Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, on his first visit to China since the 2021 coup, discussed the ongoing civil war with Premier Li Qiang. While expressing willingness for peace, he urged armed groups to prioritize national interests. China, a major supporter of the junta, expressed concern about the conflict’s impact on its citizens and projects, advocating for political reconciliation and transformation.
Mali’s military junta has reversed its ban on Starlink satellite internet kits, citing concerns over potential misuse by armed groups. After a six-month review, the junta has decided to allow the import and sale of Starlink kits while implementing a regulatory framework to monitor their use.
India has invited key political and military opponents of Myanmar’s junta, including the National Unity Government and ethnic minority rebels, to a seminar in New Delhi. This move signifies a shift in India’s approach towards the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, aiming to address the escalating security concerns along the shared border and the potential destabilization of key infrastructure projects.
A damning UN report details the escalating human rights crisis in Myanmar, accusing the junta of widespread violence, arbitrary detentions, and torture, leading to a humanitarian catastrophe. The report highlights the military’s systematic suppression of dissent and calls for international action to hold the perpetrators accountable.
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.
