El Salvador is experiencing a rise in authoritarianism even though consecutive re-election is illegal. The president, Nayib Bukele, announced that he would run for re-election in 2024.
Hurricanes, Ambassadors, & Authoritarianism
Beirut Woman Holds Hostages in Bank to Pay for Sister’s Cancer Treatment
Written by Bushra Bani-Salman - September 19, 2022 Another “hero” emerges in Beirut, Lebanon after holding hostages at gunpoint in a bank for access to her own funds. Sali Hafez and accomplices stormed Blom Bank in a successful attempt to secure funds that have been blocked from withdrawal for nearly two years. This is the... Continue Reading →
An Islamic Democracy at Risk
Written by William Lucht - September 19, 2022 Current Tunisian President, Kais Saied, has removed the parliament, released dozens of judges, and under the new constitutional referendum, “both the parliament and judiciary are subordinate to the executive and the president." Further, President Saied stated, "Their powers and competencies to act as a check on the... Continue Reading →
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Written by Camden Hanley - September 19, 2022 For the first time in 970 days, Xi Jinping has left China for international travel. He has arrived at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The SCO is an intergovernmental organization formed by the PRC in 2001. It mainly focuses on regional security issues,... Continue Reading →
Tensions Leading to Brazil’s Election Day
On October 2nd, the people of Brazil will cast their vote in the presidential election, with candidates including right-wing populist, Jair Bolsonaro, and leftist candidate, Luis Lula. Bolsonaro is the current President running for reelection, and his main rival is Lula, who governed the country from 2003-2010. If no candidate wins fifty percent, a second round of the election will take place on October 30th.
Solomon Islands Cancels Planned Elections
Written by Cameron Chambers - September 19, 2022 The Solomon Islands has canceled planned elections this past week. This comes as lawmakers in the Pacific Island state handed Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare a win by delaying the elections which will allow the Prime Minister Sogavare to remain in office longer. The measure received 37 votes... Continue Reading →
Nigeria-Morocco Gas Deal
Written by Osetemega Iribiri - September 19, 2022 At about 200 trillion cubic feet, Nigeria possesses the largest proven gas reserves in Africa and the seventh in the world. It is predominately untapped, flared, or re-injected into oil wells. In December 2016, King Mohammed VI of Morocco visited President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. The two... Continue Reading →
On Elections and the Peaceful Transfer of Power, Part Two & Reactions to the Death of Queen Elizabeth II
Written by Osetemega Iribiri - September 12, 2022 As a follow-up to last week’s report on Kenya’s presidential election: Kenya’s Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, outrightly dismissed Raila Odinga’s claims of election rigging and irregularities. The decision was a stinging defeat for Odinga, who has persistently contested for the presidential seat five... Continue Reading →
A Bolstering National Security & the Indigenous Community’s Big Win
Mexico’s Congress voted to give control of the National Guard to the Army. Mexico’s National Guard is a civilian led organization. The decision has caused concern throughout the country due to the militarization of public security. The National Guard was created in 2019, and the security force was designed to help bolster national security. Mexico has struggled to create a law enforcement force that can combat the drug cartel while also being a civilian law enforcement.
Will the International Community Hold China Accountable for Human Rights Abuses?
Written by Cameron Chambers - September 12, 2022 The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has come under scrutiny this week as a U.N. report was released detailing the human rights abuses that Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region are facing. The United Nations Human Rights Office of High Commissioner released the report on August 31, 2022. This follows... Continue Reading →
The Patterson Journal of International Affairs 