Excluded Headlines: Kurdish ceasefire, DRC, Egypt Gaza plan, new left Uruguay president ...
Stay up to date on the Global South news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
M23 abduct 130 people from two hospitals in DRC - The M23, which has been advancing through the DRC, recently raided two hospitals in Goma (one of the cities it has taken over) and abducted sick and wounded people. This happened on February 28, but was only recently reported by the UN and covered by some local media on Monday. The victims were allegedly held incommunicado. The M23 has reportedly killed around 3,000 people this year, as it has gone on an offensive and taken control of key cities like Goma and Bukavu. The group is backed by Rwanda and is fighting for control of mines and mineral resources, among other things. Source, source.
Big business to profit as Egypt presents US$53 billion plan for the reconstruction of Gaza - The plan, supported by other Arab leaders, involves forming a Gaza Administration committee to manage things for the next six months, made up of Palestinian independent (not aligned with a group) people, deployment of international “peacekeeping” forces, building 20 temporary housing areas with the participation of Egyptian and foreign companies, early recovery programs, and a goal to complete reconstruction in three years. Of course, the US and Israel have rejected the proposal, with the US and Trump’s expressed desire to use the Gaza strip for their own profiteering. The Egyptian plan does reject Trump’s rhetoric about ethnically cleansing the Gaza Strip, and ultimately, at the moment - this is key with such proposals; who manages the reconstruction decisions and financing, and secondly, if Israel will be held (morally and financially) accountable for its destruction. Egypt’s plan hinges on financial spending from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as other nations, and Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa indicated that an international fund—possibly overseen by the World Bank—would be established for the project. Source, source, source, source, source.
Gaza ceasefire may be in danger - Israel has suspended the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza as of 2 March, putting the ceasefire somewhat close to collapse, as it has also refused to negotiate over the second phase, which was meant to begin in early February. In this second phase, there was meant to be a move towards permanently ending the war, but now Israel has stipulated that it wants to extend the first phase of the deal for another 42 days and continue the exchange of hostages. Source, source, source.
Left-leaning Orsi assumes presidency of Uruguay - Yamandú Orsi swore in on the weekend, and in his speech he rallied against an individualist idea of freedom and talked about the right to health, housing, and employment. Source, source.
Rivalry in South Sudan sees mounting tension - South Sudanese soldiers surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s home on Wednesday, and several of his allies were arrested after an armed group allied to him overran an army base in the north. Machar has a strong rivalry with President Salva Kiir, which has previously been a key factor leading to civil war. Machar said that the firing of several of his allies from government posts threatened the 2018 peace deal that followed the five-year civil war and resulted in the current unity government in 2020. Source.
Kurdish PKK declares ceasefire in 40-year conflict with Turkiye - On the weekend, Kurdish guerrillas declared a ceasefire with Turkiye following a call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband and end more than four decades of armed struggle. While a hopeful development, there is a lot of distrust that Turkiye will uphold its commitment, as Rojava is constantly being bombarded, Afrin is annexed, and south Kurdistan is occupied. On Thursday, Turkiye continued to bomb the Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). The PKK said it hoped Turkiye would release Ocalan, held in near total isolation since 1999, so he could lead a disarmament. Source, source, source.
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