in proportion to her salary as a public servant
has also sparked the investigators' suspicions. In a 2021 hearing before
Lebanese Judge Jean Tannous, who was leading a separate but parallel
investigation into Mr Salameh, she said her monthly salary at the central bank
was “three million Lebanese pounds” ($2,000 according to the exchange rate at
the time) when she started working there as an intern in 2003. Her pay reached
18 million Lebanese pounds between 2015-2020 after “gradually increasing” over
the years, she said. A report seen by The National sent from Monaco's financial
investigation unit SICCFIN estimated her fortune at about €14.1 million ($15.6
million). Monaco is looking into accounts held there by Ms Hoayek and the
Salameh brothers at the request of the French judiciary. Investigators in Monaco
said “like Mr Riad Salameh, the overall assessment of Ms Hoayek's wealth appears
to rely, in part, on declarative elements that do not allow for determining the
exact origin of her assets, and furthermore, determining whether these assets
have a lawful origin”. This “could suggest an offence of money laundering or
concealment of funds derived from embezzlement and/or fraud,” the reports added.
Ms Hoayek did not respond to requests for comment. Four years after joining BDL,
Ms Hoayek was appointed director of the executive office by Mr Salameh. In 2020,
she was appointed as senior executive adviser and was tasked with the
development of Sayrafa, the central bank's exchange platform.
Hoayek appears before European investigators
in Salameh case
Naharnet/April 27/2023
Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh’s former assistant Marianne Hoayek appeared
Thursday before a European investigators delegation at the Justice Palace in
Beirut. Salameh faces allegations of crimes including embezzlement, money
laundering and tax evasion in separate probes in Lebanon and Europe. His brother
Raja and his associate Hoayek are accused of complicity.
The European judicial returned Monday to Lebanon to question Raja, Hoayek
and others. Raja failed Tuesday and Wednesday to appear before the European
delegation as his lawyer submitted a medical report. Al-Jadeed TV reported that
the delegation will continue Hoayek's questioning on Friday. A session for the
interrogation of caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil has meanwhile been
scheduled for next Friday while a new session for Raja Salameh's questioning has
been set for May 3.
Iran urges Lebanon to end its six-month presidential vacuum
Jamie Prentis/The National/April 27/ 2023
Iran’s Foreign Minister has called on Lebanon’s bitterly divided politicians to
come together and end the country’s six-month presidential vacuum and elect a
successor to Michel Aoun. The Lebanese parliament, where no faction holds a
majority, has failed to come close to agreeing on the next president in 11
sessions. No presidential sessions have been held since January amid the
impasse. “We encourage all sides in Lebanon to expedite the election of a
president,” Hossein Amirabdollahian said on a visit to Beirut. “We will support
any election and agreement reached between all Lebanese sides … and we call on
other foreign parties to respect the choice of the Lebanese without interfering
in the country's affairs,” he said. Iran’s chief ally in Lebanon is Hezbollah,
the Shiite political party and armed group that holds significant sway in the
country. Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has publicly declared
his support for Suleiman Frangieh, a close friend of Syrian President Bashar Al
Assad. But while Hezbollah’s Shiite ally the Amal Movement has also backed Mr
Frangieh, the two parties’ support for the latter is not enough to propel him to
the presidency. Among Mr Frangieh’s detractors are parliament’s two largest
Christian parties, the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement —
although they themselves back differing candidates.In Lebanon’s confessional
system, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian. The vacuum comes at
an acutely difficult time for Lebanon, which is entrenched in one of the worst
economic downturns in modern history. Meanwhile, the cabinet of Prime Minister
Najib Mikati is in caretaker status and thus severely stripped of its powers. Mr
Amirabdollahian’s visit is his first to Lebanon since Saudi Arabia, which also
holds significant influence in Lebanon, and Iran agreed to re-establish
diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after years of tensions. “I am
optimistic that every regional agreement and any deal between regional countries
is good for Lebanon,” said Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib during
the visit of his Iranian counterpart. “The agreement between Iran and Saudi
Arabia is important for peace in the region,” he added. The Iranian Foreign
Minister also met Mr Mikati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri.
Lebanon's economic crisis pushes isolated communities into
healthcare misery
Prentis/The National/April 27/ 2023
For days, Nayef Houjeiri, a 51-year-old labourer from the isolated Lebanese
border town of Arsal, had put up with his hypertension — the tightness in his
chest and exhaustion.
After going around a number of clinics, some closed, others not, he arrived at a
primary health care centre run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), one of the few
free facilities in the Baalbek-Hermel governorate.
By that time, his condition was critical and Mr Houjeiri, who has three
children, collapsed in the clinic's waiting room. “I was looking at my
daughter's face and thinking I was saying goodbye,” he told The National from a
hospital in the city of Baalbek.
After emergency surgery, Mr Houjeiri's prognosis is good. His treatment was paid
for by MSF, which normally deals with primary health care situations but is
increasingly having to support emergencies for Lebanese citizens such as Mr
Houjeiri. Lebanon’s economic crisis, which became apparent in 2019, has pushed
much of the population into poverty. People like Mr Houjeiri are now unable to
afford hospital treatment as inflation soars and salaries fail to match the rise
in the cost of living amid the US dollar shortage, or access state support for
healthcare. Making the situation for people living in the Baalbek-Hermel
governorate worse is the distance they must travel to find the treatment they
need. Arsal is 40 kilometres away in the mountains. The latter part of the
journey to the town is marked by a winding road towards the Syrian border and
the surging price of fuel is making matters more difficult.
“Definitely, 10 years ago I would have been able to afford to go to the
hospital. I was living, not quite luxurious, but a comfortable life before the
crisis,” Mr Houjeiri said. “My heart condition has been exacerbated because of
the stress I have been living in.”And there is also the shame of being unable to
afford treatment. Mr Houjeiri talks about the “humiliation” from not having the
money to pay. Before becoming aware that his care could be funded, “it was a
conscious decision, wanting to stay at home and die rather than being put in
that position”.
“I was so afraid to be put in a position where I go to a hospital and I cannot
afford (it) … and feel like I’m helpless and I cannot do anything about my
health. I was really worried about that. I was trying to say no to go to the
hospital.”
Before the economic crisis Lebanese patients were paying about 15 per cent of
their medical bills, with the rest covered by guarantors such as the Ministry of
Public Health or Lebanon’s social security fund, said Maytham Al Jari, a
referral nurse with MSF. But now, Lebanese patients — already poor — have to pay
about 85 to 90 per cent of the costs. Guarantors pay back at the official rate
of the Lebanese pound — which is significantly lower than the parallel market
figure that represents the true value to the US dollar of the local currency. A
health worker treats a child who is suspected of having cholera at a field
hospital in Bebnine, Akkar district, northern Lebanon. All photos: Reuters Then
there is the effect of the economic crisis on hospitals. Qualified medical
workers have left the country as their salaries buy less and living conditions
deteriorate, while healthcare facilities face a shortage of electricity, surging
fuel prices and a lack of medications.
“Let me give you an example. Before if I have pain in my abdomen, I used to go
and seek medical advice,” said Mr Al Jari. Now, fearing the financial cost, many
patients delay treatment until the problem has worsened. “They are preferring
that, instead of going and taking medication or solving a problem which may
require a simple medicine … they can’t afford this,” he said. “They postpone,
postpone, postpone. The problem gets worse.”Abu Ali, 43, is a municipal
policeman from Arsal who has five children. He earns $70 a month. He has
diabetes and heart problems. About a month ago, liquid began accumulating in his
abdomen and he went to a hospital in Beirut, believing it to be the best place
for specialised care despite the expense and distance from Arsal. Taking a few
thousand dollars with him, he was seen by a cardiologist. But he had developed a
diabetic sore on his foot, and was told more money was needed to pay for his
complex treatment. Having run up bills of about $10,000, Abu Ali signed himself
out of hospital against medical advice because he did not want any more debt.
“If you have money, you’re able to go to hospital. If you don’t have money, you
cannot access hospital care,” said Abu Ali from hospital in Baalbek. After
presenting himself to the MSF clinic in Arsal, he was referred to the hospital
in Baalbek and received further treatment. He now faces at least two months of
recovery. Even amid Lebanon’s economic crisis, residents on the Baalbek-Hermel
governorate have more onerous challenges in accessing vital healthcare.
Distances are comparatively long and medical facilities limited. Abu Ali said he
went all the way to Beirut, after raising money from family and friends, because
he thought it was “safer”.“I know that specialised care is more prominent there
than this area. “It was very, very expensive to make it to Beirut. We went in a
public van, but it was still expensive.”Mr Al Jari said that while there are
some healthcare facilities in areas near Arsal, they are not equipped to tackle
many specialised cases. “The challenge to access hospital care is the distance
and how the hospitals are from many locations in Baalbek-Hermel governorate,
especially for Arsal,” said Mr Houjeiri. “A lot of pregnant women delivered on
the road before even reaching the hospital. With the transport costs, it’s even
more difficult to afford.”
Lebanon a willing victim as long as the existing system
remains
Arab News/Khaled Abou Zahr/April 27, 2023
Lebanon on Saturday gave a hero’s welcome to banker and former minister Marwan
Kheireddine, who arrived in the country after being named as a suspect in France
for his role in the alleged embezzlement scheme set up by Central Bank Governor
Riad Salameh. There were so many contradictions in this televised welcome. First
and foremost, those surrounding him must be just like all the other Lebanese.
They lost their savings to the banking system, yet they cheered for him. This
makes no sense. The reality is that, in Lebanon, when you get accused of crimes,
you play the confessional card.
In fact, it should be the Lebanese justice system conducting these proceedings
and not France. However, this is impossible today as the banking system, even if
it is corrupt, is at the core of the Lebanese confessional system. As a result,
Lebanon has become a no man’s land where refugees, whether rich or destitute,
are stuck. Kheireddine is not the first rich Lebanese to be hailed a hero while
being investigated or judged in another country. In 2019, Carlos Ghosn fled
Japanese justice, yet in Lebanon he was even considered as a potential
presidential candidate. There were others before him. For now, they are all
refugees in Lebanon. Meanwhile, destitute Syrian refugees are also stuck in
Lebanon. The currently unfolding events have shown this to be an additional
threat to the country’s stability. With calls for their deportation and
incidents in the camps holding Syrian refugees, there is the potential for an
explosion, especially in the current regional and domestic geopolitical setting.
