December 1 – Africa: THE GAMBIA
Gambia’s opposition candidate Adama Barrow defeats President Yahya Jammeh in the presidential election, winning 43.3 percent of the vote. Jammeh receives 39.6 percent and a third party candidate 17 percent of the vote. After initially accepting his defeat, Jammeh then rejects the results and launches a legal action in the country’s Supreme Court to annul the election.[1] Yahya Jammeh came to power in a military coup and has ruled The Gambia, a tiny country in West Africa completely surrounded by Senegal, as an authoritarian president for 22 years, muzzling the press and jailing or exiling opposition. One of the main reasons for Jammeh’s defeat was the participation in the election of young people who voted for change, especially improving the economy. Unemployment among the young adults in The Gambia amounts to 38 percent.[2] West African leaders, led by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, are getting involved in an effort to resolve standoff.
Why is it The Gambia, not Gambia? (Video 1:47 min)
December 9 – East Asia: SOUTH KOREA
South Korean parliament votes to impeach the country’s first female president, Park Geun-Hye, on charges of corruption and giving a close friend access to government decisions to gain money and influence. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn becomes interim president until the constitutional court makes a final decision on Park’s impeachment. The scandal has caused weeks of street protests and demands for Park to step down.
December 19 – Middle East / Europe / Russia: TURKEY / RUSSIA
An off-duty Turkish police officer fatally shoots Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, as revenge for Russia’s involvement in bombing the city of Aleppo in Syria. The assassination takes place during an opening of an art exhibition in Ankara, Turkey. Both Russia and Turkey agree that this is a provocation and will not influence their cooperation that they see important for the Middle Eastern region.
Video of the assassination of Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey
December 19 – International Organizations / Africa: UNITED NATIONS / SOUTH SUDAN
During a briefing to the UN Security Council, United States Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power warns about growing ethnic violence in South Sudan that is leading the country to the brink of genocide. She gives graphic examples of ethnic killings and accuses the Council of not doing enough to prevent it.[3] According to the UN Refugee Agency, 1.6 million people have been displaced inside South Sudan, while over 640,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Based on these trends, the number of South Sudanese refugees is expected to exceed 938,000 by the end of 2016.[4] South Sudan collapsed into civil war just two years after becoming a nation.
December 22 – Middle East: SYRIA
The Syrian government gains full control of Aleppo, the largest city in Syria, after a decisive military campaign against the opposition troops that began in 2012. The government troops were supported by Russian airstrikes. The Syrian government victory is seen as a potential turning point in Syria’s civil war that has lasted for almost 6 years. Four years of siege and intense fighting in Aleppo caused severe destruction of the city, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Located at the crossroads of several trade routes from the 2nd millennium B.C., Aleppo was ruled successively by the Hittites, Assyrians, Arabs, Mongols, Mamelukes and Ottomans. The city was known and admired for its 12th-century Great Mosque, 13th-century citadel, and various 17th-century madrasas, palaces, caravanserais and hammams.[5]
Video (2:48 min): Heritage of the City of Aleppo from UNESCO
Gallery of photos of Aleppo from UNESCO
Interactive photos of Aleppo before the civil war and after
December 23 – International Organizations / Middle East:
UNITED NATIONS / ISRAEL / PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
The United Nations Security Council passes a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967. It reaffirms that these settlements are illegal and constitute flagrant violation of international law. The resolution also demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligation as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The resolution passes with the support of 14 of the 15 members of the Council. The United States breaks a longstanding tradition of vetoing measures critical of Israel and abstains. The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, says, “settlements undermined Israel’s security and eroded prospects for peace and stability.”[6] The resolution demonstrates an international consensus that Israel’s settlement activities undermine the chances for a two-State solution and a future peace agreement. In response, the government of Israel rejects the resolution and retaliates against members of the Security Council, including recalling its ambassadors, summoning member countries’ ambassadors, and cancelling visits and aid assistance. The resolution does not include any sanctions and is unenforceable. There are about 586,000 Jewish settlers living in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.[7]
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016).
The full text of the Resolution and statements from the 15 Council members, as well as Israel and the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine.
December 28 – North America / Middle East: UNITED STATES / ISRAEL
US Secretary of State John Kerry gives a speech, which defends the Obama’s Administrations’ decision to abstain from a UN Security Council vote on a resolution that condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He says that the recent rapid growth of settlements in the areas long considered the territory of a future Palestinian state jeopardize the two-state solution, which, he says, is “the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” Kerry also disagrees with Israel’s argument that settlements are aimed at bolstering its security. He criticizes the Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, saying its policies are leading towards “one state.” At the same time, Secretary Kerry says that the U.S. would not join efforts to dictate peace terms at the UN Security Council and it would not recognize a Palestinian state without a negotiated agreement. He criticizes Palestinian leaders who do not do enough to stop Palestinian terrorists from carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians.[8] In response to Kerry’s speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Kerry of bias against Israel and says his administration is looking forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration to repeal the resolution. Donald Trump has indicated that he would break with long-standing US policies toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Secretary of State John Kerry’s full speech on Israel (video: 71:30 min)
Secretary of State John Kerry’s full speech on Israel: transcript
December 29 – Middle East / Europe / Russia / North America:
SYRIA / TURKEY / RUSSIA / UNITED STATES
Russia and Turkey mediate a new ceasefire agreement between the Syrian Government and the opposition groups. The two countries, who support different sides in the Syrian conflict, act as guarantors, while Iran acts as a signatory to this trilateral agreement. The ceasefire comes into effect on December 30. The ceasefire excludes groups designated by the UN as terrorist, such as Islamic State (IS), Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (previously known as Nusra Front), and other jihadist groups. According to the deal, both sides also agree to enter peace talks scheduled for January 15 in Kazakhstan.[9] The Assad regime will bring Russia as its ally, while Turkey will side with moderate anti-Assad rebel groups. The United States, which has led an anti-Assad international coalition to fight IS in Syria, has been sidelined by Russia and Turkey and excluded from these negotiations. The US President-elect Donald Trump says that after taking the oath of office, he will cooperate with Russia in Syria in defeating Islamic State (IS).
Map: who controls what in Syria.
December 29 – North America / Russia / Europe: UNITED STATES / RUSSIA
The United States expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes two compounds used by Russia for intelligence gathering, and broadens sanctions on Russian entities and individuals as punishment for interfering in the US November presidential elections, an effort to undermine the US election processes and institutions and aggressive harassment of U.S. officials in Russia. In a statement, President Barack Obama says that “all Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions”.[10] The Russian hacking included spearphishing, targeting government organizations, think-tanks, universities, political organizations, and corporations, steeling information from these organizations, and then public release of some of this stolen information. The US intelligence agencies, including the FBI and CIA, conclude that the hacks were aimed at causing damage to Hillary Clinton’s campaign and help to install Donald Trump as president.[11] Some lawmakers call for Congress to establish a committee to examine the cyber attack and Russian’s efforts to interfere in the U.S. election. The Russian government, as well as President-elect Donald Trump dismiss the hacking claims.