Ukraine peace talks are showing new signs of progress. US and European negotiators emerged from meetings in Berlin yesterday agreeing to provide so-called Article 5-like security guarantees and reportedly saying “90% of the issues between Ukraine and Russia” had been resolved. However, the promise seems vague and short of an actual admission to NATO – which was taken off the table earlier this week. The question is whether Ukraine will accept such an offer. Meanwhile, Finland worries that if battle lines are cemented into new borders, Russia could move its artillery closer to the country. But there was tangible good news for Kyiv as well. Europe launched an international commission for Ukraine war damages, and is seeking consensus to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's war effort and recovery.
Last week, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels appeared unconcerned with the peace deal signed in Washington between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the insurgents seized the eastern Congolese town of Uvira. But things took a turn today: following pressure from the Trump administration, the rebels announced they were withdrawing from the town, which is home to a Congolese army base. Still, with over 100 armed groups vying for control in this mineral-rich region, peace is far from certain.
Over 110 tons of humanitarian aid from the European Union are set to reach Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region on Friday, the first of eight flights delivering assistance over the next few weeks. But, it’s not certain the aid will reach those in need. The EU warned distributing aid has become increasingly difficult, particularly in El Fasher, a city that has become the latest hub of the reported genocide in Darfur. The paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces recently recaptured the town from Sudan’s government forces, as the civil war drags on. The conflict topped the International Rescue Committee’s list of humanitarian crises for a third straight year.
Algerians are headed to the polls today to elect their next members of parliament. However, hopes for true democracy look more remote than ever.
In addition to the health concerns from the Ebola outbreak, the UN is sounding the alarm on a potential development crisis in Africa sparked by the disease.
The protests in the small Balkan country were touched off by the start of construction on a seaside luxury resort linked to US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.