Viral WhatsApp clips in Lebanon, showing Syrian opposition leader Kamal Al-Labwani
and other unknown Syrian figures, have relayed the fragility of Lebanon and
highlighted how a new civil war could erupt due to this situation. The threats
are direct. This is something new, or at least it has not happened since the
Syrian troops left Lebanon in 2005. Indeed, the delivery of these threats is
reminiscent of the past, but with a technological spin.
The refugee file is undoubtedly one that the Syrian regime can use to rebalance
its relations with Lebanon — a way to bring back the influence it lost over the
past decade. Lebanon is part of its set of geopolitical cards and the regime
needs it back. This Syrian objective is also noticeable in its fresh involvement
in the choice of the next Lebanese president. This is something the Syrian
regime can see as a way forward. How will this take place? And will it go
through without any major incidents? The threats made on social media by Syrians
regarding the stability of Lebanon confirm that the will is there.
The confessional political system that protects billionaire refugees is what
makes Lebanon weak The confessional political system that protects billionaire
refugees is what makes Lebanon weak. The threats seen on social media would see
the use of this confessional political system to create an incident. This shows
how fragile the situation is. Strangely, many of the Lebanese bourgeoisie will
condemn the corrupt politicians and the militia. But in reality, they will
accept the loss of their Ponzi dollars because they expect their confessional
leader to give them total immunity, just like the refugee billionaires. This is
what they want for their blind loyalty. As long as they condemn a system while
benefiting from it and are accomplices in it, there is little hope for change.
This is exactly why the youth’s “All means all” was a worthy slogan. Because, in
Lebanon, you cannot remove a confessional leader without the community losing
ground and power — and this is unacceptable to them. This is why the entire
system needs to change. Unfortunately, what most people fail to understand is
that this power is all artificial and temporarily “rented out.” Even the
all-mighty Hezbollah is an artificial power, simply because its power comes from
the regional situation and not from within the country. It is the specific
regional geopolitical situation that makes it powerful today and its unwinding
will most certainly bring it to an end. We have seen it before.
For Lebanon to survive, it cannot have a political system that pits people
against each other, while allowing the leaders and their followers to trade off
on riches. It does not make sense. Nevertheless, Lebanon has to be respectful
and understanding of the geopolitical situation. There is a need to find a way
to shift the power-making from outside to inside; to find a new political
structure that allows for a political leadership to be aligned with the needs of
all the people and not only the influential. I am always amazed when reading
headlines in the Lebanese media, especially on the presidential elections.
Questions are raised, such as “Will France accept another candidate?” or “Will
regional powers refuse this candidate?” These are simply astonishing. With all
due respect, why should anyone have a say in the election of an official besides
the local population? How can this be accepted? And so, in order to understand
who will become an official, everyone analyses regional meetings. It is time to
change this. The fact is that the headache caused by this situation for global
and regional powers will eventually promote old solutions that will bring more
suffering.
This is why I take seriously the threats of Syrian figures on social media
against Lebanon. Believe me, in this game, it does not take long for the
situation to explode without us understanding why. There is, unfortunately,
little chance of the political powers coming to an understanding regarding a new
system. Indeed, the Lebanese bourgeoisie and the influential billionaire
refugees are still, despite their condemnations, aligned with them. Hence,
Lebanon is once again at risk of being the victim of major shifts. However, it
is clearly now a willing victim.
*Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of Barbicane, a space-focused investment
syndication platform. He is the CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published on April 27-28/2023
US Navy: Iran Seizes Oil Tanker in
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 27 April, 2023
Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman in
international waters on Thursday, the US Navy said, the latest in a series of
seizures and attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf waters since 2019. The US
Navy identified the vessel as the Advantage Sweet. "Iran's continued harassment
of vessels and interference with navigational rights in regional waters are a
threat to maritime security and the global economy," the US Navy said, adding
that Iran has in the past two years unlawfully seized at least five commercial
vessels in the Middle East.Since 2019 there have been a series of attacks on
shipping in the strategic Gulf waters at times of tension between the United
States and Iran. Iran last November released two Greek-flagged tankers it had
seized in the Gulf in May in response to the confiscation of oil by the United
States from an Iranian-flagged tanker off the Greek coast.
Abdollahian Points to ‘Initiatives’ to Resume
Nuclear Negotiations
Muscat - Merza al-Khuwaldi/Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 27 April, 2023
Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahian announced on Wednesday that
his country had heard ideas regarding negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear
deal on Iran, expressing his gratitude for the constructive role of the Sultan
of Oman and its sincere intentions in this regard.
On the second day of his visit to Oman, which he concluded on Wednesday before
heading to Beirut, Abdollahian said that Muscat “always plays a constructive
role” in the nuclear talks, adding: “We have held the necessary consultations in
this context.”Later on Wednesday, the Omani News Agency quoted Abdollahian as
saying that the Sultanate has “serious initiatives” regarding the Iranian
nuclear program that “will contribute” to the revival of negotiations. Oman’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Omani and Iranian foreign ministers
discussed a number of regional and international issues, and stressed the
continuation of “consultation and support for all efforts aimed at consolidating
security and stability in the region and encouraging dialogue and peaceful ways
to resolve differences.”The Iranian minister pointed to the role of Oman in
facilitating the Iranian-Saudi talks and praised its efforts in mediating
regional dialogues. He also welcomed the constructive efforts made by Oman with
regard to Yemen, expressing hope that those would lead to the consolidation of
peace in the region. Abdollahian continued: “The Islamic Republic of Iran,
within the framework of its neighborhood policy and its respect for the
principle of good neighborliness, welcomes the restoration of relations with
Saudi Arabia and considers this matter to serve the interests of the region.”The
two sides also discussed the security developments in the region.
“We have made great progress in the field of energy and cooperation… as well as
in trade, economy and investment. Very good matters have happened, and we hope
that we will be able to complete them during the upcoming visit of the Sultan of
Oman to Tehran,” the Iranian minister said. Iranian sources expect Sultan
Haitham bin Tariq, who received an invitation from the Iranian president, to
visit Tehran in May. In June 2022, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi paid a
one-day visit to Muscat.
Belgium Says No Deal Reached to Free Jailed Iran Diplomat
in Swap
Asharq A-Awsat/Thursday, 27 April, 2023
Belgium said on Wednesday an Iranian diplomat jailed there for 20 years will not
soon be released in a prisoner swap, apparently contradicting Iran's judiciary.
In March, Belgium's Constitutional Court upheld a prisoner exchange treaty with
Iran that could lead to Asadollah Assadi being swapped for jailed Belgian aid
worker Olivier Vandecasteele. "Belgium has requested an exchange and so have we
for our diplomat Asadollah Assadi. Following the necessary protocols, such an
exchange will be done soon," Iranian judiciary spokesperson Masoud Setayeshi
said on Wednesday. But a spokesperson for Belgian Justice minister Vincent Van
Quickenborne denied a deal had been reached, Reuters reported. "This is a false
message from a rogue state that specializes in making false statements", Van
Quickenborne said to Belgian public broadcaster VTM. "They do this to manipulate
and confuse an innocent compatriot and his family."He also denied there would be
a prison swap with another Belgian. Last week, Belgium submitted a request to
Iran that Vandecasteele be sent back to his country in accordance with the
prisoner transfer treaty. Assadi was jailed for 20-years in 2021 over a 2018
foiled bomb plot targeting an Iranian opposition group in Paris. Vandecasteele
was arrested on a visit to Iran in February 2022 and sentenced in January to 40
years in prison and 74 lashes on several charges including spying. Belgium
repeatedly said there were no grounds for the detention of Vandecasteele, saying
he was convicted "for a fabricated series of crimes" and in retribution for
Assadi's jailing. Iran has called the accusation that Assadi was linked to an
attack in Paris a "false flag" stunt by the exiled National Council of
Resistance of Iran, which it calls a terrorist group.
Lavrov Warns Against Missing Chance to Revive JCPOA
Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 27 April, 2023
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned against missing the chance to
revive Iran's Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying it "would be a
big mistake."This statements came during a press conference he held at the
United Nations headquarters within the framework of Russia's presidency of the
UN Security Council for April. "At this stage, the resumption of the deal does
not depend on Iran, or Russia, or China. The ones who destroyed it must now
bring it back to life,” said Lavrov. He stressed that "while relations in the
Middle East region are being normalized, missing the chance to revive the JCPOA
will be a mistake." Efforts to revive the deal became deadlocked after Tehran
unleashed a deadly crackdown on protesters. Lavrov further referred to
normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years through
China’s mediation and said it was a constructive process.
Putin hails Turkey ties as first Turkish
nuclear plant inaugurated
Reuters/Thu, April 27, 2023
-Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Moscow's burgeoning energy and wider
economic ties with Ankara on Thursday as he and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
took part virtually in a ceremony inaugurating Turkey's first nuclear power
plant. Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom built the Akkuyu nuclear
power plant and Thursday's ceremony saw the first loading of nuclear fuel into
the first power unit at the site in Turkey's southern Mersin province. "This is
a flagship project," Putin said via videolink. "It brings both mutual economic
benefits and, of course, helps to strengthen the multi-faceted partnership
between our two states." Putin described Akkuyu as "the largest nuclear
construction project in the world" and noted that it would mean Turkey having to
import less Russian natural gas in the future. "But Turkey will enjoy the
advantage of a country that has its own nuclear energy, and nuclear energy, as
you know, is one of the cheapest," he added. Erdogan thanked Putin for his
support on Akkuyu, adding: "We will take steps to build a second and a third
nuclear power plant in Turkey as soon as possible."
CORDIAL TIES
Turkey is a NATO member but Erdogan has managed to maintain cordial relations
with Putin despite the war in Ukraine. Last year, Turkey helped to broker, along
with the United Nations, a deal that allowed the resumption of Ukrainian grain
exports from Black Sea ports. In a phone call before the ceremony at Akkuyu,
Erdogan and Putin also discussed the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea
grain deal, the Turkish leader's office said. Putin, keen to build new markets
for Russian hydrocarbons outside Europe, traditionally Moscow's main customer,
reiterated his call for Turkey to become a regional gas hub "to supply natural
gas to interested foreign buyers at market prices". The $20 billion, 4,800
megawatt (MW) project at Akkuyu entails the construction of four reactors that
will allow Turkey to join the small club of nations with civil nuclear energy.
