Chocolate and Choice: With the Country on Edge, Ivorians Coast Goes To the Polls
NEED TO KNOW
Chocolate and Choice: With the Country on Edge, Ivorians Coast Goes To the Polls
IVORY COAST
Voters in the Ivory Coast, Francophone West Africa’s largest economy, are complaining that the government has frozen out legitimate alternatives in their upcoming presidential election.
Under President Alassane Ouattara, election officials banned four major politicians from running for the office when voters go to the polls on Oct. 25, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse, one of the biggest banks in the world.
In response, opposition parties united in a partnership labeled the Common Front, which called for protests in Abidjan, the country’s largest city, earlier this month. “Demonstrations for democracy, justice, and peace will continue every day across the country until the demands for political dialogue are met,” said the Common Front, according to Radio France Internationale.
Abidjan officials, who banned the protests in the name of keeping order before the vote, cracked down on the demonstrations with tear gas and roadblocks, the Associated Press reported. Around 240 people were arrested. Security forces also apprehended journalists and seized their equipment, added Le Monde.
The protesters told Al Jazeera they wanted only to make their voices heard peacefully at a time when their country’s chocolate industry should be financing new schools and other infrastructure but instead hasn’t improved their lives.
Perhaps in a bid to appease popular sentiment, the president increased the price of cocoa exports, noted Business Inside Africa. The cost went from $3.40 per kilogram to $4.50 – a major boon to farmers who constitute an important constituency in the country. “Those who work hard in our fields benefit from the fruits of their labor,” said Ouattara.
But those sweet words were little consolation to protesters whose anger also reflected tensions over a trend in Africa where old leaders refuse to leave office and make way for a new generation, as this National Public Radio story described.
“It is an irony for a continent whose median age is just 19,” Africa analyst Paul Nantulya told NPR, adding that “third-termism,” as he dubs some African leaders’ attempts to cling to power, “is a disease.”
Ouattara, 83, has been in power since 2010. He’s now running for a fourth term after he supported a controversial constitutional change in 2016 that ended presidential term limits.
Meanwhile, it’s not just protesters opposing him. Military juntas that rule Ivory Coast’s neighbors, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, might be supporting online disinformation campaigns against his candidacy, wrote Agence France-Presse. These campaigns might also reflect Russian meddling in the Ivory Coast, which maintains good relations with France, the region’s former colonial power, whom the military juntas have shunned in favor of Moscow.
Now, former First Lady Simone Gbagbo, wife of Laurent, might stand the best chance of beating the incumbent, the BBC reported.
Still, analysts say the likelihood of instability erupting after the election is high.
“Côte d’Ivoire has long grappled with a presidential paradox: the country is economically strong but politically vulnerable, particularly when it comes to choosing a president,” wrote the International Crisis Group.
It detailed how, since President Ouattara rose to power following the disputed 2010 election, the Ivorian economy has been expanding steadily, and the government has made infrastructure improvements and implemented military reform.
“Despite this and other achievements, the country’s political system remains prone to turmoil due largely to an extreme concentration of power in the presidency, the inability of the political class to make compromises and a largely unfinished process of national reconciliation after the 2010 election and the ensuing four-month war,” it added. “These problems resurface every time a presidential election rolls around and could threaten the country’s stability once again.”
THE WORLD, BRIEFLY
EU and US Impose New Sanctions On Russia
RUSSIA
The United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions on Russia this week and advanced plans to leverage frozen Russian state assets for use by Ukraine, a series of moves aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow amid its ongoing conflict with Kyiv, CNBC reported Thursday.
The new sanctions began Wednesday when President Donald Trump unveiled the first direct US sanctions on Russia’s energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil and nearly three dozen subsidiaries. The move imposes full blocking measures on the two Russian companies, with US officials warning foreign financial institutions risk secondary sanctions if they facilitate significant transactions for Russia’s military-industrial base.
The EU followed suit on Thursday with a new sanction package – its 19th – that bans Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports starting next year, tightens restrictions on Russian banks and diplomats, and targets entities in China, Hong Kong, and India that help Russia evade controls.
