July 1 — International Organizations: EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
The East African Community (EAC) common market comes into force, allowing for goods, people, and capital to move freely among its member-countries. The EAC has already implemented a common external tariff and import tax from countries outside the bloc. The community consists of five countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC also plans to establish a monetary union by 2012 and a common currency by 2015.
July 4 — Europe: POLAND
Bronislaw Komorowski from the ruling Civic Platform party (PO) defeats a conservative Jaroslaw Kaczynski from the Law and Justice Party (PiS) in the second round of elections, becoming Poland’s next president. The position of president in Poland is largely ceremonial, but among other rights the president can initiate the legislative process, veto legislation, and dissolve the parliament.
July 7 — Latin America: CUBA
Cuban President Raul Castro agrees to release 52 political prisoners under an agreement brokered by Spain and the Catholic Church in Cuba. At least 17 of the dissidents will go into exile to Spain.
July 11 — Africa: UGANDA
Two bombs explode in a restaurant in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, killing 74 people. The country’s authorities believe that Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is linked to al-Qaeda, with the help of Somali Islamist group Al-Shabab carried out the bombing. They also believe that the attack was in retaliation for Uganda’s military involvement in Somalia.
July 11 — East Asia: JAPAN
Japan’s ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan loses its majority in elections to the upper house of parliament seen as a referendum on the party’s performance. The DPJ came to power only 10 month ago, ending the conservative Liberal Democratic Party’s more than 50 years of dominance. The election campaign focused on the prime minister’s push for unpopular sales tax to repair the country’s massive national debt. Prime Minister Kan says he will not resign.
July 12 — International Organizations/Africa: ICC/SUDAN
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a second arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide in the region of Darfur. He has been already charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July 19 — Latin America: SURINAME
Suriname’s parliament elects former military leader Desi Bouterse to be the country’s next president. Bouterse is a controversial person who took power in a coup in 1980 and has been accused of political killings during his military rule. Also in 1999, the Dutch court sentenced him in absentia to 11 years in prison for drug trafficking.
July 20 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
Representatives from 70 countries attend a conference on Afghanistan’s future held in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The participants approve the goal of Afghan takeover of security operations by 2014, endorse Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s program to integrate insurgents, and agree that 50 percent of aid going to Afghanistan should be channeled through the Afghan government.
July 23 — Latin America: VENEZUELA/COLOMBIA
Venezuela breaks off diplomatic relations with Colombia over accusations that it provides bases for Colombian rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and another Marxist guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). During a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, Colombia presented videos and pictures as a proof of its claims.
July 26 — East Asia: CAMBODIA
Cambodia’s UN-backed Khmer Rouge Tribunal finds Kaing Guek Eav, or Comrade Duch, former Khmer Rouge head of Tuol Sleng prison, also known as S-21, guilty of crimes against humanity and sentences him to 35 years in prison. He oversaw the torture and executions of 17,000 men, women, and children. The infamous S-21 prison became a symbol of atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge regime. Duch is the first Khmer Rouge leader to be tried by the Tribunal for the crimes of the regime.