Myanmar’s junta has requested foreign aid to help cope with deadly floods that have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, compounding the suffering caused by three years of ongoing war. The floods, exacerbated by Typhoon Yagi, have killed almost 300 people across Southeast Asia, and the junta’s request for assistance comes amidst a history of blocking humanitarian aid.
Gabon’s military junta has relaxed logging restrictions on the rare and highly valued kevazingo tree, allowing harvesting under specific conditions. This decision comes after the previous government outlawed kevazingo cutting in 2018 due to rampant trafficking. The new regulations aim to promote sustainable logging practices and economic development in forest regions.
Burkina Faso’s junta, facing a decade-long jihadist insurgency, has requested citizens to report any suspicious behavior or individuals for national security purposes. The request comes amidst concerns about human rights abuses by the junta, with rights groups accusing them of kidnapping and conscripting critics.
China’s special envoy met with Myanmar’s junta chief for talks on peace and stability along their shared border, following recent clashes between ethnic rebels and the military. The meeting comes as tensions escalate in Myanmar’s northern Shan state, where rebels captured a key military command post.
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, has called on Myanmar’s junta to abandon its violent crackdown on dissent, highlighting the unsustainable nature of the ongoing conflict. Wong’s remarks come at an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting where the Myanmar crisis continues to divide the bloc. Despite an agreement to a five-point peace plan, the junta has failed to implement it, leading to widespread instability, economic decline, and a growing humanitarian crisis.
An alliance of armed groups in Myanmar’s northern Shan state has extended a ceasefire with the junta following pressure from China. The alliance, which includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, initially agreed to a four-day ceasefire but has now extended it to July 31. The move comes after the alliance recently seized territory from the military along a strategic highway to China.
Myanmar’s nominal president, Myint Swe, is suffering from serious illnesses, according to state media, raising concerns about the junta’s legitimacy and stability as it faces an ongoing rebellion and a crumbling economy. The military is struggling to govern and has extended a state of emergency several times, promising future elections.
A coalition of armed ethnic groups in Myanmar has accused the junta of repeatedly breaching a ceasefire in the country’s north, resulting in civilian casualties. This comes despite a truce brokered by China in January. The groups claim the junta is using Chinese support to carry out attacks, further escalating the conflict in the region.
