Overseas Security Advisory Council Daily News 8/10/2023
March 10, 2023
Today's Headlines - OSAC's daily selection of global security news
Africa
A South African business group has secured commitments of 100 million rand ($5.4 million) to capitalize a fund in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to end rolling blackouts and reform the electricity sector.
CNBC explores Zimbabwe’s mining sector to find out why China has a stronghold on the country and why it matters to the U.S.
The U.N. Refugee Agency said on Friday it was "greatly alarmed" by clashes between government forces and armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that had caused hundreds of thousands to flee.
The disease, which has killed 1,500 people since last March, has been aggravated by heavy rains and an overburdened health system.
Ugandan lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to parliament that proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relations in a country where homosexuality is already illegal, defying criticism from human rights groups.
East Asia & Pacific
In his letter, Panuelo openly canvassed the country switching its diplomatic recognition from Beijing to Taipei
CNBC explores Zimbabwe’s mining sector to find out why China has a stronghold on the country and why it matters to the U.S.
Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama was granted bail on Friday, after pleading not guilty to a charge of abusing power. "I served as Fiji prime minister with integrity and with the best interests of all Fijians,
A New Zealand pilot being held hostage by separatists in Indonesia's Papua region has appeared in videos calling for the United Nations to mediate in the conflict in the resource-rich region.
Europe
Strike action cut power to the large sports arena Stade de France and to some of the construction work for the 2024 Olympic village in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris, union officials said on Thursday.
Georgia's parliament on Friday dropped plans for a "foreign agents" bill that had triggered a major domestic political crisis and threatened to derail the Caucasus nation's bid for closer ties with Europe.
Deaths were reported Thursday after shots were fired at a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg, Germany, police said.
Wagner may be waiting for reinforcements of ‘conventional’ Russian troops, says Institute for the Study of War
Air-raid warnings were issued across Ukraine on the morning of 10 March. A Russian MiG-31K, which could be armed with Kinzhal air-to-surface ballistic missiles, took off from an airfield in Belarus. Source: alerts.
Middle East & North Africa
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on Friday to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility which had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria.
Only a few months into its term, Iraq’s government is suddenly enforcing a long-dormant law banning alcohol imports and arresting people over social media content deemed morally offensive. The crackdown has raised alarm among religious minorities an...
A Palestinian man who entered a settlement in the occupied West Bank armed with knives and explosive devices was shot and killed by an Israeli settler on Friday, the Israeli military said. The shooting came just hours after a Palestinian gunman shot...
South & Central Asia
India will boost fuel imports after gas-fired power stations were asked to increase output to meet soaring demand during the summer months.
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was ousted by a no-confidence vote in April 2022, is making a major push to return to power. The former international cricket star has won several by-elections and led big protest rallies — and even e...
Pakistan’s foreign minister says his country is facing “a perfect storm” of troubles — an economic crisis, the consequences of catastrophic flooding and terrorism “that is once again rearing its ugly head” as a result of the Taliban takeover of Afgh...
Seventeen ships that arrived at Colombo Port turned back due to the recent protest by the port trade unions, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today. ..
Western Hemisphere
CNBC explores Zimbabwe’s mining sector to find out why China has a stronghold on the country and why it matters to the U.S.
Up to 300,000 people in Colombia are suffering shortages of food and medicine after informal and illegal gold miners blocked roads in protest of the destruction of their machinery by authorities, ministers said on Thursday.
A letter claiming to be from the Mexican drug cartel blamed for abducting four Americans and killing two of them condemned the violence and said the gang turned over to authorities its own members who were responsible.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday rebuked calls from some U.S. lawmakers advocating military action in Mexico against drug cartels, describing the proposals as threats to Mexican sovereignty.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Thursday he discussed fentanyl and arms trafficking in a meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.
A judge in Peru extended ex-President Pedro Castillo's pre-trial detention term to 36 months, up from 18 months, on Thursday, following the former leader's ouster and jailing for illegally attempting to dissolve Congress in December.
OSAC Analysis - Unclassified OSAC analytical reports and other resources
Africa
The March 23 Movement (M23), a Rwanda-backed, UN- and U.S.-sanctioned armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gained significant territorial control in the region in the past several months and controls key supply routes to Gom...
Consular Messages - Department of State travel advisories and alerts
Africa
As of the morning of March 10, there have been no new confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Equatorial Guinea (EG).
