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This section includes the latest news relating to U.S. security policy around the world. Updated daily, the news provided in this searchable database highlights the most relevant security developments from around the world. 

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El Salvador’s Violence: No Easy Way Out

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
El Salvador closed out 2015 with 6,657 murders, replacing Honduras as the murder capital of the world. That averages out to over 18 murders a day, a 70% increase compared to the previous year, making it the highest murder rate for any country in the world in almost 20 years. English
Country(s): 
El Salvador
Author(s): 
Sarah Kinosian
Angelika Albaladejo
Lisa Haugaard
Publisher / Source: 
Security Assistance Monitor
Tag(s): 
Violence

Rwanda President Kagame Fires Military Intelligence Chief

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
President Paul Kagame has fired Rwanda's head of military intelligence, Major General Richard Rutatina in unclear circumstances. In a statement posted Monday on the Ministry of Defence website, the president and commander-in-chief of the Rwanda Defence Forces dismissed Maj Gen Rutatina from his position commonly known as "J2", while promoting two other senior military officers.
Country(s): 
Rwanda
Author(s): 
Ivan R. Mugisha
Publisher / Source: 
The East African
Tag(s): 
Intelligence

A.U.’s Inaction on Burundi ‘Predictable’

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The African Union’s (AU) decision not to send a peacekeeping force to Burundi has been slammed by a Burundi opposition leader, and called inevitable by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria.
Country(s): 
Burundi
Author(s): 
Mel Frykberg
Publisher / Source: 
IOL (South Africa)
Tag(s): 
Foreign Policy

U.S. Military Seeks to Prepare Africa for Shifting Terror Threat

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
African forces began a U.S.-led counter-terrorism training program Monday in Senegal, amid what a U.S. commander said were rising signs of collaboration between Islamist militant groups across north Africa and the Sahel. English
Country(s): 
Senegal
Publisher / Source: 
Voice Of America News
Wire Service: 
Reuters (UK)
Tag(s): 
Military Exercises

Pressure Mounts on Ugandan Journalists as Election Nears: Campaigner

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Authorities in Uganda have stepped up harassment and intimidation of independent journalists in the run-up to this month's election as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his 30-year rule, a press freedom campaigner said on Tuesday.
Country(s): 
Uganda
Author(s): 
Elias Biryabarema
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters (UK)
Tag(s): 
Human Rights

The Pentagon Wants More Money to Fight ISIS in Africa

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
In a nod to the growing threat Islamist militant groups pose in Africa, the Pentagon is planning to spend about $200 million on operations targeting the Islamic State in North Africa — thousands of miles from the group’s strongholds in Iraq and Syria — while also making a new push against al Qaeda-linked forces elsewhere on the continent.English
Country(s): 
Africa Regional
Author(s): 
Paul McLeary
Publisher / Source: 
Foreign Policy
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

Kenya’s Police Receive Norinco VN4 Armoured Vehicles

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Kenya’s police force has received 30 Norinco VN4 4x4 armoured vehicles from China, which will be used for anti-terror, peacekeeping and police missions by the General Service Unit of Kenya’s National Police Force. English
Country(s): 
Kenya
Publisher / Source: 
Defence Web (South Africa)
Tag(s): 
Military Equipment

U.S. to Send More Troops to Aid Afghan Forces Pressed by Taliban

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The United States Army will deploy hundreds of soldiers to the southern Afghan province of Helmand, where government forces have been pushed to the brink by Taliban militants, a military spokesman said Tuesday.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
David Jolly
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Military Operations

Date Set For Tajik Referendum On Constitutional Changes

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Tajikistan is to hold a referendum on May 22 on constitutional amendments that would enable President Emomali Rahmon to establish a presidential dynasty.English
Country(s): 
Tajikistan
Author(s): 
RFE/RL Tajik Service
Publisher / Source: 
RFE/RL

U.S. Intel: Georgia's Western Orientation At Risk

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
United States intelligence believes that Georgia could reverse its strategic orientation toward the West under Russian pressure, the country's top intelligence official has said.English
Country(s): 
Georgia
Author(s): 
Joshua Kucera
Publisher / Source: 
EurasiaNet

