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Lebanese, Syrian Musicians Collaborate to Cope With COVID-19 Chaos

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Lebanese musician and producer Zeid Hamdan, described by some as the “Pope of Middle Eastern Underground Music,” has teamed his funky sounds with Syrian Lynn Adib’s ethereal voice to create an exciting new musical project dubbed “Bedouin Burger.” 

Their first original track, “Taht el Wared” or “Beneath the Roses,” is a slow-burning but catchy tune inspired by French artist Barabara’s 1964 song “Nantes.” The Bedouin vibe, Adib’s voice, and Hamdan’s bouncy synth-rich backing track will make you want to get up and dance around your lounge room as you dream of pumping it through the car stereo on the way to a post-lockdown adventure. 

Hamdan describes their debut as “a painful scream turned into a release of steam,” and Adib says its inspiration came from a much darker place than the project’s psychedelic artwork might suggest.

Adib explained that the idea came to her after a visit to her husband’s grave, saying “I felt strange leaving him there by himself (beneath rocks and roses). 

It was “as if he’s still alive and waiting for us to entertain him. At that time I used to often listen to ‘Nantes,’ a song by the French singer Barbara, and she described how her dad was equally left alone asleep ‘en dessous des roses.’ After that day, I felt this song had to be brought to life.”

For Hamdan, who rose to prominence as part of the cult Arabic language indie electro-pop trio Soapkills, says “Beneath the Roses” is a song for and of our time.

“I think the song resembles our existence today. Surviving chaos and death through an intense celebration of life and love,” the softly spoken producer told Arab News. “I think we both put into this project what we love most and were open to each other’s ideas,” he added.

“Taht el Wared ” is everything that is great about modern Arabic elctro-pop, it’s groovy, upbeat, with lyrics that go much deeper than the vibrant beat suggests–and last but not least, it is accessible for a wide variety of audiences, Arabic speaking or not. 

The Beirut-based duo landed on the name “Bedouin Burger” because of Adib’s heritage and the way “Bedouin” embodies the idea of freedom both physically and artistically—something we are all dreaming of right now. 

“The Bedouin choice is also this desire to belong to no specific place or country, to be ‘free’ and move around, to be primitive, to look at life in a rawer way yet apply our experience and knowledge to it,” she said.

With plenty of time to jam together amidst Lebanon’s coronavirus lockdown, Hamdan and Adib plan to release a new “Bedouin Burger” song, video, and artwork each month. If confinement is what it takes for us to get great tunes like “Taht el Wared,” let us appreciate “Bedouin Burger’s” as a silver lining.

 

Read also: Lebanon Reinstates Lockdown After Spike in Cases

Dubai Prepares for ‘Life After COVID-19’

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On May 14, Dubai officials took to Dubai TV to announce a plan for “life after COVID-19.” After two months of strict measures to contain COVID-19, the plan reveals how local authorities are seeing a post-coronavirus world. As the Gulf nation prepares to gradually lift its restrictions, authorities and citizens alike will see some distinct changes to their daily lives.

Phased lifting of lock-downs

Dubai will list COVID-19 measures gradually, in careful steps as authorities monitor for signs of new clusters or outbreaks. The country will implement and enforce strict standards regarding distancing, disinfection of public spaces and supervision. In the final stage public parks will reopen to mark a successful end to the lifting of COVID-19 measures.

Increasing focus on public health

Dubai’s healthcare sector will receive prioritization like never before, as infectious disease experts, researchers, and other healthcare professionals become a sought-after profession. A successful reopening of the country will require continuous testing to detect and quarantine any remaining infected people, whether they are symptomatic or not.

It is likely that Dubai will try to attract foreign talent to their healthcare sector as local hospitals, research centers and academic facilities will require well-educated professionals to compliment the existing staff. Dubai’s focus on intensive testing and early diagnosis, which have led to the lifting of existing measures, will proceed along with the gradual phase-out of restrictions

From containment to precautions

Dubai’s strategy of lock-downs combined with early diagnosis mean that the government feels confident enough to reopen its society after a difficult economic slump. The integrated healthcare system on the island nation has produced a centralized and coordinated response, something the country is eager to continue during the phasing out of lock-downs.

The Dubai municipality is highlighting the important work carried out by front-line workers and the need for lower-skilled workers in contributing to a safe and clean city. The municipality is investing heavily in spreading awareness of COVID-19 information as the globe learns more about the virus everyday.

In order to include all workers in its COVID-19 strategy, the Gulf state’s cleaning and waste management workers are receiving specialized training and benefit from temperature-screening devices and protective equipment to ensure their safety.