Reissued with updates to security information. Reconsider travel to Ethiopia due to conflict, civil unrest, crime, communications disruptions, and the potential for terrorism and kidnapping in border areas.
Officials report Tropical Cyclone Freddy is moving away from Madagascar and expected to make a second landfall in Mozambique tonight (March 10).
Europe
Event: Very large demonstrations expected to take place on Saturday, March 11, 2023. The Farmers Defense Force is mobilizing people and tractors to convene at the protest site. Separately, climate activists from Extinction Rebellion plan to block...
Western Hemisphere
Ecuador’s National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology issued an alert March 8 advising residents that Tropical Cyclone Yaku is causing intense rains and electrical storms in central and southern Ecuador, as well as high waves around the Galapag...
In 2023, Guatemala will hold elections for its president, vice president, congressional seats, and other governmental positions, including all 340 mayors. The official campaign season for these general elections will begin on March 27, 2023. The fi...
Events - Upcoming OSAC meetings, webinars, and training courses
Global
OSAC Bogota Country Chapter members are invited to a hybrid meeting at the U.S. Embassy at 9:00 AM local (10:00 AM Eastern) on March 15, 2023.
The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe invites you to attend U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Country Chapter meeting, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 9am to 10:30am at Farmer’s Daughter Café.
All Full Access OSAC members are invited to participate in OSAC's 1.5 day intensive "Topical Forum" on mitigating and managing the threats most impacting U.S. organizations operating around the world today May 9-10, 2023 at the US Department of Stat...
All OSAC Members are invited to attend the Malabo Chapter Reception on 14 March at the Magno Suites Hotel and Restaurant.
The OSAC Academia Sector Committee cordially invites all ASC members to attend the Spring Health, Safety, & Security Seminar hosted by Vanderbilt University, April 13 - 14.
The OSAC Africa Regional Committee cordially invites all Full-Access Members to attend a two-and-a-half day conference hosted at the Hilton Sandton in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The OSAC Energy Sector Committee (ESC) invites all ESC members to attend the upcoming ESC Spring Meeting at ExxonMobil Houston Campus in Spring, Texas on March 22 - 23, 2023.
The Europe Regional Committee (ERC) in partnership with the OSAC United Kingdom Country Chapter will be delivering a half day Crisis Management Workshop for Young Professionals in London on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. A full day Spring Conference and...
East Asia & Pacific
All OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) members are invited to attend the "Bouncing Back: Security in 2023 & Beyond" PARC Summit on April 26 - 27, 2023 at Bloomberg in Singapore.
OSAC Phnom Penh country chapter members are invited to attend a chapter meeting at the US Embassy on 28 March from 3:30 - 5:30p local.
OSAC Tokyo country chapter members are invited to a meeting at the Disney Ambassador Hotel from 3-5p local on 29 March.
Join the Japan Country Chapter for our first in-person OSAC meeting in several years. During this kickoff meeting we will introduce the Japan Country Chapter Team and formulate OSAC priorities for the rest of 2023.
OSAC Port Moresby Country Chapter members are invited to an in-person (hybrid TBC) meeting on 15 March 2023 from 1000 - 1200 local at the US Embassy Compound.
OSAC Manila country chapter members are invited to attend a meeting on 20 April 2023.
All OSAC Vietnam Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh members are invited to an in-person meeting on 17 April 2023 from 0830 - 1000a local.
Europe
Please join the OSAC Germany for a country chapter meeting on March 15, 2023.
Middle East & North Africa
The OSAC Middle East and North Africa Regional Committee (MENA RC) will hold its 9th annual conference May 31 - June 1 on the campus of NYU Abu Dhabi.
OSAC Bahrain - Manama Chapter will hold a Formal Network Gathering on Thursday, March 16 at 1:00pm local time (7:00am ET).
The OSAC Egypt - Cairo Chapter will meet at 1:00pm on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
The OSAC Iraq-Baghdad Chapter will meet in-person on Wednesday, March 22.
South & Central Asia
All OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) members are invited to attend the "Bouncing Back: Security in 2023 & Beyond" PARC Summit on April 26 - 27, 2023 at Bloomberg in Singapore.
Western Hemisphere
OSAC Recife country chapter members are invited to a meeting + Happy Hour at the U.S. Consulate from 4:30-7:30 PM local on March 16, 2023.
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State or any affiliated organization(s). Nor have these opinions been approved or sanctioned by these organizations. This product is unclassified based on the definitions in E.O. 13526. OSAC’s full disclaimer and copyright policy is available on our site.
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