The United Nations announced via press conference today that the Yemeni peace talks had ended and there is no date for follow-up negotiations. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, had hoped to announce progress by the end of Friday, according to UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi. “His paramount objective is to agree a cessation of hostilities, he is working very hard to reach that so that we can also agree a mechanism not only to monitor a cessation but to deliver aid as quickly as possible,” Fawzi said. The peace talks were characterized by hostilities between the various factions and proximity talks without face-to-face negotiations. Both the Yemeni government and Houthi–General People’s Congress delegations have expressed dismay at the situation, blaming each other for a lack of cooperation. [Reuters, 6/19/2015]
EGYPT | LIBYA & THE MAGHREB | SYRIA & ITS NEIGHBORS | YEMEN & THE GULF | ECONOMICS
Britain defends invite to Egypt’s Sisi after Morsi death sentence
The British government on Thursday defended its plan to invite Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to visit, saying it was important to engage with countries and to raise “matters of concern.” Egypt’s state news agency said on Wednesday that Prime Minister David Cameron had invited Sisi to visit, a day after a Cairo court sentenced former president Mohamed Morsi to death. A spokeswoman for Cameron said on Thursday that British government was looking at the possibility of Sisi holding talks in London with Cameron “at some point later this year.” Asked whether the invitation was controversial given the Morsi ruling and Sisi’s human rights record, the spokeswoman said, “[Cameron] has talked before about how it is important that we engage with countries where there are issues which are important to the UK’s national interests and how we can work together on them.” [Reuters, 6/18/2015]
Shoukry says Egypt committed to Yemen stability; Sisi meets with Yemeni VP
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri has reiterated Egypt’s support for achieving stability in crisis-torn Yemen. “Security in the Gulf is an integral part of Egypt’s security,” Shoukri said in an interview. The minister said Egypt and Saudi Arabia share a “common vision” and “identical stances” on the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is pounding Houthi rebels. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Yemen’s Vice President Khaled Bahah also met on Thursday in Cairo to discuss security around the Red Sea, according to Egyptian presidency spokesperson Alaa Youssef. Explaining Egypt’s support to the Saudi-led military campaign, Sisi said that securing the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the south of the Red Sea between Djibouti and Yemen was “a top priority for Egypt’s national security.” He also stressed the importance of supporting the Yemeni army’s role in restoring security and stability to the country. [Ahram Online, SIS, 6/19/2015]
Judicial committee investigates unregistered NGOs, says ministry
A judicial committee that visited a local rights group last week was mandated by a judge to look into unregistered bodies, the Social Solidarity Ministry said on Thursday. The ministry said in a statement reported that the purpose of the visit was to “examine the work” of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS). It denied that the committee’s work reflects a crackdown on civil society. The ministry did not mention any other organizations that have been or are due to be examined by the committee, yet it stressed the importance of all civil society organizations to register under Law 84/2002. [Aswat Masriya, 6/18/2015]
Interior Ministry officer orders released detainee to bow down for cameras
An Interior Ministry officer ordered one of the 165 detainees released by presidential pardon yesterday to bow down in front of cameras. The incident took place on Wednesday outside Torah Prison. “Make sure we are not in the picture,” the officer was heard as saying. Ordering the detainee into the submissive and humbling posture, the officer apparently wanted to force him to show extreme gratitude to government officials for his pardon. Assistant Interior Minister for Media Affairs Abdel Kerim Abu Bakr said this behavior from the officials is “unacceptable” and will be investigated. [Egypt Independent, Cairo Post, 6/19/2015]
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Militant commander Belmokhtar is not dead
Al-Qaeda’s North Africa branch denied reports that Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a major figure in insurgencies across North Africa and the Saharan border region, was killed in a US airstrike in Libya. SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors radical Islamist organizations in the media, cited a statement from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb posted on Twitter declaring that Belmokhtar, also known as Khalid Abu al-Abbas, is alive. [Reuters, 6/19/2015]
GNC demands that UN draft deal recognizes Supreme Court ruling
The General National Congress (GNC) said the latest proposed United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) peace accord has to take account of the Supreme Court judgement. Including a recognition of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the accord has the potential to undermine the role currently assigned to the House of Representatives. This role has already been reduced from Draft III in that the State Council is no longer purely advisory but has now been given legislative blocking powers. Meanwhile the Libyan Dialogue, made up of the negotiators from both sides, has been awarded significant functions beyond the appointment of a prime minister and two deputies and the signing of the final agreement. [Libya Herald, 6/18/2015]