"We plan to complete the physical launch (of the plant) next year... in order to
be able to produce electricity on a steady basis from 2025, as we agreed,"
Andrei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, said in Mersin before the ceremony. Erdogan
also joined Thursday's ceremony by videolink rather than travelling there due to
poor health that forced him to cancel campaign rallies this week. Turkish Health
Minister Fahrettin Koca said Erdogan was feeling better on Thursday. Turkey
faces landmark presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14.
Russian army commander arrested for ‘selling
tank engines’
James Kilner/The Telegraph/April 27, 2023
A Russian army officer has been arrested for allegedly stealing the engines out
of T-90 battle tanks..The Kommersant newspaper reported that Colonel Alexander
Denisov is accused of stealing seven V-92S2 engines worth 20.5 million roubles
(around £200,000) between November 2021 and April 2022.
Col Denisov, who is in charge of technical support for tanks in the Southern
Military District, was arrested last month near Rostov in southern Russia and
was charged with “stealing parts intended to be installed on tanks”. Corruption
plagues Russia, especially in its military, and has been blamed for hindering
the Russian army since it launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian soldiers have been sent into battle with rusty weapons and broken
radios. Tanks have regularly run out of fuel and broken down. Western analysts
have estimated that Russia has lost nearly 2,000 tanks in the 14 months of the
war and the Foreign Office has said that the Russian army has had to use
previously mothballed T-62 tanks, produced before 1975, as battlefield
replacements.
Since they entered service in the early 1990s, T-90 tanks have become the
backbone of Russia’s armoured divisions. They were designed in the Soviet Union
to be simple, light and fast and are now mainly powered by the 12-cylinder
V-92S2 engine which is produced at the Chelyabinsk tractor factory, close to the
Ural Mountains. Each engine weighs roughly one tonne and can generate 1,000
horsepower. When it was introduced in 2000, the V-92S2 engine was considered the
best and most powerful tank engine in the Russian army. Prosecutors at the
Rostov military garrison court in southern Russia said that Col Denisov had sold
the engines on the black market. In 2019, two other Russian army officers were
convicted of a similar theft. Col Denisov has pleaded not guilty.
Supporters of Israel's judicial overhaul rally in
Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (AP)/Thu, April 27, 2023
Tens of thousands of right-wing Israelis who support a plan by Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judiciary flocked to Jerusalem
on Thursday to rally for the proposal, which has prompted some of the biggest
protests in Israel's history. After 16 weeks of protests against the overhaul
that brought parts of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to a standstill, Thursday marked a
rare mobilization of massive public support for the divisive plan. Crowds of
Israelis transformed a major Jerusalem thoroughfare into a sea of blue and white
national flags. Some protesters stomped on a carpet displaying the faces of
Israel's Supreme Court president and former attorney general. “We will not give
up,” ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told the rally. “We have
the people, they have the media," he said, referring to the government's critics
that he accuses of exerting undue influence over the news media. The masses
snaking down Kaplan Street railed against their opponents and chanted slogans in
support of the judicial plan, which Netanyahu delayed last month after mass
anti-government protests — mainly by secular and liberal Israelis — intensified
and even threatened to paralyze the economy. The anti-overhaul movement also
drew legions of pilots and officers in elite military reserve units who
threatened not to report for service. High-tech business leaders and former
officials also came out against the changes. Right-wing Israelis — disappointed
in the government's failure to push through the legislation before the
parliament's recess earlier this month — escalated their demands for Netanyahu's
far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition to fulfill its promises. Israeli media
estimated some 80,000 people had gathered in Jerusalem for Thursday's rally —
many of them bused in from across the country. “The people want judicial
reform,” the protesters yelled. At the end of his speech, Justice Minister Yariv
Levin, who has spearheaded the overhaul push, joined the chant. A banner onstage
read: “The elections will not be stolen from us.” Supporters of the overhaul
argue it is needed to rein in a system of judges who are unelected and overly
interventionist in political issues. Netanyahu's coalition of right-wing and
religious allies, which took office late last year, captured a majority of 64
seats in the 120-member Knesset. Opponents contend the overhaul is a power grab
that would weaken a system of checks and balances and concentrate authority in
the hands of the prime minister and his extremist allies. They also say that
Netanyahu has a conflict of interest in trying to reshape the nation’s legal
system at a time when he is on trial. “I am deeply moved by the tremendous
support,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter about Thursday's demonstration.
Intelligence chief: Russian spy ring had 'source' in France
LE PECQ, France (AP)/Thu, April 27, 2023
The French chief of counterintelligence has given new details about a Russian
spy ring broken up by France in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, saying
the six intelligence agents were caught red-handed interacting with a source on
French soil. The director of the DGSI counterintelligence and counterterrorism
agency, Nicolas Lerner, was speaking to a French parliamentary enquiry looking
into foreign efforts to influence or corrupt political parties, leaders and
opinion-makers in France. His testimony was delivered behind closed doors in
February. But the website of the National Assembly, France's lower house of
parliament, published his comments this week. Lerner described the unmasking of
the Russian agents as “one of the most significant counter-intelligence
operations carried out by the DGSI in recent decades.”The six intelligence
officers were “caught in the act of treating with a source on the national
territory" and expelled, Lerner said, without giving more details. At the time,
in April 2022, France's Foreign Ministry said the Russian “clandestine
operation” was unmasked by “a very long” DGSI investigation. It said the six
agents posed as diplomats and that their activities were “contrary to our
national interests.” Its statement made no mention of a source in France.
France's interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, also made no mention of a French
source for the spies in his tweet last April that hailed the “remarkable
counterespionage operation" by the DGSI which “obstructed a network of Russian
clandestine agents.”A week prior to those expulsions, as the horrors of war
crimes committed by Russian forces in Bucha, Ukraine, were coming to light,
France also expelled 35 Russian diplomats. saying their activities were "
contrary to our security interests. "Expulsions, including tit-for-tat
retaliations by Moscow, have been a feature of the deepening gulf between Russia
and countries opposed to its war in Ukraine. Sweden this week expelled five
Russian Embassy employees suspected of spying. Norway expelled 15 Russian
diplomats earlier this month. Russia this week responded by ordering 10
Norwegian diplomats in Moscow to leave. In his sworn testimony, Lerner told
lawmakers that Russia had long been running the largest spy operation in France,
using intelligence officers posing as diplomats. “The country that historically
has the most important system is Russia. This tradition continued to the present
day. In each Western country, several dozen officers — their number has
diminished significantly since the start of the Ukraine crisis — from the three
Russian intelligence services carry out intelligence and interference actions
under diplomatic cover.” He added that China also “maintains a network under
diplomatic cover that is much less developed than Russia's.”Lerner suggested to
lawmakers that they also should be on their guard about the risk of intelligence
agents seeking to ensnare them. He said the DGSI was in regular contact with
lawmakers to alert them and “if necessary to let them know who they are dealing
with.”
“In recent months, we have done this several times, after detecting contacts
with Russian intelligence officers under diplomatic cover,” he said.More
broadly, the French counterintelligence chief said that previous unwritten rules
that rival countries observed in the Cold War were collapsing in a new era of
more aggressive and direct confrontation. “From 1945 to the fall of the Berlin
Wall, certain tacit rules, which one can like or disagree with, governed
relations between nations," he said. “Each bloc broadly respected the other’s
sphere of influence. All of that has disappeared. Now, the way some countries
see it is that the only rules are the fait accompli and the law of the
strongest.”
'Dead or alive': Iraq's Yazidis anxiously
await IS-abducted relatives
Agence France Presse/April 27/2023
After paying nearly $100,000 in ransoms to free 10 family members, Khaled Taalou,
a member of Iraq's Yazidi minority, is still working to free other missing
relatives kidnapped by Islamic State group fighters. Despite his efforts, five
more relatives, along with thousands of other Yazidis, remain missing after
being abducted by the jihadists. "We are still looking. We do not lose hope,"
the 49-year-old said. In August 2014, IS swept over Mount Sinjar, the
Kurdish-speaking minority's historic home in northern Iraq. They massacred
thousands of Yazidi men, enlisted children, and seized thousands of women to be
sold as jihadists' "wives" or reduced to sexual slavery. IS considered the
Yazidis, who follow a non-Muslim monotheistic faith, as heretics. U.N.
investigators described as genocide the atrocities carried out by IS. Nineteen
members of Taalou's family were abducted, including his brother and sister,
along with their spouses and children. "We borrowed money as we could, here and
there, to get them out," the journalist and writer said. Now displaced and
living in Sharya, a village in Iraqi Kurdistan, after fleeing his home in Sinjar,
Taalou has managed to free 10 relatives over seven years. Expensive releases are
negotiated "via networks of traffickers in Iraq and abroad," he said. The latest
was his brother's granddaughter in February 2022, located in a Syrian camp. He
has learned that along with five relatives who remain missing, two family
members were killed in aerial bombardments in the fight against IS.
'Eyes on the road'
After IS' rapid rise in 2014, Iraq declared victory over the jihadists in 2017
and the group's last Syrian stronghold was retaken in 2019. But the toll left
behind by their self-proclaimed caliphate is still being counted. Mass graves in
Sinjar continue to be exhumed and the International Organization for Migration
says more than 2,700 Yazidis remain missing, with some still in IS captivity
while "the whereabouts of others is uncertain." Bahar Elias was separated from
her husband Jassem and their son Ahmed, who was barely 19 when the family was
kidnapped when IS seized Sinjar. Relatives paid intermediaries $22,000 to secure
the release of Bahar and her three younger sisters. Now living in a camp for
displaced people near Sharya, the 40-year-old said she has her "eyes glued to
the road" in hopes that her husband and son will return. She appealed for
international assistance to "help us find a trace of our families, to find out
if they are dead or alive."Knowing their fate, she added, would allow her "to be
free from pain."
'Nothing left in Sinjar'
Hussein Qaidi, head of a public office in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region
working to rescue kidnapped Yazidis, said IS abducted 6,417 Yazidis from Sinjar.
More than 3,500 have been rescued in Iraq or from neighbouring Syria and Turkey.
He estimated 2,855 Yazidis remain missing and said his team works tirelessly to
"gather the available information and free all the kidnapped".
Hayam was 17 when IS abducted her on August 3, 2014, along with her
parents, five sisters and two brothers. Now living in Sharya, she has managed to
rebuild her life after a journey across the territory once controlled by the
jihadists.