The measures follow stalled peace efforts over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with observers saying the Trump administration’s decision marks a major U-turn for Washington.
The president had initially expressed skepticism on whether sanctions would pressure Russia into starting talks to end the war and sought to convince his Russian counterpart to change course during months of prolonged negotiations, the Wall Street Journal wrote.
But earlier this week, Trump canceled a planned in-person summit with Putin in Hungary, saying he did not want a “wasted meeting.”
The new sanctions are aimed at cutting one of Russia’s largest sources of revenues, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying the bloc is “hitting Russia’s gas sector – the heart of its war economy.”
Washington’s long-awaited decision drew praise from EU officials and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Meanwhile, EU leaders met Thursday to finalize a plan to use roughly $163 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets held mainly by Belgium’s Euroclear – a central securities depository – to fund Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction, according to the Washington Post.
The proposed “reparation loan” would see the EU lend Ukraine money backed by these frozen funds without technically seizing them, an effort designed to sidestep legal and financial risks of seizure while avoiding a precedent feared by investors and central banks.
EU officials said the move is essential as Trump refuses to release more US funding for Kyiv and insists Europe must now carry the burden of the war effort.
But while the leaders agreed to support Ukraine’s war effort, they stopped short of approving the proposal to use frozen Russian assets following objections from Belgium, Al Jazeera reported.
In response, Moscow has denounced both moves. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the asset plan “theft,” while other Russian officials warned of seizures of Western assets in Russia if confiscations proceed.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev labeled the new US sanctions an “act of war,” vowing intensified strikes in Ukraine, Reuters noted.
On Thursday, Putin described the levies as an “unfriendly act” and said Russia will not bow to pressure. Still, he acknowledged that “some losses are expected” from the new sanctions, the Guardian added.
Analysts said that full blocking sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil could deliver a “severe hit” to Russia’s war financing. Others called the EU loan structure “clever” but acknowledged it effectively puts EU taxpayers on the line while raising market-confidence risks that could spook sovereign depositors, notably in China.
Guatemala Declares Gangs as Terrorist Groups
GUATEMALA
Guatemala’s congress passed a sweeping anti-gang bill this week that designates the country’s most powerful criminal organizations as terrorist groups, a move observers say is similar to measures imposed in neighboring El Salvador to address the rising crime rate, the Associated Press reported.
On Tuesday, lawmakers approved a bill that will designate groups such as Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) as terrorist organizations, increase penalties for their gang members, and authorize the construction of a new maximum-security prison to isolate gang leaders.
Under the new law, major gang cases can be transferred to high-impact courts, which give judges powers to freeze assets and stiffen sentences for extortion and gang recruitment – crimes that have driven up homicide and extortion rates across the country, according to the Rio Times.
The measure had been in limbo for years, but gained momentum after 20 members of Barrio 18 escaped from the Fraijanes II prison earlier this month, an incident that exposed severe weaknesses in the country’s security system.
President Bernardo Arévalo accepted the resignations of his interior minister and two deputies last week following the jailbreak. Authorities said Tuesday that four of the escaped inmates had since been recaptured.
Arévalo said the jailbreak was part of a coordinated plot by gang members angered by tougher prison measures imposed by his administration. He added that the anti-gang bill would enhance cooperation with international partners and allow financial investigations targeting gang operations.
The designation follows similar moves across the Americas to address rising gang violence.
In February, the United States designated MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization and extended the designation to Barrio 18 in September.
Meanwhile, neighboring El Salvador has gained international attention for its years-long state of emergency that allowed authorities to launch a mass crackdown on criminal gangs.
More than 80,000 people have been arrested, which the government and its supporters have hailed for reducing violent crime even as human rights groups have warned of abuses and due-process risks.
Myanmar Military Raids Major Scam Hub, Arrests More Than 2,000
MYANMAR
Myanmar’s military this week dismantled a major online scam operation near the Thai border, the latest effort by the junta to address international scrutiny over its hosting of a number of cyberscam centers responsible for defrauding Americans and others around the world, the Associated Press reported.
