Europe
Break-up of United Kingdom impending?
The Brexit may signal the beginning of the dissolution of the UK, renewing calls for Scottish independence, a united Ireland, and even for London to secede as a free city-state.
Tag: autonomy
North Africa
Media confusion on passing of Polisario leader
The passing of Mohammed Abdelaziz, leader of Western Sahara's Polisario Front, occasioned confusion in media coverage as to the difference between Arabs and Berbers.
East Asia
Hong Kong: ‘localists’ boycott Tiananmen vigil
The annual Hong Kong vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre took place amid a split, with the city’s biggest student union boycotting.
Greater Middle East
US rejects autonomy for Syrian Kurds
The US State Department rejected the Syrian Kurds' declaration of autonomy—ironically, just as the Pentagon is coordinating with Kurdish forces for a major offensive against ISIS.
Africa
Somalia and Somaliland restart dialogue
Somalia has made a $1 million donation to the drought-hit breakaway region of Somaliland, ahead of controversial talks between the two sides to clarify their future relations.
Africa
Niger Delta Avengers re-ignite insurgency
A new militant organization, the Niger Delta Avengers, has claimed a string of attacks on oil infrastructure, and issued communiques broaching secession from Nigeria.
Southeast Asia
Mass arrests in West Papua independence protests
Nearly 2,000 were arrested by security forces in Indonesia's Papua province for "illegal" pro-independence demonstrations marking the end of Dutch colonial rule in 1963.
The Amazon
Peru: Amazon leaders broach separatism
Authorities in Peru's northern rainforest region of Loreto announced plans for a referendum on seceding from the country, saying Lima treats the region as an internal colony.
Europe
Tatar autonomy suppressed in Crimea
The Supreme Court of Russia-annexed Crimea officially designated the Tatar Majlis an "extremist entity" and banned its activities—effectively ending Crimean Tatar autonomy.
Greater Middle East
More Green Berets to Syria: on whose side?
Obama is to mobilize 250 troops to Syria, helping Arab militias fight ISIS. Will these militias be brought under the Kurdish-led coalition—or will the Kurds be isolated to appease Turkey?
Africa
Darfur: Sudan planning ‘Final Solution’?
Amid a referendum portrayed by Khartoum as a step toward peace, regime-backed militias unleash a new scorched-earth campaign in Darfur—reviving calls for US intervention.
North Africa
Algeria: protests commemorate ‘Berber Spring’
Algeria's Berber community took to the streets to commemorate the 1980 "Berber Spring" uprising and demand greater cultural rights—or actual independence.