Our post-COVID-19 world

Dubai’s strategy reveals much of how governments could realize the gradual steps required to get back to normalcy. What that state of ‘normalcy’ consists of remains the biggest question. It is clear that few countries will be able to lift restrictions entirely after the virus has disappeared. Without a vaccine available, most governments will have to find the right time in their local epidemic to consider lifting restrictions.

Reopening society could come after a sufficient flattening of the curve, after a significant reduction in deaths, or when the healthcare system has sufficient intensive care beds ready to treat COVID-19 patients.

When normal life returns it is likely that going to the supermarket or using public transport will involve temperature-testing, showing your COVID-19 status in an app, or having to wear protective equipment like masks for a certain period.

A reemergence of the virus that occurred after Lebanon and some Chinese provinces lifted their restrictions should be the ultimate concern. One thing is certain until a universal vaccine is available, life will not be ‘normal’ for some time to come.

 

Read also: Expo 2020 Dubai Officially Postponed to October 2021

Egyptian Coronavirus Denier Dies From Disease, Infects Family

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When the new coronavirus first hit Egypt, Mohamed Wahdan claimed in a Facebook video that it was just fake news. He claimed the pandemic was part of a US plot to damage the Chinese economy. Two months on, Wahdan’s family is preparing to bury him in their home village of Taha Shobra after he contracted and died from COVID-19.

Wahdan was an athletic and healthy father of one, according to his family and friends, but that did not save him from COVID-19. After initially telling his Facebook followers to continue life as normal, and criticizing coronavirus related panic buying in a March 16 video, Wahdan developed COVID-19 symptoms. 

After testing positive for the virus, Wahdan was admitted to an isolation hospital south of Cairo where he started posting videos warning people of the dangers of COVID-19.

“I was told to stay at home and not to go out, but I didn’t take such warnings seriously as I was pursuing a false life,” a repentant Wahdan told social media. “Please do not take the virus lightly because it is a fatal disease that destroys every part of your body.” 

The young father, who lived with his wife and daughter in Munefeya governorate, north of Cairo, said he had also passed the virus on to loved ones. A family friend who spoke to Arab News confirmed that both Wahdan’s father Nady and brother Bahaa are currently receiving treatment for COVID-19 in separate hospitals.

“Hunger will not kill you. Do not risk your life. The disease is spreading in Egypt especially in Munefeya. Unfortunately, my siblings contracted the virus from me. Stay in your homes because this is a lethal disease.” 

“Please pray for my father Nady Wahdan who is currently in the chest hospital, because he has coronavirus. He is in bad shape. Please, God, help us through this. I wonder who will be next?” he shared on May 4 after his father’s COVID-19 test came back positive.  

In some of the videos he shared from within the quarantine hospital, Wahdan appeared feverish and unable to speak. He complained of being in great pain, and in a video shared days before he lost his coronavirus fight Wahdan said: “I am dying.”

Mohamed Wahdan’s sad story is a cautionary tale for all who choose to believe coronavirus is not real and continue with their daily lives as normal. It is a timely reminder for everyone to stay home, stay safe, and continue to implement the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended measures including wearing a mask, hand washing and maintaining social distancing. 

The vice-chairman of an isolation hospital at Matrouh, Mohamed Allam, said that Wahdan’s case was rare, and that recovery rates in Egypt are high.

 “In a few cases the pain is extreme, and the fever goes on for days causing much more pain in the body and affecting a patient’s state of mind,” Allam said in a Facebook post.

“Of course, the disease has defeated some people but still, they are few,” he added. 

For some patients, the disease is mild, or even asymptomatic, but there is no denying that it can also be deadly.

 

Read also: Egypt Amends Emergency Law, Empowering Presidency

UAE Provides Exceptional Support to Foreign Workforce Amid Pandemic

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Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the government implemented a country-wide lockdown. The preventative measures, however, led to the loss of livelihood for thousands of foreign workers. 

The Emirati government took labor rights and the well-being of its citizens, residents, and tourists into consideration in the execution of the emergency response plan.

On January 29, 2020, the UAE became the first Middle Eastern country to report a case of COVID-19 after an elderly Chinese woman who had traveled from Wuhan tested positive for the virus. 

Emirati health authorities have confirmed a total of 20,386 COVID-19 cases, with 6,523 recoveries and a death toll of 206, as of Wednesday, May 13.

As the situation developed throughout the second half of March, UAE authorities imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and suspended intercity movement. Within the lockdown measures, a permit is required to leave the house for the purchase of essential goods. 