In an IS prison, she met Leila, a fellow Yazidi. In May 2015, Hayam was sold to
a Syrian and Leila to an Iraqi. Four months later, Hayam was given to a man from
Dagestan before escaping her ordeal and reaching Iraqi Kurdistan, after a year
and a half in captivity. She has since married Leila's brother, Marwan, and the
couple and their two children have sought asylum in Australia, where Hayam has
family awaiting them. She has the word "huriya" (freedom) tattooed on her wrist
and holds no intention of returning to her former home. "Nothing awaits us in
Sinjar," she said, adding that her family and friends are no longer there. "Some
were killed, others are still captives of IS, and others have emigrated.
Everything has changed."
Rights watchdog: Turkey border guards
shooting, torturing Syrians
Agence France Presse/April 27/20
Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Turkish border guards of shooting,
torturing and using excessive force against Syrians seeking to flee their
war-racked country into neighboring Turkey. It urged Ankara to investigate
border guards, hold those responsible for "grave human rights violations,
including unlawful killings" to account, and end "longstanding impunity for
these abuses". "Turkish border guards are
indiscriminately shooting at Syrian civilians on the border... as well as
torturing and using excessive force against asylum seekers and migrants trying
to cross," the New York-based rights group said in a statement. Syria's war
since 2011 has killed more than half a million people and displaced millions.
Syria shares a long border with Turkey, which hosts some 3.6 million registered
Syrian refugees, according to the U.N. refugee agency.
"Turkey's generous hosting of large numbers of Syrians does not absolve it of
its obligations to respect the rights of others seeking protection at its
borders," HRW said. It cited a March 11 incident in which border guards had
"intercepted and tortured a group of eight Syrians who had attempted to cross
into Turkey... killing a boy and one man" and returning the others to Syria.
"Turkish gendarmes and armed forces in charge of border control routinely
abuse and indiscriminately shoot at Syrians along the Syrian-Turkish border,
with hundreds of deaths and injuries recorded in recent years," said HRW's Hugh
Williamson. "Arbitrary killings of Syrians are particularly egregious and part
of a pattern of brutality by Turkish border guards that the government has
failed to curb or investigate effectively." The Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said Turkish border guards had shot dead 12
Syrians and wounded 20 others since the start of the year. "While Turkey is
entitled to secure its border with Syria, it must do so in compliance with
international law and in particular its human rights obligations," HRW said,
urging Ankara to "urgently conduct a full review" of border security policy.
Despite officially closing its frontier with Syria, Turkey over the years has
regularly allowed access for humanitarian and medical reasons, and at times has
allowed Syrians to return home for family visits during major holidays. But
since a devastating February 6 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, killing
thousands, Ankara has reinforced border restrictions.
Tunisian President Appoints New Ambassador to
Syria
Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 27 April, 2023
Tunisia's President Kais Saied on Thursday appointed a new ambassador to Syria,
the Tunisian presidency said in a statement. Tunisia cut off diplomatic
relations with Syria nearly a decade ago to protest Bashar Assad's crackdown on
pro-democracy demonstrations in 2011 that developed into civil war in which
hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed and millions sent fleeing.
Tunisia rounds up migrants at sea in unprecedented numbers
Associated Press/April 27/2023
A young man wearing a baseball cap emblazoned with "Dior," women clutching
babies wrapped in blankets, children bundled in winter coats. All gingerly
stepped from rickety boats into the sturdy craft of the Tunisian Maritime
National Guard — and away from their dreams of life in Europe. Cold, wet and
heartbroken, they are among hundreds caught daily in overnight sweeps for
migrant boats on the Mediterranean Sea. "Sit down! Sit down! Sit down!" The
shouted order confirmed the group was no longer in charge of their destiny. A
woman sobbed. On an overnight expedition with the National Guard last week, The
Associated Press witnessed migrants pleading to continue their journeys to Italy
in unseaworthy vessels, some taking on water. Over 14 hours, 372 people were
plucked from the fragile boats. Migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are
undertaking the perilous journey in unprecedented numbers. In the first three
months of this year, 13,000 migrants were forced from their boats off the
eastern Tunisian port city of Sfax, the main launching point. Between 2021 and
2022, the number of migrants heading to Europe, mostly to Italy but also to
Malta, nearly doubled. In a single day in March, a record 2,900 migrants were
stopped in the Sfax region, which also includes the coastal city of Mahdia and
the Kerkennah Islands, off the Sfax coast, said National Guard Brig. Gen. Sabeur
Younes. Migration to Europe has been on an upward
climb, peaking in 2022 to 189,620, according to the International Organization
for Migration. That's the most since 2016, when close to 400,000 left their
homelands, and one year after more than 1 million people, mostly Syrians fleeing
war, sought refuge in 2015. For many sub-Saharan
Africans — who don't need a visa to travel to Tunisia — the North African
country serves as a stepping stone to Europe, while others come from Libya,
which shares a border with Tunisia. Each night,
National Guard vessels comb the waters. Pulling up the dead is the grimmest part
of the job. The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights said that 580
migrants died or disappeared at sea in 2022. This week, Sfax officials were
rushing to bury some 90 bodies washed up on beaches in the Sfax region in recent
days, the official TAP news agency reported Tuesday. The morgue at the main
hospital is full, making burials critical. No deaths or disappearances were
reported the night the AP was present. The groups of people plucked from the
water during numerous sorties by small crafts are collected on a waiting
National Guard mother ship and returned to Sfax.
Considered victims, not lawbreakers, those stopped en route are set free at the
port, many to try again. As of Monday, 36,610 migrants — including 2,882
Tunisians — had reached Italy since the start of the year. That is about four
times the number who arrived in each of the two previous years, the Italian
Interior Ministry said. Many head to Lampedusa, an island south of Sicily, some
180 kilometers (110 miles) from Sfax, a voyage that requires large measures of
desperation and bravado. "We are ready to drown and die to improve our
situation," said a Syrian who identified himself only as Mohamed, fearful like
many migrants caught at sea of revealing his full name. "You know the situation
in Syria, war and instability," he said, adding that he had lost four family
members in the war. Italy is trying to stem the flow from Tunisia, and stabilize
the North African country in the midst of its deepest economic crisis in a
generation, with growing social and political tensions. This month Rome declared
a state of emergency to help cope with the influx, then sweetened pressure on
Tunisia, vowing a host of investments plus help in tough negotiations for an
International Monetary Fund loan. But those incentives won't stop the recent,
furious drive by people from sub-Saharan Africa and a booming business in
cheaper metal boats that have fed the surge in migration from Tunisia.
Sub-Saharan Africans, some living illegally in Tunisia for years and working at
low wages, began trying to make a quick exit after Tunisia's increasingly
authoritarian President Kais Saied demanded urgent measures in February to crack
down on Black Africans, claiming they are part of a plot to erase his country's
identity. Some countries airlifted their citizens back home. Many sub-Saharan
Africans looked toward Europe as a getaway. "If a Black man does something bad
in Tunisia, then Tunisians see us all as bad and chase us away," said a man from
Ivory Coast who refused to give his name over concerns about the tense situation
for Black Africans in Tunisia. "It's not logical. We are all humans." Younes,
the National Guard chief, suggested that the furor over sub-Saharan Africans
contributed to increased attempted crossings. "After what happened, voila. They
no longer have the means to stay here," he said. "They'll try everything to get
to the other side." But another factor has enticed people to risk their lives
for Europe. Flimsy, hand-made metal boats — cheaper but less stable than wooden
vessels — began appearing on the seas last year and quickly became a flourishing
business. The boats are made clandestinely in the Sfax region. Arrests are made,
"but unfortunately there are always other artisans to build them," Younes said.
Even foreigners are being recruited, like Egyptians to do the welding, he said.
But only a fine awaits boat builders who are caught because officials have so
far failed to establish a link with smugglers.
For the National Guard official, a critical link with Italy is missing. "We need
direct contact with the Italians for boats that risk sinking" but have exited
Tunisia's zone of rescue, Younes said, rejecting suggestions Tunisia is not
doing enough to stopped the influx of migrants. For the migrants, Tunisia is
already doing too much — dashing their dreams. "We want to leave Tunisia! Let us
die at sea. It's our choice," cried out some forced off the boats. "It's our
destiny." Among those removed was an infant bundled in a camouflage fleece suit,
her head covered by a hat with kitty ears, seemingly dressed for a special event
that was abruptly canceled by the National Guard.
What is the latest on Netanyahu's corruption
trial?
Associated Press/April 27/2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial has resumed after a
month-long break, refocusing the spotlight on the long-serving leader's legal
woes after a wave of protests over his government's plan to overhaul Israel's
judiciary. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of
trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful media
moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. Critics say that Netanyahu
is driven to weaken the courts and change the judicial system as a way to open
an escape route from his trial, claims he dismisses as untrue. The corruption
charges also have been at the center of a protracted political crisis that sent
Israelis to the polls five times in less than four years — each vote essentially
a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to rule. After losing power in 2021 to a
coalition of opponents, Netanyahu returned as prime minister late last year,
despite his legal problems. Under Israeli law, the prime minister has no
obligation to step aside while on trial.
Here is a look at the ongoing trial:
WHERE DO THINGS STAND?
The trial, which began in May 2020, has featured more than 40 prosecution
witnesses, including some of Netanyahu's closest former confidants who turned
against the premier. Witness accounts have shed light not only on the three
cases but also revealed sensational details about Netanyahu's character and his
family's reputation for living off the largesse of taxpayers and wealthy
supporters. One former aide and a key prosecution witness called him a "control
freak" when it came to his public image in the media. Another witness described
expensive gifts lavished on Netanyahu and his wife, including pink champagne and
cigars. The trial was jolted by Israeli media reports that police used
sophisticated phone-hacking spyware on a crucial state witness. With the trial
now resuming after the Jewish Passover holiday, a top police investigator is
testifying. The defense, in its cross examination, will likely try to poke holes
in the way the police carried out its investigation.
WHY IS THE TRIAL TAKING SO LONG?
Netanyahu is on trial in three complex affairs — dubbed Case 1,000, Case 2,000
and Case 4,000 — in which prosecutors claim he exchanged regulatory favors with
media titans for favorable press coverage and advanced the personal interests of
a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for lavish gifts.
