The National Interest Foundation Newsletter
Issue 55, July 23, 2020
Welcome to our NIF Newsletter. In this week’s headlines: U.S. lawmakers and White House officials begin deliberations on new coronavirus aid legislation, a senior U.S. diplomat criticizes the European Union for not doing enough to enforce the U.N. arms embargo on Libya, a prominent Pakistani journalist goes missing in Islamabad, and the trial of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir commences in Khartoum.
Talks on New Coronavirus Aid Legislation
Lawmakers and White House officials met on Capitol Hill to begin talks regarding new coronavirus aid legislation. (Photo from AP)
U.S. Lawmakers and White House Officials Begin Talks on New Coronavirus Aid Legislation
Federal lawmakers and White House officials began deliberations this week on a new round of coronavirus aid legislation. The talks on Capitol Hill come as the number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities continue to surge across the country. Congress has until the end of the month to agree on another relief bill before assistance runs out for the tens of millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Any proposed legislation package will have to clear both the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and the Republican-held Senate. After separate meetings with White House officials, Democratic and Republican lawmakers had not yet united on a proposal, however Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that the talks were productive and that he hoped for agreement by the end of next week.
Enforcement of Arms Embargo on Libya
A senior American diplomat criticized the E.U.’s enforcement of a U.N. arms embargo on Libya. (Photo from EPA)
Senior U.S. Diplomat Criticizes the European Union’s Enforcement of the Arms Embargo on Libya
A senior American diplomat has criticized the European Union over its enforcement of a United Nations arms embargo on Libya. David Schenker, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, criticized the E.U. during a virtual event with the German Marshall Fund while discussing the ongoing situation in Libya. Schenker told the audience that Europe could be doing more to enforce the arms embargo, and when the bloc does enforce the prohibition, Turkey is unfairly singled out despite being only one of several violators. Schenker also said that Europe should be publicly calling out Russian paramilitary organization Wagner Group for violating the embargo, in addition to the regimes in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Kidnapping of Pakistani Journalist
Prominent Pakistani journalist and government critic Matiullah Jan was abducted from Islamabad. (Photo from Reuters)
Prominent Pakistani Journalist Goes Missing in Islamabad
A prominent Pakistani journalist went missing in Islamabad earlier this week, following criticism he levied against the country’s powerful military. Matiullah Jan was last seen outside of a government school in Islamabad before vanishing. He has since returned home, although there has yet to be an official explanation for his 12-hour disappearance. Pakistan’s Information Minister Shibli Faraz said it was “clear” that Jan was kidnapped, although all the details were far from clear. CCTV cameras outside the school showed Jan being bundled into an unmarked vehicle after being cornered by a police car and an ambulance. Jan is a well-known journalist in Pakistan, and has come to notoriety through his criticism of the country’s military.
Trial of Omar al-Bashir in Sudan
Omar al-Bashir was overthrown last year in the wake of mass protests against his rule. (Photo from Getty Images)
Trial of Former Sudanese President Commences in Khartoum
The trial of deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir began in the country’s capital city of Khartoum this week. The former leader is currently serving a prison sentence on corruption convictions, and faces additional charges in this case over his role in the coup that brought him to power back in 1989. He and his other co-defendants are accused of plotting the coup which included the suspension of parliament and the arrests of Sudanese political leaders. Following the first day of court proceedings on Tuesday, the trial was adjourned until August 11th. Separately, al-Bashir is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on multiple charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s Darfur region. Back in February of this year, authorities in Sudan stated that they were ready to hand him over to the ICC to face those charges as well.
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