The COVID-19 crisis did not spare the Emirati economy. In response to the economic shock caused by the pandemic, the government has shown its readiness to support workers and mitigate the shutdown’s impact on their livelihoods. 

The UAE’s efficient response to the epidemiological and humanitarian crisis positions the country as a regional leader in terms of workers’ rights and welfare.

Economic and physical protection

On Wednesday, May 13, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,  ordered free COVID-19 screening tests for all UAE citizens and for domestic workers, said the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) in a joint statement.

The government pledged to maintain payments of workers’ monthly wages amid the crisis, including for workers who have tested positive for COVID-19. Foreign nationals have been granted the right to take early or temporary leave amid the pandemic, giving them the opportunity to return to their home country where possible. 

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) clarified that the rights of workers diagnosed with an illness that prevents them from working are protected within UAE law. The statement warned that it would address any breaches of workers’ rights. 

To ensure the adherence to the preventative measures set by the World Health Organization (WHO), authorities implemented a business continuity system. The system allows 30% of workers to continue operations in one facility at a given time, while respecting social and physical distancing measures. 

The MoHRE said it has conducted 560 inspection visits to monitor the private sector’s compliance with COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Authorities launched the 24-hour National Sterilisation Programme on April 4 to disinfect public transportation and public facilities. Workers’ housing units are also part of the national hygiene program. The state continues to raise awareness on the necessity of practicing precautionary measures at work and at home.

Support for general well-being

Authorities did not neglect the pandemic’s psychological impact on the workers. As fear and anxiety reduce the body’s ability to overcome the virus, the state launched a well-being strategy to ease people’s fears by offering particular solace to elderly people and those in quarantine. 

A group of 50 experts executed the campaign by organizing podcasts to raise awareness. Content focused on healthy practices to increase the body’s immunity.

As Ramadan is the month of solidarity initiatives, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation launched a project to distribute 4.5 million meals to workers in industrial areas in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. 

To underline the vital role of workers in the nation’s economy, the UAE celebrated International Workers’ Day by featuring workers’ role in the country’s development in all national media outlets. 

Meanwhile, the UAE postal authority, Emirates Post, has issued commemorative stamps to honor COVID-19 frontline workers. The stamps depict medics, scientists, police officers, municipality workers, delivery drivers, and firefighters. 

The stamp is sold at AED 19 ($5.17) on the Emirates Post website. The postal service will donate part of the monthly proceeds from the stamps to Emirates Red Crescent to support workers and low-income families. Postal service workers will receive the remainder of the proceeds.

Regarding physical health, the UAE established medical centers in industrial areas such as Mussafah and provided free medical checks, masks, and gloves for workers.

As part of the national program to cushion the economic shock from the pandemic, the UAE has equipped mobile clinics to run screening tests on workers in their residential areas. 

In order to ensure workers and foreign nationals are aware of restrictions and curfew measures, the state is sending text messages to workers in all languages.

To ease the growing stress resulting from continued work and confinement, the UAE granted free Wi-Fi access in workers’ complexes, offered free television screens to workers in residential areas, and provided free entertainment applications, such as Switch TV, for movie and series streaming. 

As part of the initiatives to ease stress, sports activities and other recreational opportunities are running in workers’ complexes, while participants maintain safe distances.

The UAE’s particular care for foreign workers enabled it to lead the Gulf region in terms of efforts to support workers during the time of crisis. 

 

Read also: UAE Passes 500 Ton Milestone in COVID-19 Aid Provision

Cannabis Legalization: A Growing Trend in the MENA Region?

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The Middle East experienced a transformation in April when Lebanon became the first country in the region to legalize cannabis. In a move that would have been considered unimaginable just a decade ago, businesses will soon plant giant fields of legal cannabis in the heart of the Arabic-speaking world.

Following Lebanon’s pioneering move, Israel announced on May 13 it will be exporting cannabis. The country has gradually decriminalized the substance and developed its medical cannabis industry over the past several years. Both countries are examples of nations willing to break a taboo in order to benefit from a growing global market that could be worth $173.6 billion by 2027.

Cash-strapped governments

Countries in the region are suffering an unprecedented depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their measures to halt its spread. With populations in lockdown and business at a stand-still, MENA nations will soon look for innovative ways to diversify their economies.

In countries where cannabis is already legal, such as Canada and Uruguay, tax revenues have stream in as the popular substance becomes a mainstream cash crop. Canada alone made $140 million in additional tax revenue in 2020, while saving money on law enforcement and marijuana-related prosecution.

