September 2 – Former Soviet Republics: UZBEKISTAN
Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan’s authoritarian president who had been in power since 1989, dies. Karimov ruled over the country unchallenged by wiping out political opposition, bringing the media under state control, and effectively curtailing fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, and expression[1]. Shavkat Mirziyoyev will serve as an interim president until elections on December 4. He vows, if elected, to work to improve people’s lives by building more homes, provide better electricity and gas service, and improve the transportation system.
More about Uzbekistan’s repressive rule of Islam Karimov from Human Rights Watch.
September 2 – South Asia: India
India’s main trade unions organize a 24-hour-general strike in protest of the government‘s economic reforms that include increased privatization and easing regulations for businesses. The government says this will create more jobs, but trade unions accuse the government of ignoring workers’ rights. The protesters demand more government protection, such as monthly minimum wage for unskilled workers, social security for every worker, including those in informal economy, and universal healthcare. An estimated 180 million people take part in the strike with some calling it the largest strike in human history.[2]
September 5 – South Asia / International Organizations:
SRI LANKA / WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
The World Health Organization (WHO) declares Sri Lanka free of malaria. It has been three years since the last case of malaria in one of the world’s most-malaria affected countries. After years of setbacks, Sri Lanka adopted a new strategy in the 1990s, which simultaneously targeted the mosquito and the parasite. It also launched a campaign of surveillance, community engagement and health education. The Sri Lankan health ministry set up mobile malaria clinics in high transmission areas, as well as at airports and ferry landings where migrants arrived, offering free diagnosis and treatment to everyone.
“In focus: elimination” map shows progress in eliminating malaria in the world. Click view full map (right side – middle of the page)
September 12 – Middle East / North America / Europe / Russia:
SYRIA / UNITED STATES / RUSSIA
After months of negotiations, the United States and Russia broker a ceasefire agreement in Geneva for Syria between the Syrian government forces of Bashir al-Assad and the various opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Army and the hardline Islamist Ahrar al-Sham. According to the deal, if the ceasefire holds for seven days, the U.S. and Russia will join forces to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State (IS), al-Nusra Front, and other jihadist groups. The truce excludes action against these terrorist groups. The ceasefire is also designed to deliver urgently-needed humanitarian aid to civilians in places under siege, such as the city of Aleppo. (September 19): The Syrian government declares the ceasefire over, which was poorly adhered to, with Syrian military incidents of bombings and blocking convoys with humanitarian aid. The ceasefire suffered a set-back when a US-British coalition mistakenly killed at least 60 Syrian government soldiers in an airstrike aimed at IS militants.
September 14 – North America / Middle East: UNITED STATES / ISRAEL
The United States commits a record $38 billion in military aid to Israel over 10 years, the single largest such pledge to any country in the U.S history. This amount includes $33 billion in foreign military financing funds and an unprecedented commitment of $5 billion for missile defense.[3] The previous aid, which will expire in 2018, amounted to $31 billion. This funding will allow Israel to update its fighter aircraft fleet, including the acquisition of additional F-35s and F-15s, enhance the mobility of its ground forces and strengthen its missile defense systems.
September 18 – Europe / Russia and Former Soviet Republics: RUSSIA
Russia’s pro-Putin United Russia party wins 54.2 percent of votes in the country’s parliamentary elections, which raises its number of seats in the 450-seat parliament from 238 to 343. The Communist Party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) each win 13 percent of votes. A Just Russia party wins 6 percent. All these parties support Vladimir Putin. None of the opposition parties wins 5 percent threshold required to get the parliament representation.[4] For the first time since it was annexed from Ukraine in 2014, Crimea votes in a Russian election. Votes from all its constituencies go in support of United Russia party.
September 21 – North America / Middle East: UNITED STATES / SAUDI ARABIA
The United States Senate approves $1.15 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia despite an opposition in the Senate to block this controversial deal. Those in favor argued that the arms will help the Saudis fight Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda more effectively. The opposition to the deal led by Senators Rand Paul and Chris Murphy argued that the U.S. should not supply weapons to the country which is militarily involved in a conflict in Yemen and accused of human rights violations there. They also argued that the weapons sale to Saudi Arabia might increase an ongoing arms race in the region.[5]
September 23 – Africa / International Organizations:
INTERNATIONAL UNION for CONSERVATION OF NATURE
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that Africa’s overall elephant population is experiencing the worst decline in 25 years, mainly due to poaching for ivory, but also to the loss of habitat. The decline is estimated at around 111,000 elephants since 2006. The IUCN estimates that there are only about 415,000 elephants left in Africa, with about 70 percent of them in South Africa.[6]
September 25 – Middle East / International Organizations: SYRIA / UNITED NATIONS
During a specially-convened meeting of the UN Security Council over Syria, Russia is accused of committing war crimes and “barbarism” in Syria by aiding the Syrian government forces in bombing the civilian targets in the rebel-held eastern part of the city of Aleppo and a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo. It has been reported that they used “bunker-busting bombs” on civilians in Aleppo that killed more than 200 people, including many women and children. Russia denies attacking the aid convoy last week, blaming rebels or a US drone.[7]
September 26 – Middle East: SAUDI ARABIA
Women activists in Saudi Arabia present the government with a petition with 14,000 signatures to end the male guardianship system. Adult women in Saudi Arabia need their male guardians’ consent to work, study, travel, get married, rent an apartment, file legal claims, and even exit prison. Usually it is a father or husband, but it can be a brother or a son. There are practically very few options for women who are abused by their guardians.
More on Male Guardianship System in Saudi Arabia from Human Rights Watch. The source includes short cartoons depicting problems with the male guardianship system.
September 28 – International Organization / Europe / Russia:
JOINT INVESTIGATION TEAM / UKRAINE / RUSSIA
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) consisting of prosecutors from the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium and Ukraine concludes that the Malaysian plane MH17 that fell in eastern Ukraine in 2014 killing all 298 people on board was downed by the Russian-made Buk missile. The surface-to-air missile was fired from Russian-backed, separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. The rebels used the BUK launcher that was brought from Russia and then returned to Russia after the plane was shot down.[8] Ukraine hails the findings as proof of direct Russian involvement in the incident. Russia denies that any of its weapons were taken to Ukraine.
September 29 – International Organizations / Africa: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL / SUDAN
Amnesty International reports that there is evidence that the Sudanese government has used banned chemical weapons in at least 30 attacks since January 2016 on its own population in the western region of Darfur. The most recent attack took place on September 9. Amnesty International estimates that about 250 people many of whom are children have died horrifying deaths as a result of exposure to the chemical weapons agents.[9] Amnesty is calling for an investigation into the attacks and for countries to put pressure on the Sudanese government.