In building their case before the judges during the thrice-weekly
hearings, prosecutors are chipping away at a list of more than 300 witnesses. At
least three witnesses on the list have died as the trial has stretched on, and
the witness list is expected to be trimmed somewhat. Beyond the Israeli courts
system's reputation for being sluggish, some legal analysts say the defense has
purposely tried to drag out the trial, repeatedly asking for delays, prolonging
cross examinations and other tactics. A person close to the defense team denied
that, blaming the prosecution for calling so many witnesses. The person spoke on
condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the details of
the trial with the media.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
In the next few weeks, the prosecution is set to call several high-profile
witnesses, including the current opposition leader, Yair Lapid, Israel's
ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, as well as a former Netanyahu
chief of staff-turned-state witness, Ari Harow. Those testimonies could further
embarrass Netanyahu. Once the prosecution completes its list, which is expected
to happen in the next year or so, the defense will begin to call its own
witnesses, possibly including Netanyahu himself. While there's no official
completion date, experts expect a ruling in about two years. Netanyahu claims
the cases against him are crumbling, but analysts say there's no indication of
that and there's no way to know how the three-judge panel will eventually rule.
If convicted, Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, would be
forced to step down after over 15 years in the position.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES?
The court could convict Netanyahu on some or all of the charges, which would
trigger a sentencing process to determine his punishment. Depending on the
ruling, Netanyahu and the state could each choose to appeal the ruling. Doing so
would take the case to Israel's Supreme Court, further prolonging a resolution
on Netanyahu's fate. Before the current court even reaches a decision, there is
a possibility the sides will seek a plea deal, an option that has emerged in the
past and again more recently, according to media reports. That would likely send
Netanyahu into political exile. The contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary
also weighs heavily over Netanyahu's future, said Amir Fuchs, a senior
researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. The plan
has been paused for now, after ferocious public pressure. But if it moves ahead
after all, Netanyahu could remove the current attorney general and install one
amenable to throwing out the charges against him. He also could gain influence
in appointing the judges who hear any future appeal. In that way, he could evade
conviction or have his trial canceled outright.
Why China is trying to mediate in Russia's war
with Ukraine
Associated Press/April 27/2023
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said that Beijing will send an envoy to Ukraine to
discuss a possible "political settlement" to Russia's war with the country.
Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other
countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force
after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to
restore diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. Xi told Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call that a Chinese envoy, a former
Chinese ambassador to Russia, would visit Ukraine and "other countries" to
discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement. It
made no mention of Russia or last year's invasion of Ukraine and didn't indicate
whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow. The Xi-Zelensky phone call was
long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to serve as a mediator in the war.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
China is the only major government that has friendly relations with Moscow as
well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the
United States and its allies cut off most purchases. Beijing, which sees Moscow
as a diplomatic partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has
refused to criticize the invasion and used its status as one of five permanent
U.N. Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia. Zelensky
earlier said he welcomed a Chinese offer to mediate.
WHY DID CHINA DO THIS?
Xi's government has pursued a bigger role in global diplomacy as part of a
campaign to restore China to what the ruling Communist Party sees as its
rightful status as a political and economic leader and to build an international
order that favors Beijing's interests. That is a sharp reversal after decades of
avoiding involvement in other countries' conflicts and most international
affairs while it focused on economic development at home. In March, Saudi Arabia
and Iran issued a surprise announcement, following talks in Beijing, that they
would reopen embassies in each other's capitals following a seven-year break.
China has good relations with both as a big oil buyer. Last week, Foreign
Minister Qin Gang told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country
is ready to help facilitate peace talks. Wednesday's statement warned against
the dangers of nuclear war, suggesting Beijing might also have been motivated by
what it sees as the growing danger of a more destructive conflict. Mediating
between Ukraine and Russia would increase China's presence in Eastern Europe,
where Beijing has tried to build ties with other governments. That has prompted
complaints by some European officials that China is trying to gain leverage over
the European Union. Political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard
College at Columbia University in New York doubted China would succeed in a
peacemaker role. "I have a hard time believing that China can act as
peacemaker," she said, adding that Beijing has been "too close to Russia."
WHAT ARE CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA?
China is the closest thing President Vladimir Putin's isolated government has to
a major ally. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement ahead of the February 2022
invasion that said their governments had a "no limits friendship."Beijing has
tried to appear neutral but has repeated Russian justifications for the
invasion. Xi received a warm welcome from Putin during a visit to Moscow in
March. The Chinese defense minister visited Russia this month. China has stepped
up purchases of Russian oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, helping to
offset lost revenue resulting from Western sanctions. In exchange, China gets
lower prices, though details haven't been disclosed. Marten said the Xi-Zelensky
call was "kind of a slap at Russia, because Russia has been very keen to portray
China as its ally." She said the direct China-Ukraine contact "indicates China
is taking at least a step away from Russia."
WHAT ARE CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE?
China was Ukraine's biggest trading partner before the invasion, though on a
smaller scale than Chinese-Russian trade. In 2021, Ukraine announced plans for
Chinese companies to build trade-related infrastructure. Zelensky's government
was more ambivalent toward Beijing after it was clear Xi wouldn't try to stop
Putin's war, but the two sides have remained amicable.
"Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraine's number one trading
partner. I believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to
the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels," an
official Ukrainian readout of the call reported. Qin, the foreign minister,
promised this month China wouldn't provide arms to either side, a pledge that
benefits Ukraine, which has received tanks, rockets and other armaments from the
United States and European governments. The Chinese ambassador to France set off
an uproar in Europe when he suggested former Soviet republics — a group that
includes Ukraine — might not be sovereign nations. That was in line with Putin's
comments denying Ukrainian sovereignty. Beijing then reassured former Soviet
states it respected their sovereignty and said the ambassador's comments were a
personal opinion, not official policy. Elizabeth Wishnick, of the U.S.-based
think tank CNA and Columbia University's Weatherhead East Asian Institute, said
in an email: "I wonder if Xi's call was set up quickly to deflect attention"
from the uproar over the Chinese ambassador's remarks.
Iran Guards seize oil tanker in Gulf of
Oman: US Navy
AFP/April 27, 2023
WASHINGTON: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized an oil tanker in the
Gulf of Oman on Thursday, the US Navy said, in the latest such incident in the
commercially vital seaway. The waters where the ship was seized, near the Strait
of Hormuz, are a chokepoint for at least a third of the world’s seaborne oil.
The “Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet was seized by Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy while transiting international waters in
the Gulf of Oman,” the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet said in a statement. “The
Iranian government should immediately release the oil tanker,” it added,
slamming Tehran’s “continued harassment of vessels and interference with
navigational rights in regional waters.” Iran’s army said it had seized the
tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it collided with an Iranian boat, injuring
several crewmen, Iranian state media reported. “A Marshall Islands-flagged oil
tanker was seized by Iranian army’s naval force in the Arabian Gulf after it
collided with an Iranian boat in the Gulf of Oman and tried to flee,” the army
statement said. “Two members of the boat’s crew are missing and several were
injured due the collision of the ship with the boat.” The US Navy did not
specify the owner of the vessel or its destination. Iran and the United States
have traded barbs in recent years over a spate of incidents in the sensitive
waters of the Gulf. The seizure on Thursday is just the latest incident in the
Strait of Hormuz where ships have been mysteriously attacked, drones downed and
oil tankers seized. “In the past two years, Iran has unlawfully seized at least
five commercial vessels sailing in the Middle East,” the US Navy said. In July
2019, the Revolutionary Guards seized the British-flagged oil tanker Stena
Impero in the same waterway for allegedly ramming a fishing boat, and released
it two months later. Tensions have escalated since 2018 when then US president
Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a multinational accord that froze
Iran’s nuclear program, and reimposed crippling sanctions on its economy.
Renewed air strikes hit Khartoum as clock ticks down on Sudan truce
AFP/April 27, 2023
KHARTOUM: The Sudanese army pounded paramilitaries in the capital Khartoum with
air strikes Thursday while deadly fighting flared in Darfur as the clock ticked
down on a fragile US-brokered cease-fire now in its final full day.
Late Wednesday, the army said it had agreed to talks in Juba, capital of
neighboring South Sudan, on extending the three-day truce which expires on
Friday “at the initiative of IGAD,” the East African regional bloc. There have
been multiple truce efforts since fighting broke out on April 15 between Sudan’s
regular army led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his deputy turned rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
All have failed. The fighting has continued despite the US-brokered cease-fire
that took effect on Tuesday, with warplanes patrolling the skies over the
capital’s northern suburbs as fighters on the ground have exchanged artillery
and heavy machine gun fire, witnesses said. Burhan agreed on Wednesday to the
IGAD proposal for talks on extending the truce by a further 72 hours, the army
added. The RSF’s response to the proposal remains unclear. At least 512 people
have been killed and 4,193 wounded in the fighting, according to health ministry
figures, although the real death toll is likely much higher. The doctors’ union
said at least eight civilians had been killed in Khartoum alone on Wednesday
despite the truce. More than two thirds of hospitals in the country were out of
service, the union said Thursday, including 14 that had been struck during the
fighting. Beyond the capital, fighting has flared in the provinces, particularly
in the war-torn western region of Darfur. Clashes between the army and the RSF
raged for a second day in the West Darfur capital Geneina, witnesses said,
adding that civilians were seen fleeing to the nearby border with Chad. On
Wednesday, the United Nations humanitarian agency reported killings, looting and
arson in Geneina. “An estimated 50,000 acutely malnourished children have had
nutrition support disrupted due to the fighting,” it added in a statement. The
heavy fighting has trapped many civilians in their homes, where they have
endured severe shortages of food, water and electricity. The UN has warned that
as many as 270,000 people could flee into Sudan’s poorer neighbors South Sudan
and Chad. Other Sudanese have sought refuge in Egypt to the north and Ethiopia
to the east, but both entail long and potentially dangerous journeys overland.
Speaking at the Egyptian border, 50-year-old refugee Ashraf called on the
warring sides to “end the war... because this is your own conflict, not that of
the Sudanese people.” In Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, Syrian evacuee Khalil
Ibrahim said: “We just want to get away from this war.”
Cambridge University academic Sharath Srinivasan warned the mass movement of
people across Sudan’s borders threatened to destabilize already fragile
governments in neighboring countries. “If the armed confrontation between these
two forces protracts — or worse, if it draws in other armed rebel groups across
the country — this could quickly become one of the worst humanitarian crises in
the region and risk spilling over,” he told US news outlet Politico. Foreign
governments have taken advantage of the fragile truce to organize road convoys,
aircraft and ships to get thousands of their citizens out but some have warned
their evacuation efforts are dependent on the lull in fighting holding. A Saudi
evacuation ship docked in the Red Sea port of Jeddah Thursday carrying 187 Sudan
evacuees from 25 countries, including the United States, Russia and Turkiye, the
Saudi foreign ministry said.
