Violence in South Sudan

The peace was short-lived. Two and a half years after secession from Sudan due to religious opression, South Sudan is experiencing conflict of its own. Violence has broken out after President Salva Kiir accused his Vice President, Riek Machar, of staging a coup. In July, Kiir went on to fire Machar and the rest of his cabinet after hearing Machar's plan to run against Kiir in the 2015 presidential election.

Both Kiir and Machar are of the same political party: Sudan's People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). However, they differ in their ethnic backgrounds, Kiir being a Dinka and Machar being a Nuer. The friction between those two rival tribes has erupted into violence.

The White Army, an ethnic Nuer rebel group, is set on marching towards the town of Bor, a government-controlled city viewed as a strategic one.

Why do some African states continue to be plagued with constant violence and civil war? Additionally, why are coups a primary form of achieving power? It could be due to the great number of tribes/political groups/etc. in African states competing individually for power and too little effort towards coalition building. Because of this competition for power, groups will do anything to stay in power, and other groups will do anything to force them out.

The South Sudan conflict is unfortunate as the country was doing well: peaceful and showing some signs of stability. Hopefully the issue can be resolved without outside help as that may create the best opportunity for sustainable progress.

http://america.aljazeera.com/content/ajam/opinions/2013/12/south-sudana-s-salvakiirneedstoputhisblackhatbackon.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2013/04/south-sudan-politics

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2011/0721/South-Sudan-5-key-questions-answered/Why-did-the-Republic-of-South-Sudan-secede-from-the-North

And we're back!

The demands of being a high school senior have kept me away for the last couple of months. For the next 90 days I will be focusing on Africa. The recent news of Nelson Mandela's passing, violence in South Sudan and the unrest in Mali will provide much content for analysis and discussion.

It's great to be back.

Attack in Damascus

This past Wednesday, an attack involving Syrian rebels and government troops in a 'rebel-ruled' neighborhood in Damascus has left hundreds dead. Much evidence suggesting the use of chemical weapons has sparked an international outrage and questions regarding whether the US will take action. Last year President Obama said Syria's use of chemical weapons would be crossing a line and if they were utilized, Obama would change his stance.

Iran has also spoken out warning against Western intervention. They believe there is proof the Syrian rebels were responsible for the attack.

So far neither the Syrian government nor the rebels have admitted to using chemical weapons. Regardless of who was responsible, the effects of the attack are horrendous.

The questions that linger are these: Will the US intervene? Who was behind the attack?


Warning: the above video is quite graphic.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/08/24/Iran-s-Rowhani-points-to-chemical-weapons-use-in-Syria-.html
http://news.yahoo.com/syria-accuses-rebels-using-chemical-weapons-141457992.html
http://www.france24.com/en/20130824-msf-confirms-hundreds-dead-thousands-injured-syria-suspected-chemical-attack

More babies = more power?

I came across an article about the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's desire for Turkish women to have more children. Turkey's birth rate has declined in recent years and Erdogan is not satisfied, "It's my right as president to say that it's beneficial that women give birth to at least three children". 

Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babcan said "Population means power. Twenty-seven countries sit there at the table, but when Germany and France decide on something, those with populations of 1.5 million to 2 million like Estonia and Latvia are hardly having any say". 

Being a young woman and having strong opinions regarding women's rights, I don't think he has the right to 'mandate' any sort of birth quota. While Turkey's PM does have the right to say it certainly, doesn't mean he should enforce this idea. "If [President Vladimir] Putin was able to say such a statement in Russia [telling women to have three or more children], why can't I say it in Turkey?" 

As far as regarding having power in the EU, I'm not sure how population affects power there. I can't find a straight answer regarding that but from what I have found I can deduce that population does in fact equal power. Correct me if I'm incorrect. 

This post was a bit different than usual. Just an interesting article that caught my eye. Let me know your thoughts. 

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2013/08/09/Erodogan-urges-Turks-to-have-more-babies-raise-them-correctly-.html

General James Mattis: Middle East Policy

General James Mattis gives a very insightful talk about policies regarding the Middle East. His remarks about Egypt are very interesting (32 minute mark). He makes a comment about Egypt and whether or not the revolution there should be labeled a 'coup'. General Mattis believes the US needs to be careful about passing laws that put us in "legal boxes". He says this prevents us from doing things that are in our own best interest and that prevention is problematic for the next generation. 

I mention this because of the good point Otto made on my last post regarding keeping the American people's best interest in mind. 

Personally I agree. We should have the ability to act in our best interest whether it's involving ourselves in a conflict or not. 

Let me know what you think!

http://www.businessinsider.com/general-james-mattis-aspen-security-forum-2013-7

No support for U.S. in Egypt conflict

President Muhamed Morsy of Egypt was ousted last week due to a revolution or a military coup (depending on how you want to interpret it). He was pushed out of power due to Egypt's weak economy, corruption, and for heading an Islamist government; (Morsy is backed by the Muslim Brotherhood).

The United States is in a tough position. When Mubarek was pushed out of power last year, we were at first supportive of Morsy and the free elections. Since then we have changed our tone because of Morsy's backing by the Muslim Brotherhood. Now that Egypt is in turmoil, we are faced with a decision regarding whether or not to intervene and whether or not to continue providing aid to Egypt. If in fact a military coup was the cause of Morsy's ousting, the U.S. cannot continue providing aid. Decisions must be made and soon because the Egyptians are not happy with our neutral stance.

Regardless of whose side the Egyptians are on, pro-Morsy or anti-Morsy, all of them collectively dislike the U.S. at the moment. Non-Islamist Egyptians are angry because they believe the U.S. has "cozied up" to the Muslim Brotherhood while Islamist Egyptians are accusing the U.S. of being the cause of Morsy's ousting.

An Egyptian aircraft mechanic remarked, "Now the Brotherhood are fighting us in the streets, fighting to take back power, and America is sitting on the fence. We ask for one thing from America: support the people, not the army, not the Brotherhood."

What will the U.S. do? Is there a way to stay politically neutral while still helping the Egyptian people? Whatever the U.S. decides to do, we must keep the best interests of the people in mind.


http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/2013/07/10/Washington-vilified-on-both-sides-of-Egypt-s-divide.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/10/world/meast/egypt-whats-next/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

Southeast Asia Wrap up

I would like to start by thanking everyone who has participated in this blog. I appreciate your comments and interest in my thoughts and opinions about world issues. I apologize for the lack of posts in the past few months. It was due to the US history paper, post-French exchange make up work, exams, and the ACT. But now that school is finally over I have time to keep up with events happening around the world.

With Southeast Asia I focused on Pope Francis and the reactions of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. The Filipinos welcomed him warmly due to their high population of Catholics. Both Indonesia and Vietnam have high hopes for the pope and are working towards better relations between Christians and other groups in their own countries. China, on the other hand, is unsure about Pope Francis because of the dispute between the Vatican and China regarding who should select Chinese Cardinals.

I used to think Christianity and more specifically Catholicism was uniquely dominant in the Latin American and European countries. I was not expecting it to be so large in Southeast Asia. It was interesting to learn their perspectives on a seemingly strictly Western religious event.

Southeast Asia was an interesting region to study. But now it is time to look at the perspectives of a new region. My new focus for the next 90 days is the Middle East.