Daily News Brief

August 9, 2022

Top of the Agenda

Kenyans are voting today (PBS NewsHour) in the country’s first presidential election in which neither candidate comes from the politically dominant Kikuyu tribe. In a twist, outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, of the Kikuyu, has endorsed his longtime rival, Raila Odinga. Polls suggest a tight race between Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto. 

While Kenya stands out in East Africa for its economic and political stability (NYT), previous votes were accompanied by widespread violence and court battles. Voting was generally unfolding smoothly (BBC) early today. Cost-of-living issues have dominated this election. Odinga, who is running for the fifth time, comes from a left-wing political background. Ruto emphasizes his personal story as a one-time street vendor. 

Analysis

“Youth voter registration drives largely fell flat, but low turnout should not be mistaken for apathy or complacency. Instead, it speaks to a worrying disconnect between what the political marketplace has to offer and the concerns of Kenyan citizens,” CFR’s Michelle Gavin writes for the Africa in Transition blog.

 
“The playing ground in Kenya elections is fairly even. And the outcomes tell us a lot about what happens when a minimum level ground is achieved in Africa. Presidential candidates face little to no state-repressive obstacles in their quest for the top job,” journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo writes for the East African.

Pacific Rim

At their meeting earlier today, the countries’ foreign ministers were expected to discuss (SCMP) South Korea’s intention to join the U.S.-led Chip 4 group, a planned semiconductor supply chain that could also include Japan and Taiwan. Beijing has expressed concerns over Seoul’s interest in the group. Some 60 percent of South Korean semiconductor exports go to China and Hong Kong.

For the Asia Unbound blog, CFR’s Chris Park discusses the possibility of a U.S.-South Korea semiconductor alliance.

South Korea: Nine people were reported killed (Yonhap) in floods, landslides, and other incidents amid what could be the country’s heaviest rainfall in over one hundred years. 

South and Central Asia

India, which has supported Sri Lanka in its economic crisis, asked Colombo to defer the Chinese vessel’s arrival (AP), apparently due to security concerns.

Iran/Kazakhstan/Russia: Russia’s space agency launched an Iranian satellite (AFP) from a Kazakh space base. Western officials said Moscow plans to use the satellite to monitor its war efforts in Ukraine. Tehran said it will be used for monitoring Iran’s borders and natural resources.

Middle East and North Africa

Talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal wrapped up (FT) yesterday. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that political decisions in the United States and Iran will determine if the draft text moves forward.

Palestinian territories: Two members of the militant network al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and a sixteen-year-old boy were killed (Haaretz) in an Israeli raid in the West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

In South Africa, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington will focus (State Dept.) on fostering open societies, bolstering pandemic recovery, and helping the region adapt to climate change. He said the United States will not force (WSJ) African countries to choose between great powers.  

For Foreign Affairs, Jon Temin writes that U.S. strategy needs to keep up with a changing Africa.

Europe

The installment is the largest yet (CNBC) of U.S. aid to Ukraine, which now totals $9.8 billion since Russia invaded.

U.S./Russia: Russia’s foreign ministry named U.S. sanctions over the war in Ukraine as a reason it will not allow (The Guardian) its nuclear weapons arsenal to be inspected under the New START treaty. The treaty is the last remaining arms control deal between the countries, and inspections have been on hold since the pandemic began.

This timeline looks at nuclear arms control initiatives between the United States and Russia.

Americas

The Joe Biden administration said it is no longer enrolling asylum applicants (CBS) in a program set under the Donald Trump administration that forces them to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court dates. Biden tried to end the program in January 2021, but a long court battle challenged the decision. Yesterday, a Texas judge reversed an order requiring the program to continue. 

This Backgrounder unpacks the U.S. immigration debate.

U.S./Brazil: Brazil’s request to buy Javelin antiaircraft missiles from the United States has been held up by U.S. lawmakers’ concerns about Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s efforts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Brazil’s voting system, Reuters reported. 

United States

The FBI raided former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and broke open a safe, Trump said. The FBI did not comment on the search, but the New York Times reported that it appeared to be linked to documents Trump took from the White House. 

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