Colombia
(UN News) As Colombia awaits the inauguration of its newly elected president, pockets of insecurity remain a challenge for a nation that has overcome decades of conflict, the head of the UN verification team there told the Security Council on Wednesday. “The high voter turnout on 21 June is a sign of the strong desire of Colombians to make their voices heard within a vibrant democracy,” said Miroslav Jenča, the UN chief’s Special Representative for Colombia and head of the UN Verification Mission, which monitors the 2016 Peace Agreement that ended deadly clashes between the Government and FARC-EP rebel group. Voting in both rounds was conducted in “a peaceful and orderly fashion”, with security forces deployed to protect the process while national and international election observers provided independent oversight, he said, noting that this will be the third administration elected since the signing of the historic 2016 agreement. – Colombia: Pockets of insecurity challenge ‘vibrant democracy’, Security Council told | UN News
France – Ukraine
(Amos Chapple – RFE/RL) If France honors a pledge made on July 14 that Rafale fighter jets will be delivered to Ukraine in the near future, Kyiv’s air force will soon operate eight different models of fighter jet, designed in four different countries. Paris announced on July 14 that the first four of 16 Dassault Rafale jets will be delivered to Ukraine as soon as the country’s pilots and maintenance crews are trained on the French aircraft. That training could begin “as early as 2026,” according to a joint statement from France and Ukraine. – French Rafales Mark Ukraine’s Shift Away From Soviet Fighter Jets, Analysts Say
Iran
(RFE/RL’s Radio Farda) Not much is known about Judge Mohammad Reza Tavakoli, except his penchant for handing out harsh punishments. Honored by the Iranian judiciary as an “exemplary judge,” he may be about to add 12 men to the dozens of political prisoners already executed in recent months. On July 5, the country’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentences imposed by Tavakoli on the men for their alleged role in killing special forces officers during protests in Isfahan, in central Iran, on January 8. A recent tally by Amnesty International said there had been 44 “politically motivated executions” under cover of what the authorities call “wartime conditions” since US and Israeli air strikes on Iran began on February 28. There was another on July 15, with the execution of Mohammad Amini Dehaqani for his role in nationwide protests in January. Judge Tavakoli is now set to become responsible for a huge share of the total death sentences carried out. Given his previous record, this should come as no surprise. – The Shadowy Iranian Judge Sending Protesters To Their Death
Sudan
(UN News) Alongside gold, the little-known Sudanese commodity gum arabic – used in soft drinks, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – continues to fuel the war. In an alert on Wednesday, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, highlighted how the country’s warring parties have looted gum arabic and redrawn trading routes so that they can use the proceeds to perpetuate the conflict. “Sudan’s vast wealth of natural resources should benefit its people. Distressingly, what we are seeing today is anything but that,” said OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. “This wealth is only serving to undermine human rights and drive conflict, bringing pain and suffering on an enormous scale.” – Looted gold and gum arabic are bankrolling Sudan’s war, UN warns | UN News
Ukraine
(Alex Raufoglu and RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service – RFE/RL) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhalo Fedorov as defense minister following a meeting with military leadership amid a cabinet reshuffle that has also seen Yulia Svyrydenko pushed out as prime minister. Fedorov, a youngish, whiz-kid bureaucrat who has spearheaded digital transformation efforts across the government and embraced drone innovation as an important weapon in the war, confirmed he had been relieved of his post on July 15. During his six-month tenure as minister, Ukraine has seen a dramatic improvement in its position on the battlefield, repeatedly hitting Russian oil refineries, creating fuel shortages in Russia and embarrassing President Vladimir Putin. – Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov Sacked As Zelenskyy Continue Cabinet Shuffle
US – Iran – Middle East – Gulf
(UN News) UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern on Wednesday over the continuing military escalation in the Middle East amid ongoing strikes by the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The fighting has broken an interim truce established under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries in June. The deal sought to end hostilities that erupted in late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and counter attacks by Tehran across the Gulf region. – Gulf crisis: Guterres calls for de-escalation, warns against return to full-on war | UN News