It was the eighth such crossing organized by the Saudi authorities since the
start of the fighting and took the total evacuated to the kingdom so far to
2,544, only 119 of them Saudis, the ministry said. As lawlessness has gripped
Sudan, there have been several jailbreaks, including from the high security
Kober prison where top aides of ousted dictator Omar Al-Bashir were held. Among
those who have escaped is Ahmed Haroun, wanted by the International Criminal
Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the 2003 Darfur
conflict. Haroun’s escape sparked fears of the involvement of Bashir loyalists
in the ongoing fighting. The army said the ousted dictator was not among those
who escaped but had been moved to a military hospital before the fighting
erupted. Daglo’s RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia, accused of carrying out
atrocities against civilians during Bashir’s brutal suppression of ethnic
minority rebels in Darfur in the mid-2000s. Bashir was toppled by the military
in April 2019 following civilian mass protests that raised hopes for a
transition to democracy. The two generals had together seized power in a 2021
coup, but later fell out, most recently over the planned integration of the RSF
into the regular army.
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
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on April 27-28/2023
New European Sanctions Target Assad Regime Narco-Traffickers
Natalie Ecanow//FDD/April 27/2023
The European Union (EU) announced sanctions this week on over a dozen Syrian
individuals and entities responsible for “the production and trafficking of
narcotics, notably Captagon.” The designations come less than a month after the
U.S. Treasury Department, in lockstep with British authorities, imposed
sanctions on several Syrian narco-traffickers, an indication of rising concern
on both sides of the Atlantic about the growth of the Captagon trade. The
European designations are more extensive than Washington’s and further implicate
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the illicit Captagon trade. “The
trade in amphetamines has become a regime-led business model, enriching the
inner circle of the regime and providing it with revenue that contributes to its
ability to maintain its policies of repression,” an EU statement asserted. The
EU designated 25 individuals and eight entities altogether, encompassing narco-traffickers,
other regime financiers, militia leaders, and human rights violators. Among the
week’s targets were three members of Assad’s extended family, two of whom —
Wasim Badia al-Assad and Samer Kamal al-Assad — are leading figures in the
Captagon trade. The United States and UK designated both men last month. The EU
also targeted multiple associates of Maher al-Assad, the Syrian president’s
brother and commander of the army’s Fourth Division. European officials
indicated that Castle for Security and Protection, “a shell company for the
Fourth Division,” is involved in the narco-trade, and imposed sanctions on
Castle and two of its shareholders, Ahmad Ali Taher and Osama Ramadan.
The EU likewise sanctioned Taher Al Kayali and his company, Neptunus LLC, for
supporting drug operations at the port of Latakia. Washington designated Kayali
in March but left Neptunus off the list. European officials also indicated that
shipping magnate Mohammad Shalish “is linked to drug operations and more
specifically to the Captagon trade in the Lattakia region.”Other regime
affiliates sanctioned this week include Mustafa Al-Masalmah and Raji Falhout,
militia leaders associated with the regime’s Military Security Branch and
Military Intelligence, respectively. The EU indicated that both of their
militias are involved in Captagon trafficking. Waseem Omar Al-Masalma, a
regime-affiliated militia leader linked to the Captagon trade in the southern
province of Deraa, was also targeted. Additionally, the EU blacklisted
businessmen Abdellatif Hamid and Amer Tayseer Khiti for their involvement in the
production, packaging, and trafficking of Captagon. The scope of this week’s
designations exceeds the sanctions Washington rolled out in March. Whereas the
U.S. Treasury designated six individuals and blacklisted two businesses, the EU
this week more than doubled that list. Washington should consider following the
European lead and expanding upon its existing sanctions targeting the Assad-backed
narcotics trade.There is an appetite in Congress for a more aggressive policy.
In 2021, a bipartisan group of lawmakers pushed to include a provision in the
annual defense authorization bill requiring the administration to develop a
strategy for countering Syrian narcotrafficking. The provision failed, but a
renewed effort in 2022 succeeded. The “Captagon Act,” which passed in December,
requires the submission within 180 days of “a written strategy to disrupt and
dismantle narcotics production and trafficking and affiliated networks linked to
the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.” The report is due in late June.While
the Biden administration says it will never normalize relations with the Assad
regime, it continues to openly encourage Arab governments to bring Syria back
into the diplomatic fold. It is a mistake for Washington to greenlight
normalization with a narco-state. Congress must hold the administration
accountable and ensure that it delivers a clear strategy in June to counter
Assad’s Captagon trade.
*Natalie Ecanow is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies, a non-partisan research institute in Washington, D.C., focusing on
national security and foreign policy. Follow FDD on Twitter @FDD.
What Is Venezuela Flying to Moscow?
Emanuele Ottolenghi/Townhall/April 27/2023
Iran is a willing accomplice in the rape of Ukraine. Iranian drones have helped
Russia sustain its terror attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets and
infrastructure even as Russia’s arsenal became depleted. But Iranian drones are
not only made in Iran. Tehran’s clerical regime previously exported its drones
to Venezuela and established a drone assembly line there in cooperation with
Venezuela’s military industry.
Direct flights between Caracas and Moscow began in 2021, but something unusual
happened after Russian troops marched on Ukraine the following year: Flights
headed from Caracas to Moscow began stopping in Tehran. The first such instance
occurred on March 5, 2022, less than two weeks after Russia’s invasion, and this
flight pattern continued until at least early February 2023. Since then, most
Caracas-Moscow flights fly direct, but take a circuitous route over the northern
Atlantic, flying just south of Iceland toward the Arctic Circle, well north of
Scandinavia, before heading south to Moscow, as if to avoid entering any NATO
country’s airspace (Finland included).
The U.S. government should swiftly determine if these flights are indeed
transporting Venezuela’s indigenously assembled drones to Russia, along with
other critical merchandise, in violation of U.S. and allied sanctions.
Commercial aircraft, however, cannot be boarded like sea vessels for search and
seizure. Yet the innovative application of sanctions, building on precedents the
Biden administration set last year, could ground Caracas’ Moscow-bound
transports.
To figure out what’s going on here, one must begin with the airlines and the
aircraft involved. Conviasa is Venezuela’s U.S.-sanctioned, state-owned airline.
It operates the Caracas-Tehran route, which began last summer, as well as direct
flights to Moscow. Such direct, long-distance flights are possible, thanks to
Conviasa’s acquisition in 2021 of four airplanes from Mahan Air, the
U.S.-sanctioned Iranian airline affiliated with Islamic Revolutionary Guards
Corps, or IRGC. The four aircraft included an old Boeing 747 cargo jet and three
Airbus A340 passenger craft, which Conviasa bought from Mahan through a
Dubai-based intermediary.
Little is known publicly about what these aircraft carry. Ostensibly, these
commercial flights from Caracas to Moscow and Tehran every other week are for
passengers and aim to promote bilateral cooperation in trade and tourism. Flight
patterns and evidence from Venezuela’s pro-regime media outlets suggest a
different story.First of all, there seem to be few passengers aboard these
passenger flights, and those few have connections to the regime. The promotional
video for the inaugural Caracas-Tehran flight, for example, showed an almost
empty passenger section of the aircraft. The TV crew interviewed three Iranian
passengers, without listing their names. Cross-referencing their faces with
publicly available photos from a variety of sources – including the Twitter
account of the Iranian embassy in Caracas – allowed the author to confirm the
interviewees were Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Nejad, and two unnamed officials of the
Iranian embassy, including their official translator. Hosseini Nejad is the
permanent representative in Caracas of Al Mustafa International University, a
U.S.-sanctioned Iranian propaganda institution. The plane’s captain, Antonio
José Cabriles Lobos, is a retired Venezuelan air force pilot who participated in
the botched 1992 coup led by the late Hugo Chavez. Cabriles later became a
member of the presidential air group in charge of flying Chavez, and then his
successor Nicolas Maduro, on official trips. Though nominally for passengers,
these planes are perfectly suitable to transport cargo. Iran has already been
using its small fleet of Boeing 747 cargo planes, operated by the
(U.S.-sanctioned) IRGC affiliate Fars Air Qeshm, to carry military equipment to
Russia. Conviasa too has assisted Iran cargo operations.
Venezuela’s minister of tourism, Ali Padron, confirmed that the Moscow flights
are intended for cargo, not just passengers, in a press conference ahead of the
inaugural flight in May 2021. He also touted the flight as bearing strategic
importance for the two countries. In the promotional video for the inaugural
Caracas-Tehran journey (minute 8:00), Captain Cabriles stated that the aircraft
was carrying “medicines, catalysts to make gasoline, and electoral machines.”
Satellite imagery also shows that on March 12, 2023, the Conviasa flight to
Tehran was parked in the cargo section of the Imam Khomeini International
Airport, not the passenger terminal.
Travel patterns are also inconsistent with the publicized nature of these
flights. Data publicly available from flight tracker Flight Radar 24, for
Conviasa aircrafts YV3533 and YV3535, the two formerly Mahan-owned aircraft now
flying the Conviasa flag, show that the Moscow-bound planes frequently flew to
Tehran first, showing the flight as “diverted,” as if the aircraft had a
technical problem. But diversions occurred many flights between March 2022 and
February 2023, with the plane typically remaining in Tehran overnight, before
heading to Moscow. Even more curiously, on its return leg, the Moscow-Caracas
flight would stop over in Tehran and land in Porlamar, Isla Margarita’s airport,
before returning to Caracas. Such pattern, occurring almost invariably for
almost a year, suggests that rather than transporting Russian tourists back to
Moscow, Conviasa may be moving cargo between the three rogue nations.
Conviasa’s flights to Iran are no novelty and have never been truly commercial.
During the Chavez era, between 2007 and 2010, Conviasa flew weekly to Tehran,
with a stopover in Damascus. Only government-authorized passengers, including
wanted terrorists, ever travelled the route, which earned the nickname “aeroterror.”