Obama 'On the Verge of Taking Action' in Libya, Corker Says

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The Obama administration is “on the verge of taking action” against the Islamic State in Libya, where the terrorist network has flourished in recent months, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told Politico on Tuesday. English
Country(s): 
Libya
Author(s): 
Nahal Toosi
Publisher / Source: 
Politico
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

Syrian Opposition Groups Sense U.S. Support Fading

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The United States and its allies have spent many millions of dollars backing Syrian opposition fighters they deem relatively moderate and secular, and civilian groups whose work on small businesses and local councils they billed as the cornerstone of Syria’s future.English
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Anne Barnard
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Terrorism

Supporting ‘Paz Colombia’: Why We Need Referees, Not Cheerleaders

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
President Obama’s recent pledge of $450 million to support Colombia’s peace process (dubbed “Paz Colombia”) is a significant political boost. However, it is a drop in the bucket in terms of what that South American country will need to demobilize and resettle guerrillas and develop swaths of territory isolated by 50 years of armed conflict.
Country(s): 
Colombia
Author(s): 
Roger Noreiga
Publisher / Source: 
American Enterprise Institute
Tag(s): 
Counternarcotics
Peace Negotiations

Egypt’s Top Diplomat Denies Cairo Is Cracking Down on Dissidents

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Egypt’s top diplomat said in an interview that the West was unfairly maligning his government’s human rights record while failing to support Cairo in its fight against Islamist extremists. English
Country(s): 
Egypt
Author(s): 
Yochi Dreazen
Siobhan O'Grady
John Hudson
Publisher / Source: 
Foreign Policy
Tag(s): 
Human Rights

Colombia, U.S. Continue War on Drugs Amid Shifting Battlefield

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The White House on Tuesday requested $450.6 million for fiscal year 2017 to support Colombia’s anti-narcotics campaign and peace-building efforts in a program it’s dubbing Paz Colombia, officials said. In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, William Brownfield, the assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said the money would be roughly split 50-50 between economic and social programs English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Author(s): 
Jim Wyss
Publisher / Source: 
Miami Herald
Tag(s): 
Peace Negotiations
Counternarcotics
Foreign Aid

Turkey Summons U.S. Envoy Over Support for Syrian Kurds

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Turkey has summoned the U.S. ambassador after a U.S. State Department spokesman said Washington did not regard Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a terrorist organisation, a Turkish foreign ministry official said. English
Country(s): 
Turkey
Publisher / Source: 
Al Jazeera
Tag(s): 
Military and Police Aid

Cardin, Corker Introduce Resolution Supporting the Government of Colombia’s Efforts to Pursue Peace and End the Country’s Armed Conflict

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
In response to President Juan Manuel Santos’ visit to Washington to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Plan Colombia, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a Senate resolution noting sustained U.S. bipartisan commitment towards Colombia and encouraging efforts by the Government of Colombia to pursue peace by consolidating democratic reforms and negotiating an end to the country’s enduring internal armed conflict. English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Publisher / Source: 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Tag(s): 
Peace Negotiations

A First Glance at the 2017 Foreign Aid Request for Latin America

Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The Obama administration sent its last foreign aid budget request to Congress today. While the actual amount is somewhat higher, WOLA identifies US$1,784,379,000 in assistance specified for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2017, based on the preliminary budget documents. English
Country(s): 
South America Regional
Author(s): 
Adam Isacson
Sarah Kinosian
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Office On Latin America (WOLA)
Tag(s): 
Military and Police Aid

Grassley Pushes Probe of Pentagon Task Force

Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is demanding answers from the Pentagon about a task force accused of wasting millions of taxpayer dollars in its efforts to rebuild Afghanistan's economy.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Rebecca Kheel
Publisher / Source: 
The Hill

African Union Official Defends Burundi Force Decision

Tuesday, February 9, 2016
The deputy chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission said the commission, contrary to Burundi opposition claims, did not abandon the people of Burundi at last week's AU summit by its failure to send peacekeepers to the country.English
Country(s): 
Burundi
Author(s): 
James Butty
Publisher / Source: 
VOA News
Tag(s): 
Conflict

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