“Libya Dawn 2” is created as a stronger unit than Libya Dawn 1
Saleh Badi, a hardline Misrata political figure set up a new, smaller successor to the Libya Dawn military alliance which has been falling apart over the past two months. The new grouping has been called the Steadfastness Front and comprises seven Misrata brigades plus almost all those in Tripoli who were part of Libya Dawn Mark-1. This new group aims “to protect the security of the capital” and secure its occupants from abductions and attacks. It would do so with “an iron fist” and would not be open to any compromise. Its immediate aim, however, is to prevent further haemorrhaging of Libya Dawn, stiffen resolve among those remaining, and ensure that the coastal road from Tripoli to the Tunisian border stays under its control. [Libya Herald, 6/18/2015]
Tunisia is closing its embassy in Libya
According to Taib Bakouch, Tunisia’s Foreign Minister, Tunisia’s government decided to close its consular operations in Libya’s capital Tripoli after gunmen stormed its consulate a week ago and kidnapped ten staff. All ten diplomatic staff are freed and they all returned to their country on Friday. The government gave no details on the negotiations to free them, but their release came after a Tunisian court agreed to extradite a Libyan held in Tunisia on terrorism and kidnapping charges. [Reuters, 6/19/2015]
Tunisia’s ruling coalition to form commissions to support government and parliament
The ruling four-party coalition decided to form two commissions of support to governmental and parliamentary action, knowing that it has already started discussion of a working document of support to the government, said President of the Free Patriotic Union bloc at the parliament Mohsen Hassan. Hassan pointed out that the working document will act as a pact of action of the four parties to define a clear methodology for the support of Essid’s government. The commission of support to the legislative action will be tasked with coordinating between the coalition parties in the House of People’s Representatives, studying draft laws submitted to the parliament and defining a unified position regarding these projects. [AllAfrica/TAP, 6/18/2015]
Over seventy countries demand Syria stop deadly aerial attacks
More than seventy countries signed a letter Thursday demanding that Syria stop indiscriminate aerial attacks that have killed thousands of people and urging the UN Security Council to prevent the Syrian Air Force from future attacks. The letter expresses “outrage” at the continuing violence against civilians, especially by “the systematic use of barrel bombs.” Russia said it has some suggestions for how to assign blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria, which it will discuss in a meeting Friday with the United States. [AP, 6/18/2015]
ISIS-imposed fuel embargo threatens Syria’s medical centers
Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) fighters are preventing fuel shipments from reaching rebel-held parts of northern Syria, causing severe shortages, grounding ambulances, and paralyzing medical centers. Medical committees in Idlib and Hama Provinces have warned that they will have to shut down facilities soon if they do not receive fuel. The fuel embargo is reportedly aimed at weakening the rebels to facilitate an ISIS advance. Bashar al-Assad’s forces are also targeting medical centers in opposition areas, killing some workers and forcing facilities to shut down. [NYT, Daily Star, 6/19/2015]
Jumblatt seeks changed atmosphere in Idlib
Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt and his Progressive Socialist Party have taken measures in recent days to reduce tensions between Druze and opposition militants in northwest Syria as well as strengthen the relationship between the Druze in southern Syria’s Sweida province and the surrounding community. Jumblatt traveled to Jordan Wednesday and met with King Abdullah II, seeking reassurances that Syria’s Druze would be protected. [Daily Star, 6/19/2015]
Locals fear ISIS members quietly slipped into Turkey
Turkish residents in Akcakale worry that some of the defeated ISIS militants in Tal Abyad may have slipped across the border into Turkey. What happened to the defeated militants? Turkey has always denied accusations it has allowed the militants to use the border as a transit point. There has been no indication that large numbers of militants have crossed into Turkey, but a local official said two unarmed ISIS members gave themselves up at the border last weekend. [AFP, 6/19/2015]
Insurgents advance into Aleppo
Syrian rebels advanced into a second government-held neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday. The reported push into the Khaldiyeh neighborhood comes a day after insurgents captured Rashideen from troops and pro-government gunmen, killing thirty pro-Assad soldiers and destroying two tanks. [AP, 6/19/2015]
YEMEN & THE GULF
Yemen peace talks end in Geneva without resolution