After the suspension of Caracas-Damascus-Tehran route, there were no direct
flights between the Venezuelan and Iranian capitals for almost a decade, until
the spring of 2020, when Iran launched an airlift to Venezuela. Mahan Air’s
long-haul aircraft ferried between the two capitals, reportedly carrying much
needed oil sector equipment to rescue Venezuela from mounting gasoline
shortages. Even after the airlift ended, Iranian aircraft continued to fly to
Venezuela. Large-bodied cargo aircraft, operated by Fars Air Qeshm, frequently
crossed the Atlantic, making stopovers along the way. These flights encountered
numerous problems, likely due to quiet U.S. diplomatic pressure on the countries
where the aircraft made technical stopovers, and the flights abruptly stopped
when Russia invaded Ukraine, with Fars Air Qeshm cargo beginning regular flights
to Moscow instead. Yet Conviasa may have taken over this role, operating
“commercial” flights to Tehran with its Iranian-supplied long-haul aircraft.
Despite U.S. sanctions, in the past allied countries have rarely closed their
airspace to transiting Iranian or Venezuelan aircraft, making these flights
unstoppable (although more recent, circuitous routes avoid European airspace on
their way to Moscow). But Conviasa has two vulnerabilities. Its fleet is small
and the two aircraft usually operating the Tehran and Moscow routes also fly to
other destinations, including Mexico City, Cancun, and Lima. Last June, a plane
formerly owned by Mahan Air and operated by a Conviasa subsidiary, Emtrasur,
landed in Buenos Aires. It could not refuel, because Washington informed jet
fuel providers they would be violating sanctions. Then the Department of Justice
issued a seizure warrant. The plane remains impounded in Buenos Aires,
permanently grounding the only (official) cargo plane in Conviasa’s fleet.
The Biden administration could employ these same tools against Conviasa’s
frequent flights to both Mexico and Peru. Quiet pressure on jet fuel suppliers,
airport service providers, and a possible warrant for seizure submitted to
Mexico’s and Peru’s justice ministries might ground those Conviasa planes in a
third country. Such tactics could ground the entire Conviasa long-haul fleet,
thus denying Iran and Russia a critical tool to evade sanctions and continue
fueling their wars of aggression in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
*Emanuele Ottolenghi is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies, a nonpartisan research institution based in Washington D.C. Follow
him on Twitter @eottolenghi.
Biden is quietly encouraging Assad’s rehabilitation. He
should reverse course.
David Adesnik/The Washington Post/April 27/2023
In the first weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, Secretary of State Antony Blinken
committed to “putting human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy.” Before
taking office, Blinken expressed deep regret for the way the United States
“failed to prevent a horrific loss of life” in Syria during his tenure as the
No. 2 official at the State Department under Barack Obama.
Yet now that Blinken holds the top diplomatic position, U.S. policy toward Syria
is the opposite of what one might expect. Rather than isolating Bashar al-Assad
and ensuring that his regime remains a pariah, the administration has quietly
encouraged Assad’s diplomatic rehabilitation.
This policy runs contrary to the spirit of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection
Act, which Congress passed in late 2019 with strong bipartisan support as part
of its annual defense authorization bill. This law sought to cement Assad’s
isolation by creating a statutory requirement that the president impose
sanctions on all who do business with the Assad regime.
During its first months in office, the Biden administration pledged faithful
implementation of the act. Yet half a year passed before it imposed sanctions on
any Assad regime entities, whereas the Trump administration, despite its erratic
policy toward Syria, had announced new targets every month after the law went
into effect. Before Western audiences, the Biden administration speaks as if it
were still committed to isolating Assad. Last month, to mark the anniversary of
the 2011 uprising against the Assad dictatorship, the White House joined with
the governments of the United Kingdom, France and Germany to declare, “We are
not normalizing relations with the Assad regime [and] we will not normalize
until there is authentic and enduring progress towards a political solution” to
the Syrian civil war.
Yet as various Arab states have kicked off efforts to normalize relations with
the Assad regime, the Biden administration has signaled its readiness to accept
the outcome. Instead of strongly protesting these moves, last month Barbara
Leaf, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, said in an
interview: “We advise our friends and partners in the region that they should
get something in return for this engagement with Assad.”
The administration says it expects Assad to make concessions on human rights in
exchange for normalization. Leaf said those who engage Assad should “press him”
to consider “the security of his own people.” Specifically, press him to “create
the conditions to permit IDPs [internally displaced persons] and refugees to
return home in safety and security.” She repeated similar talking points to the
regional news outlet Al-Monitor and again in a State Department digital
briefing.
The idea that such requests would bear fruit is fanciful. The regimes set to
restore ties with Assad have abysmal human rights records of their own,
including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They will not
advocate for the Syrian people.
The administration has not offered any clear rationale for supporting
engagement. The primary cause seems to be fatigue. With unstinting support from
Russia and Iran, Assad has demonstrated his staying power. The administration
does not appear to want to invest the diplomatic capital necessary to keep him
isolated.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have a very different view of the
situation. Almost a year to the day after Biden took office, four top lawmakers
sent him a letter restating their opposition to the administration’s “tacit
approval of formal diplomatic engagement with the Syrian regime.” Two of the
four were the Democratic chairs of the House and Senate foreign affairs
committees. The other two were the Republican ranking members of those
committees. At a time of intense polarization in Congress, this position
commands bipartisan support.
On moral grounds, the case for isolating Assad is unassailable. But it is also
in the United States’ narrow self-interest. Increasingly, the Syrian regime
resembles a narco-trafficking cartel, flooding the region with an
amphetamine-like drug known as captagon. Damascus also remains an integral part
of the Iranian network that transfers advanced weapons and hundreds of millions
of dollars to Hamas and Hezbollah — the U.S.-designated terrorist organizations
that brought the region to the brink of war earlier this month with rocket
attacks on Israel.
Assad’s rehabilitation has only come this far because the administration gave
his neighbors the green light. A reversal could stop the process in its tracks.
*David Adesnik is a senior fellow and director of research at the Foundation for
Defense of Democracies. Follow him on Twitter @adesnik. FDD is a Washington,
DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and
foreign policy.
Re-integrating Syria into the region will
require complex feats of diplomacy
Raghida Dergham/The National/April 27/ 2023
To come back to the fold, the Syrian President will need to break from the
shadow of Iranian dominance.
Many have wondered how, in the aftermath of the recent Chinese-brokered detente
between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to think about efforts by Arab states to
reintegrate Syria into the region. How might Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s
relations with Iran and Hezbollah affect any rehabilitation? Are we seeing today
the components of a roadmap being drawn that would mean a substantive — not just
ceremonial — Syrian return to the fold?
Saudi Arabia will host the next Arab League Summit, taking place next month, and
is thought to be drafting a pragmatic agenda that complements the new vision and
approach of the Saudi leadership. It is an approach that does not rely on
improvisation — far from it. Riyadh’s messaging is coherent, even if brief.
Mr Al Assad gradually needs to escape the Iranian grip, because he will not be
able to be fully in control of any Syria that lies in the shadow of Iran’s
continued dominance. Therefore, he may find that a relinkage with the Arab
states — gradually, and as part of a regional deal — will be his salvation from
total reliance on Iran and Russia. Arab states’ offer to Mr Al Assad is thought
to include a pledge to help rebuild Syria, to ease its isolation and to create a
bridge between it and the outside world. It also includes collective efforts to
gradually contain Turkey’s influence, as well as Iran’s. In the view of many
countries in the region, greater Arab influence in Syria could be reassuring to
Syrians, and it would be in Mr Al Assad’s interest to be part of that effort to
reassure instead of antagonising his people. But such an outcome would likely
only be achieved in return for binding commitments from Mr Al Assad. These are
the elements of a serious deal, not a mere reunion. In terms of his relations
with Hezbollah — which fought alongside Damascus against the Syrian opposition
and has become his partner along with Iran — Mr Al Assad would likely be
required to gradually disengage.
It is possible, particularly in the aftermath of the Iran-Saudi detente, that
Iran would allow some political change in Syria, and that Russia would not mind
it. Indeed, Moscow today sees Syria as a burden, and it needs to focus its
energy on the war in Ukraine.
But why would Iran agree to such a radical shift? For one thing, it needs to
overcome its economic dire straits, as well as its nuclear crisis, which makes
it vulnerable to military confrontations, and its political isolation.
Therefore, Iran may agree to concessions in the framework of a deal to normalise
relations with other Arab states and secure the economic relief this entails, as
well as the possibility of US sanctions relief if it abides by its commitments
and radically softens its behaviour.
US President Joe Biden’s administration is somewhat troubled by the developments
in the Middle East that have put China in the driver’s seat, but, at the same
time, Washington is not completely opposed. Indeed, it has said it welcomes
developments that could help avert conflict with Iran.
Moreover, the Biden administration is understood to be in favour of Arab states
replacing the Astana process led by Russia, Turkey and Iran, by sponsoring a
political process in Syria and working to persuade Mr Al Assad to make
concessions to the opposition.
It would also be a welcome development for the Biden administration if the
efforts of Arab countries that have normalised relations with Israel succeed in
creating a climate that could gradually bring Syria into a comprehensive process
of de-escalation in its outstanding conflicts with Israel. Today, the broad
strategy of Gulf states, in particular, is to reduce, avoid and resolve
conflicts throughout the Middle East, through a gradual approach and a
qualitatively different kind of diplomatic engagement.
The aspirations of Saudi diplomacy were explained by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin
Salman during the Future Investment Initiative meeting in Riyadh in 2019, when
he spoke about the dream he intended to turn into reality by transforming the
Middle East into another Europe, becoming far removed from ideological conflicts
and extremist policies. Then in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit last
year, attended by leaders from the GCC, the US, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, the
Crown Prince affirmed a vision that prioritises security, stability and
prosperity, calling on Iran to work with the countries of the region and become
part of that vision. Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Arab League Summit in May
will be another important milestone in the context of the pragmatic
implementation of this vision, especially in the wake of the agreement with
Iran. And Syria could be a testing ground.
If, as many expect, Mr Al Assad is truly ready to replace his reliance on
Russia, Iran and Hezbollah with domestic reforms, dialogue with the opposition
and accepting the return of Syrian refugees, then regional diplomacy will have
delivered a coup. The key, however, is honest and true implementation.
This will not be easy for Mr Al Assad, even if he is persuaded, to get
permission from Tehran, which has been a strategic partner for Damascus for
decades, to become more independent. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
may not be ready to end its pact with the regime in Syria and Hezbollah in
Lebanon. This is where the problem lies: Iranian dominance in Syria is a
strategic goal for Tehran, and the IRGC commanders will not favour being part of
any reduction of their country’s footprint there.
