Tag: mining

The Andes
Colombia

US troops to Colombia

More than 300 US troops arrived in Colombia to take part in a series of joint military operations known as “Southern Vanguard.” The exercises, to focus on tackling drug trafficking and illegal mining, have stirred controversy in the country given the possibility that US troops could conduct joint strikes on Colombian soil, after the new right-wing government of President Abelardo de la Espriella agreed to such an arrangement. The left opposition argues that the presence of foreign troops needs congressional approval. (Map: PCL)

Africa

Somaliland offers Trump a deal on recognition

SomalilandBreakaway Somaliland is pulling out the stops to win US recognition, offering access to its strategic Berbera port, mineral deals, and even a Trump Tower. Recognition may not immediately be in the cards, but Berbera is particularly significant at the moment. It sits close to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the global shipping lane that Yemen's Houthis can potentially close at will. Somaliland is juicing its proposal with the prospect of a base for US forces (there have already been US military visits), and potentially for Israel—the only country to recognize its independence. The conservative Hudson Institute, among other voices in the US political establishment, is pushing Somaliland's case as a "bulwark" against the Houthis—and even Chinese influence. (Map: Somalia Country Profile)

Southeast Asia

Philippines: drop charges against indigenous protesters

KasibuHuman Rights Watch urged Philippine authorities to drop charges against 11 indigenous rights protesters arrested during a police operation to clear an anti-mining blockade in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya province. At the center of the dispute is an exploration permit by the North Luzon Mineral Resources Corp (NLMRC) and competing claims concerning land rights and consultation. Members of the Bugkalot and other indigenous communities erected barricades in May to block NLMRC's activities, before being cleared by the National Police. Prosecutors charged the protesters with "resistance and disobedience," offenses that carry potential prison terms of up to six months. (Photo: Altermidya Network via LicasNews)

The Amazon

UAE joins multinational Amazon crackdown

Green ShieldFive South American countries announced completion of a two-week joint law enforcement operation targeting environmental crimes across the Amazon rainforest. The campaign, dubbed Operation Green Shield 2026, resulted in over 800 arrests and the seizure of hundreds of millions of dollars in timber, minerals and livestock. The campaign was coordinated by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), a project led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched jointly with the UN Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) to help countries share intelligence and resources against environmental crimes. (Photo: WAM)

Africa

Russian mercenaries run opioid empire in CAR

Central African RepublicRemnants of the Russian mercenary group Wagner apparently not integrated into Moscow's new Africa Corps have gone rogue in the Central African Republic, financing their operations through narco-trafficking. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the mercenaries are running an opioid empire, supplying tramadol to the national army, local militias, its own forces, and workers in gold mines the group operates. A painkiller in normal doses, tramadol acts as a stimulant in higher doses that can reduce fear, exhaustion and hunger in users. Proceeds from tramadol distribution, including exports, have helped the Wagner remnants in CAR maintain independence from Moscow. (Map via Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection)

South Asia

Pakistan: life sentence for Baloch activist

BalochUN experts condemned the sentencing of Pakistani human rights defender Mahrang Baloch to two terms of life imprisonment by a court in Quetta, describing it as a "travesty" of justice and misuse of counter-terrorism laws. Mahrang Baloch is a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which advocates for the rights of the Baloch community in Pakistan. She was convicted alongside another BYC member for the death of a Frontier Corps officer during a July 2024 protest in Gwadar condemning discrimination, enforced disappearances, and unlawful appropriation of local communities' lands for mining and foreign investment projects. (Photo: The Baloch Circle)

Greater Middle East

Turkish environmental activist faces prison

EsraAmnesty International condemned the conviction in Turkey of environmental activist Esra Işık. The activist was convicted of "resisting a public official to prevent performance of duty" and "insulting a public official," and sentenced to two years and one month in prison. Işık was detained in March following participation in demonstrations against an extraordinary "urgent" land expropriation decision by the Turkish government, in which over 600 parcels in the Akbelen Forest area were to be seized for expansion of a coal mine. (Photo: Cumhuriyet)

Iran

Iran: deadly repression in Baluchistan

BaluchistanIranian security forces violently dispersed protesters in Pashmouki village, Kerman province, within the greater Baluchistan region. Six ethnic Baloch residents, including three women, were detained, and several injured. The protest took place outside a chromite mine in the village, which has been a source of great contention. Iran's government has been cracking down on unlicensed mines in the region, but residents say they gain no economic benefit from the licensed ones, while they are left to deal with the environmental impacts. Since the mass protests in Iran earlier this year, the Baluchistan region has been flooded with Revolutionary Guard troops. Two Baloch youths in the region were killed by Revolutionary Guards in unclear circumstances within days of the Pashmouki violence. (Map: PCL)

The Andes

Reversal for hard right in Hungary; Peru in the balance

PresidenciaThe defeat of Hungary's quasi-dictator Viktor Orbán in the recent elections has heartened progressive forces around the world—despite the fact that the victorious Péter Magyar is a creature of the center-right. A more stark contest is emerging in Peru, where the right-wing authoritarian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori faces a run-off with a contender from the populist left, Roberto Sánchez, who has broad support from the traditionally excluded campesinos of the country's Andean interior. (Photo: Wikipedia)

The Andes

Colombia: UN experts welcome anti-mercenary law

paramilitariesUN experts welcomed Colombian President Gustavo Petro's ratification of the 1989 International Convention against Recruitment, Use, Financing & Training of Mercenaries. The experts praised the signing of what amounts to a new anti-mercenary legislative package, calling it an essential step toward protecting human rights and upholding international legal obligations. Colombia has experienced a decades-long armed conflict that began with the formation of guerrilla groups, notably the FARC and the ELN. Paramilitary groups later emerged to fight the guerrillas. Following a landmark peace agreement with the FARC in 2016 and ongoing negotiations with the ELN that began in 2018, violence levels have been reduced. But the protracted conflict has led to a profusion of armed actors and fueled the growth of private military and security companies (PMSCs). (Photo: Contagio Radio)

Africa

US sanctions Rwanda military

RDFThe US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and four of its top military officials over their support, training, and fighting alongside M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The RDF have reportedly provided direct operational support to the M23 and its affiliates by introducing advanced military equipment to eastern DRC, including GPS jamming systems, air defense equipment, and drones. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the US seeks the immediate withdrawal of RDF troops, weapons and equipment. (Photo: US Air Force via Wikimedia Commons)

Africa

South Africa deploys military against gangs, illegal mining

South AfricaDuring the annual State of the Nation address, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of military troops to support police efforts against illegal mining and gang violence in the provinces of Gauteng and Western Cape. South Africa has for years struggled with gang violence and illegal mining, which are now said to threaten the country's stability. The government has intensified efforts to combat the surge in violence by implementing targeted strategies and measures, such as creating specialized police units, but these have proved ineffectual. (Photo: Wesley Nitsckie via Wikipedia)