The United Nations announced via press conference today that the Yemeni peace talks had ended and there is no date for follow-up negotiations. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, had hoped to announce progress by the end of Friday, according to UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi. “His paramount objective is to agree a cessation of hostilities, he is working very hard to reach that so that we can also agree a mechanism not only to monitor a cessation but to deliver aid as quickly as possible,” Fawzi said. The peace talks were characterized by hostilities between the various factions and proximity talks without face-to-face negotiations. Both the Yemeni government and Houthi–General People’s Congress delegations have expressed dismay at the situation, blaming each other for a lack of cooperation. [Reuters, 6/19/2015]
UN seeks $1.6 billion in aid for Yemen
The United Nations appealed on Friday for $1.6 billion to help war-torn Yemen, warning of a “looming catastrophe.” The money is needed to address the “constantly increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen” until the end of 2015, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the U.N.’s humanitarian agency, told reporters in Geneva. Over 20 million people, or roughly 80 percent of Yemen’s population, is now in need of humanitarian aid. Only $200 million of the needed cash has so far been received, the U.N. said, adding that Saudi Arabia’s pledge last month of $540 million had yet to materialize. Since the Saudi-led airstrikes began on March 26 more than 2,600 people have died, with scores more injured. Most recently Dengue fever has begun to take root in the capital of Sana’a with upwards of 3,000 infected. [Daily Star, the Guardian, AP, 6/19/2015]
US accuses Yemen of including al-Qaeda financier in delegation to Geneva
The United States is criticizing Yemen’s government for including an accused al-Qaeda financier among its delegation to UN-brokered peace negotiations in Geneva. The man in question, Abdel-Wahab Humayqani, was placed on a terror blacklist by the United States in 2013 for financing operations of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Additionally, Humayqani was accused of orchestrating a 2012 attack in Yemen that utilized multiple car bombs and resulted in seven deaths. Despite its misgiving, the US State Department says it strongly supports the UN mediation between Yemen’s government and Houthi rebels. [AP, 6/18/2015]
Heavy fighting in Yemen continues
Saudi-led airstrikes targeted Houthi rebels and allied forces in Yemen on Friday, killing at least ten civilians, witnesses said. The airstrikes targeted the rebel-held Sana’a, the southern city of Aden, and the provinces of Lahj and Jawf early Friday morning, officials and witnesses said. Around 30 fighters were killed in clashes between Houthi militiamen and tribesmen in the central Yemeni province of Mareb on Thursday, tribal sources said. On the Saudi-Yemeni border a senior Saudi officer was killed in landmine blast. [AP, al-Arabiya, Daily Star, 6/19/2015]
ISIS imposes fuel blockade on rebel-held northern Syria
The Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) is blocking oil sales to northern Syria, activists say, unleashing an economic weapon that could cause food shortages and hospital shutdowns. The blockade demonstrates how heavily dependent ISIS’s enemies are on the crude oil it produces. ISIS controls the oil-rich eastern region of Syria and rebels say it is using the blockade to weaken the rebel fight against its advance into northern Aleppo province. As a result of the blockade, prices for essential goods have skyrocketed throughout rebel-held regions. Both bread and oil have had their prices triple since the blockade began on June 10. Rebels have responded by trying to impose their own blockades on goods moving into ISIS areas, although the effort may be futile given the supplies coming from Iraq. [Financial Times, Business Insider, 6/18/2015]
Saudi Arabia, Russia sign nuclear power cooperation deal
Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed an agreement to cooperate on nuclear energy development, a Saudi government body in charge of such projects said. The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy announced the cooperation deal on its website on Thursday but gave no further details. Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, citing unnamed sources, said the kingdom planned to build sixteen nuclear reactors, which Russia will play a significant role in operating. It is not clear if this new deal will take cooperation with Russia to a more advanced level. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi was due to meet his counterpart Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in St. Petersburg on Thursday to discuss a broad cooperation agreement. [Reuters, 6/19/2015]
Egypt draft 2015/2016 budget projects 9.9 percent deficit, 5 percent growth
Egypt’s cabinet approved a draft 2015/2016 budget that projects a deficit of 9.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), narrowing slightly from an expected gap of 10.8 percent in the current fiscal year. The draft budget, which has yet to be approved by the president, also includes a large increase in social welfare program expenditure. The budget also earmarks 38.4 billion pounds for bread and commodities subsidies. Growth is projected at about 5 percent versus a projected 4.2 percent in the current fiscal year, while the projected deficit increased to 281 billion Egyptian pounds. [Reuters, 6/19/2015]