Whatever happens, it is likely to happen only gradually, say those familiar with
the process. Just as well — let caution be the compass to trust, and let trust
be the destination.
Local solutions should come first in Syria
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/April 27/2023
Since Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visit to Damascus last
week, the discourse in the international community has centered on whether or
not to talk to Bashar Assad. Actually, what the international community should
do is move from a normative discourse to a more practical one. It should talk to
whoever makes a difference on the ground.
The UN-backed meetings in Geneva are not representative of the people, nor can
they make a difference on the ground. Assad, despite the claim he has control
over 70 percent of the country, in reality has no real control over any part of
the country. His army is nothing but a collection of gangs and fragments ruled
by Assad-affiliated warlords that take the name “shabiha.” The only two legions
that have a cohesive command and control structure are the 4th Armored Division
of Maher Assad, which is under Iranian control, and the Tiger Forces commanded
by Suhail Al-Hassan that take orders directly from the Russian base of Hmeimim.
So, even if Assad agreed to anything, would he be able to enforce it? Not
really. On the other hand, the opposition that meets in Geneva, how much are
they in touch with the people on the ground? Again, if they agree to anything,
could they enforce it on the ground? Is the armed opposition accountable to
them? Not really, the armed opposition is as fragmented as the Syrian army and
is only accountable to its foreign backers. This is only regarding the domestic
actors. If we talk about the regional and global players, the situation gets
even more complicated. Can we have an agreement whereby the US, Russia, Turkey,
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Iran are all on the same page regarding Syria?
Very unlikely. There is no one solution for the entirety of Syria simply because
the landscape is not the same in the different parts of the country. The
landscape in the northeast is different from Idlib, which is also different from
the southwest and the areas bordering Lebanon. The actors are also different.
Jordan is very active in the southwest because it is next to its borders,
whereas it has no presence in Idlib.
There is no one solution for the entirety of Syria simply because the landscape
is not the same in the different parts of the country
In this respect, the international community should set clear, achievable goals
and realize that Syria cannot be fixed and become a modern, democratic state as
a result of a deal signed in Geneva. The goals should be to stabilize the
security situation, ensure the safe return of refugees and jumpstart the local
economy so that people can sustain themselves. Once those basic goals are
achieved, then the international community can have the luxury of talking about
political systems and democracy. To achieve those three basic goals, a deal
needs to be brokered with actors on the ground. In fact, in this approach, at
least four deals need to be brokered, each one with different actors. In the
southwestern Deraa region, the international actors are Israel, Jordan and
Russia. Israel and Jordan need to have their borders secured. Russia is the one
that brokered a deal between opposition groups and the regime in July 2018. The
main group, Quwaa Shabab Al-Sunna, which was rebranded as the 8th Brigade, is
still very much in charge of the security of the area, of course under Russian
tutelage. Hence, the Russian-brokered deal should allow refugees to negotiate an
agreement regarding their safe return. In parallel, a plan should be laid out to
allow for local development with the involvement of the community.
Regarding the areas around Lebanon, a deal should be clinched with the Iranians
and Hezbollah to allow refugees to return. Hezbollah would want to cover its
back and make sure no hostile force is at its doorstep.
As for the northeast, the Americans have a moral obligation toward their Kurdish
allies, who were instrumental in pushing back against Daesh and still today
guard the prisons housing extremists. However, the Americans need to apply
pressure to their Kurdish partners to make sure they share power with their Arab
neighbors and offer security guarantees to Turkey.
As for Idlib, the main power in control here is Turkey. Idlib also has a high
concentration of internally displaced people. When the Russians came to save
Assad in 2015, the armed opposition groups had the choice of either reconciling
with the regime or taking the green buses to Idlib. The Russian plan was to
concentrate the opposition in one place, separate it from the regime and make a
truce between them. It could then broker a deal between Assad and the opposition
that would stabilize the country and allow Moscow to reap the benefits of its
intervention. However, events did not go as expected and Assad kept playing the
Russians off against the Iranians in an attempt to remain relevant. Since then,
Idlib has gathered all of the opposition to Assad. Today, they are under Turkish
influence. This is why Idlib should be the last area to be handled. Once the
other areas of the country are stabilized, then it can be tackled and an orderly
return of internally displaced people from Idlib to all the different areas of
Syria can be planned.
Given the chaotic situation the country is currently experiencing, the
fragmented security situation and the lack of any legitimate representatives of
the Syrian people, it is very unrealistic, even pedantic, for the international
community to ask the Syrians to agree among themselves and find a settlement
that will end the war and transition Syria into a democracy. So, the
international community should move from the frame of mind of a comprehensive
solution to a series of localized solutions. Once local solutions are found, the
Syrian people themselves can find a solution for the entire country.
*Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on
lobbying. She is president of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace
Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.
War of Generals Turns Sudan into Ukraine of
the Horn of Africa
Huda al-Husseini/AsharqAl Awsat/April 27/2023
Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been wounded during the recent
clashes in Sudan. Many countries, including the United States, have evacuated
their diplomatic staff and closed their embassies, which many interpreted as
implying that they believe this will be an open-ended war and that Sudan could
become the Ukraine of the Horn of Africa.
Despite having been close allies who shared control of the country in 2021, the
two belligerents’ relationship subsequently became strained. Disputes over power
and key national questions, including but not limited to the integration of the
RSF into the Sudanese military and the eventual transition to civilian rule,
have created a wedge between them. The violent scenes in Sudan are typical of
the power struggles fought out in fragile states where several powerful armed
groups vie for control. Nonetheless, given the significance of Sudan's
geographical location, the political dispute and the escalating battles are
actually far too complex to be seen as a mere power struggle.
On March 23, 2021, the “Ever Given” container ship lost control as it was
passing through the Suez Canal and ran aground for about a week, shutting down
one of the most important trade crossings in the world - 12 percent of global
trade passes through it annually. Egypt mobilized, and once hundreds of ships
had successfully passed through the Suez Canal, the dynamics regulating the
regional order of the Red Sea were back and regained their importance. Indeed,
the Red Sea is a pivotal waterway extending from the Suez Canal in the north and
the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the south that is crucial for global maritime trade,
as it links the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Its geostrategic and commercial significance has drawn in regional actors keen
on establishing a foothold in the Red Sea. In fact, Turkey, Russia, and China,
among others, have been building increasing numbers of seaports and military
facilities between Sudan and Somalia in recent years. This spike in interest
seems to indicate that a new "scramble for Africa" is underway in the coastal
states of the continent.
Moreover, Egypt has always seen the conflict over the Red Sea as a threat to the
maritime security of the region as a whole. Indeed, the minor incidents near the
Bab el-Mandeb and the Ever Given incident attest to the extent of the impact
that the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandab have on global trade along the Red Sea.
Indeed, problems on either side of this route inevitably reverberate throughout
the Red Sea region and extend into the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.
The Red Sea should thus be considered an integrated system. The security of its
maritime routes is part of a complex regional security framework that extends
beyond its geographic borders.
Returning to the recent crisis in Sudan, it is the culmination of a quandary
that goes back to the later years of President Omar al-Bashir’s now-deposed
regime. This quandary was complicated further by the chaos that followed his
overthrow by the armed forces in 2019. The disputes over the shaky power-sharing
arrangement and transition to democracy that emerged since then have left
tensions running high.
The ongoing clashes can only be understood as part of the longstanding
competition over sovereign control between two powerful parties to this
agreement: the Sudanese Armed Forces led by the Transitional Sovereignty Council
Chairman Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces
of General Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo, more commonly known by his nickname "Hamedti".
The two men began forging ties during the Darfur conflict in 2000, when Hemeti
emerged as the leader of the Janjaweed militias, whose notoriety precedes them.
These factions recruited by the Bashir regime to fight in Darfur later became
the Rapid Support Forces in 2013.
The two military commanders were appointed to the Transitional Sovereignty
Council, which took power after Bashir was toppled. Burhan was appointed
Chairman and Hamedti his deputy. However, this arrangement did little to
stabilize things in Khartoum or build trust between the army and the RSF, which
had become a powerful non-state rival to the army, after years of mutual
apprehension. Things took a new turn for the worse when the military brought
down the transitional government led by Abdallah Hamdok in October 2021 and
declared a state of emergency. Burhan and Hemedti remained on the council, while
all but one of its civilian members were replaced.
The African Union suspended Sudan's membership the day after this coup, while
the United States and the European Union froze hundreds of millions of dollars
in development aid that had been pledged in support of Sudan's transition to
democratic civilian rule. Meanwhile, Sudan's economy continued to teeter on the
brink, and violent unrest shook many corners of the country. The military failed
to draw the total support of many traditional partners, who were lukewarm about
the post-coup government. Meanwhile, mass protests against the army followed the
coup, gaining strength with time as the army struggled to garner broad support
across the country.
A range of regional and international actors are now calling on African leaders
to play a more proactive role in resolving the conflict. Indeed, "African
solutions to African problems" is a slogan that retains great traction across
the continent, but this is a purely academic warning.
The fact is that Sudan - and, to a large extent, the Horn of Africa as a whole -
has long been a battleground where global and regional powers consolidate their
influence. The fingerprints of an array of global powers – including Russia, the
US, the UK and China – can be found in Sudan, where they have been involved in
infrastructure, energy, defense, mining and agriculture projects. This means
that these actors have a lot of leverage over the political elites of the
country, including Burhan and Hemedti. The latest crisis in Sudan is extremely
consequential, especially considering its geostrategic location. It is the third
largest country in Africa and shares borders with 7 countries: Egypt, Libya,
Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. All of
them are deeply impacted by domestic developments in Sudan, and they have their
own immense security challenges to deal with. It is close to the Red Sea and one
of the homes of the Nile; the situation in Sudan thus has grave implications,
not only for landlocked Ethiopia but also water-scarce Egypt. The Rapid Support
Forces’ financial network operates and what is being said about (the
relationship between Russia and gold) could aggravate the situation further and
perpetuate the war. Ensuring civilian oversight of military spending is pivotal
for allowing Sudan to undergo a peaceful democratic transition, as is granting
the Sudanese people greater control over their natural resources. Unless all
military forces are brought under civilian control, the transition to the
democratic civilian government that is sought by so many in Sudan will continue
to be impeded. That is if the generals' war ends swiftly with one getting rid of
the other.