On Monday, state-run media said soldiers raided KK Park, a notorious cybercrime compound outside Myawaddy in Kayin state, as part of ongoing operations to suppress cross-border fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking. Authorities detained more than 2,000 people and estimated that more than 260 buildings were unregistered, according to local reports.
State media also published photos of seized Starlink satellite equipment, which the junta said had been smuggled into the country. The 30 terminals were allegedly being used to connect large-scale scam centers to the Internet.
The raid comes amid mounting international pressure from China and Thailand to crack down on transnational scam syndicates operating in Myanmar’s border zones.
Many of the workers operating these centers have reportedly been trafficked from other countries after being lured by promises of legitimate employment and then forced to carry out online scams involving fake investments or romantic schemes.
Law enforcement remains weak in these areas because of the ongoing civil conflict between the military and ethnic militias. Following the KK Park raid, Myanmar’s junta accused the Karen National Union, one of the armed groups opposing the military government, of being involved in the scam operation.
The militia denied any involvement.
Meanwhile, the presence of Starlink equipment prompted action from its company, SpaceX. Starlink – which is not licensed in Myanmar – has become popular among criminal groups for its ability to provide reliable Internet in remote, conflict-ridden regions.
On Tuesday, SpaceX vice president Lauren Dreyer said the company had “proactively identified and disabled over 2,500 Starlink Kits in the vicinity of suspected ‘scam centers,’” adding that SpaceX was committed to ensuring its service “remains a force for good,” NBC News noted.
Observers added that the crackdown at KK Park comes amid growing global scrutiny of cybercrime in Southeast Asia.
Last week, the United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on leaders of a major Cambodian scam network.
According to US officials, Americans alone lost at least $10 billion to such schemes in 2024 – a 66 percent increase from the previous year.
DISCOVERIES
Playing for Longevity
Women generally outlive men, a pattern present throughout history and across the world.
Still, the gap is narrowing because of advances in medicine and improved living conditions.
Now, a new study says this difference is unlikely to disappear in the near future. That’s because the differences in lifespans are deeply rooted in evolutionary history and are even found in other species.
“From a human standpoint, it’s really remarkable that women live longer across almost every country in the world,” lead author Johanna Stärk told the Washington Post. “So we were interested in looking at this from a broader taxonomic perspective.”
Researchers have carried out the most comprehensive analysis of sex differences in lifespan across mammals and birds to date. They found, while examining mammals, such as baboons and gorillas, that females usually outlived males. However, among birds, insects, and reptiles, the opposite is usually true.
One possible genetic explanation, known as the heterogametic sex hypothesis, suggests that differences in sex chromosomes could explain why one sex outlives the other, according to researchers. In mammals, females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y – meaning males are the heterogametic sex. In birds, however, the system is reversed, and females are the heterogametic sex. Some research suggests that having two X chromosomes could protect individuals from harmful mutations, giving them a survival advantage.
Analyzing data on the lifespans of 528 mammal species and 648 bird species in zoos worldwide, the team uncovered a striking difference in lifespan that supports the heterogametic sex hypothesis.
For example, in 72 percent of mammals, females lived longer – 12 percent on average. But in 68 percent of bird species, males lived longer – 5 percent on average. Still, there were noteworthy variations with many exceptions.
“Some species showed the opposite of the expected pattern,” Stärk said in a statement. “For example, in many birds of prey, females are both larger and longer-lived than males. So sex chromosomes can only be part of the story.”
Alongside genetics, reproductive strategies also play a role. Males often develop conspicuous characteristics such as colorful plumage, weapons, or large body size through sexual selection. While improving reproductive success, these traits can reduce longevity.
Meanwhile, in polygamous mammals with strong competition for mates, males usually live less than females. Many birds, instead, are monogamous, meaning there is less competitive pressure, and males often live longer.
In general, lifespan differences were minimal in monogamous species, while polygamy and greater size differences tended to give females the advantage.
Parental care is also a factor, as researchers found that the sex most involved in caring for offspring generally lives longer – in mammals, this is usually the females.
Also, the team looked at zoo populations, where certain pressures such as harsh climates or predators were absent. They discovered that the gap in lifespan, while smaller, still existed.