Fortnightly Review and Analysis: Iran, West Asia, Eurasia, Central Asian Republics (CAR) & Africa (Vol 2 Issue III)

February, 1–15, 2017

WEST ASIA

Turkish – Saudi Relations Taking a New Height

Turkey and Saudi relations are taking a new height after the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council meeting. The Council held its first meeting under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir in Ankara on February 7-8, 2017. At the first Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council discussed areas of cooperation to further develop bilateral relations. Also, also views on regional and international issues were exchanged.

Following the Council meeting, King Salman met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a summit at Al- Yamamah Palace. According to Arab News, and as quoted by Turkish Ambassador Yunus Demirer, both sides expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the Turkish- Saudi Cooperation. He said that the two leaders discussed key regional issues like Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iran apart from bilateral security cooperation and terrorism. President Erdogan also had a separate meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, where the two expressed their desire to “move forward” and discussed security, combating terrorism, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. Ambassador Demirer underscored that there is no difference in views of Ankara and Riyadh, especially on Syria and creation of ‘safe zones’.

These meetings, held before the second round of Astana Talks, carry heavy weight and can be viewed as Turkey – Saudi aiming to achieve greater role in the region.

US Seeking to Revise Old Ties with Egypt

A US Congress delegation, headed by Dana Rohrabacher, paid an official visit to Egypt. President Sisi and Minister of Defence, Sedki Sobhi met with the delegation and discussed developments in the region and ways to fight terrorism. Defence Minister Sobhi also emphasised, with pride, the historic relations shared between US and Egypt in the field of military partnership, cooperation, training, and so on. The US Delegation in return also congratulated Egyptian armed forces in their efforts in combating terrorism in the region and in achieving West Asian stability and security.

It seems that the new US administration is now seeking to revise its relations with longtime close ally in the region. However, how this could change the power dynamics in the region and impact Egypt’s own tryst with democracy building is yet to be seen.

CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS (CAR)

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov Re-elected as Turkmenistan President

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the incumbent President of Turkmenistan, was re-elected in the national election held on 12 February 2017, in which nearly 97% of total eligible voters casted their votes. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, candidate of the Democratic Party, received 97.7% votes out of the total votes casted, and thereby marked a comfortable victory. This election has put President Berdymukhamedov in power for the third term. He was first elected the President of Turkmenistan in 2007, after the sudden death of first Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov.

If one analyzes the result of this election in the larger Central Asian perspective, such trend is visible in all CARs, except Kyrgyzstan. Peoples from Central Asia have largely been in support of the strong decisive leaders, who could assure them security, stability and development.

UNGA Announces 12 December to be the International Day of Neutrality

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 2 February 2017 adopted a resolution declaring 12 December the International Day of Neutrality. This resolution was introduced by Turkmenistan, which was recognized by the UN as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995. Turkmenistan had floated the idea of dedicating a day to neutrality at the UN platform in December 2015, on the 20th anniversary of attaining the status of permanent neutrality. The resolution was adopted without a vote.

This resolution has in a way underlined the universal acceptance of the permanent neutrality status of Turkmenistan. In fact, neutrality is one of the founding principles that has guided the landlocked country’s foreign policy. Along with neutrality, Turkmenistan has been a believer in principles of stability, peaceful settlement of disputes, and equidistant relationship with all. On the basis of this policy, the country has chosen not to be part of any economic and security alliances in the region. It has also helped the country choose its own path of development, and pursue external relations based on its national interest.

AFRICA

Somalia Elects Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo as New President in Historic Elections

The recent presidential elections in the Federal Republic of Somalia declared Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo as its new President. The successful conduction of elections is remarkable as the country is trying to assemble its first fully functional Central Government in a quarter-century. Farmajo, has previously served as the Prime Minister of the country and holds a dual Somali-United States citizenship. The elections were held amidst tight security in a heavily-guarded former air force base at the capital, Mogadishu due to fear of the ongoing al-Shabab militant attacks. Allegedly, the process was rife with corruption, however, ‘a vote for Formajo is being considered a vote against corruption’.

Matt Bryden, chairman of Sahan Research and Development Organisation, a political think tank covering the horn of Africa, considered the elections as an ad hoc political compromise agreed by Somalia political leaders. The incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded his defeat; applauded and congratulated Abdullahi Farmajo on his win. He said, ‘history was made and we have taken this path to democracy’.

South Sudan is Africa’s Largest Refugee Crises, Third Worldwide - United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR)

According to the UN refugee agency reports, South Sudan is Africa’s largest refugee crisis and the third largest in the world after Syria and Afghanistan. More than 1.5 million people have fled the world’s youngest nation into neighboring countries due to the violence, with the United Nations estimating the number of those rendered homeless in South Sudan to be more than3.5 million.

The conflict in South Sudan erupted in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his then deputy Riek Machar of plotting to overthrow his government. Machar denied the allegations but went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government. A peace deal signed in 2015 has continually been violated by both the factions, the latest being a flare-up in the capital Juba in July 2016. President Kiir’s forces clashed with those of Machar who had returned to Juba in April to take up the position of first vice president. Machar fled the country and is in exile in South Africa. He was replaced by Taban Deng-Gai as first vice president.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said more than 760,000 people fled across borders after the July fighting. According to him More than 60 percent of the refugees are children, many arriving with alarming levels of malnutrition; enduring devastating impact of the brutalities of the ongoing conflict. An average of 63,000 people were forced to leave the country every month. Some half-a-million had to flee in the last four months since September 2016.The United Nations has warned of the possibility of the situation in South Sudan escalating into genocide if an intervention is not carried out soon enough.

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