With the MENA region suffering from low oil prices, the cannabis industry could provide a low-tech and high-yield alternative source of income. Fields in the region have grown cannabis crops for centuries. The trade has channeled revenue to illicit markets while costing nations in law enforcement expenses, and in prosecuting and incarcerating cannabis users and dealers.

Reduced stigma

Major economies such as Canada and the US changed their views on what was considered a dangerous drug a few years ago. As science advances and fears of the perceived dangers of the substance wane, the financial benefits associated with cannabis are becoming a new incentive for countries looking to grow their economy.

People in the middle east have used hashish, a type of cannabis resin, for centuries. Those who partake have considered its use a “grey zone” especially for those who refrain from drinking alcohol. This view and the substance’s relatively mild effects have ensured its popularity throughout the ages.

Following the 1961 UN global convention on narcotic drugs, countries increasingly prosecuted the use and cultivation of the plant in accordance with international agreements. Ever since, national budgets have seen law enforcement costs grow and prisons fill with non-violent criminals.

A sleeping giant

While observers often see the MENA as conservative and traditional, the region’s large young population is eager for reform on a variety of issues. With the stigma on cannabis rapidly decreasing, the promise of health and economic benefits of a valuable and sustainable resource could become an obvious choice in future legislation.

While cannabis cultivation would require some initial investment in most countries, the traditional production and use of the crop means many countries could become global leaders in this growing market.

Moroccan cannabis already provides 70% of the needs of the European cannabis market, but without legal regulation and taxation, the country and its farmers who produce the crop do not benefit from its production. The legalization of cannabis in Morocco could awaken a sleeping giant–an industry that capitalizes on Morocco’s experience and international reputation as a producer of high quality cannabis.

Now that legalization of cannabis is becoming increasingly mainstream, there is a window for countries to evaluate their options and choose to enter the market. Countries have a variety of options and models to select, from corporate-oriented approaches to ones that emphasize sustainable cultivation, social justice, and benefits for local communities.

With MENA countries eager for an economic boom following the pandemic, the region could become a global leader in producing organic medical products and goods for wellness and therapeutic use. All these countries need to do is legalize a substance that health officials deem safer than alcohol or tobacco.

Read also: Is Nuclear Energy a Viable Oil Alternative for the MENA Region?

Prominent MENA Figures Join Call for ‘People’s Vaccine’

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On May 14, UNAIDS launched an initiative calling for a “People’s Vaccine.” The initiative hopes to realize a patent-free, universally accessible COVID-19 vaccine that can be provided at no cost. A broad swath of dignitaries, experts, and current and former world leaders are expressing support for the ambitious plan.

Several politicians and leaders from the greater MENA region have signed onto the call to action, amid fears that developing nations could struggle to gain access to an eventual COVID-19 vaccine.

The signatories included Amat Alsoswa, the former Yemeni minister for human rights, Hikmet Cetin, the former Turkish foreign affairs minister, Mehdi Jomaa, the former prime minister of Tunisia, Ismael Serageldin, the Egyptian former vice president of the World Bank, and Algerian UN diplomat Fatiha Serour.

The ‘People’s Vaccine’

The UNAIDS initiative calls on health ministers to urge for a free and available vaccine at the World Health Assembly, which dictates the political element of the WHO. Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, said a vaccine is the best hope for “putting a stop to this painful global pandemic” and should be made available as a global public good.

Other signatories such as President of Pakistan Imran Kahn and several African leaders are concerned that a COVID-19 vaccine, likely developed in the Global North, would not be available or affordable to developing nations.

“We cannot afford for monopolies, crude competition and nearsighted nationalism to stand in the way,” stated the signed letter that announced the initiative.

Pockets of wellbeing

Activists also raised concerns over the eventual distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. The current struggle that developing nations are facing in acquiring sufficient medical supplies has led many to fear that poorer countries will be unable to acquire vaccines.

Ebba Kalondo, a spokeswoman for the African Union, told the Financial Times (FT) that although African countries had made efforts to pool resources to buy testing kits and protective equipment, richer countries outbid them.

Similar to bidding wars between US states, the highest bidder gets the order while the “loser” must find a solution elsewhere. The UNAIDS initiative is now trying to prevent an eventual scramble for vaccines that could leave poorer countries without access to the vital resource.

“Even when we are paying market rates, we are not getting the goods because they are being taken by richer countries,” Kalondo told the FT. “We have to think about solidarity as a practical and pragmatic realization of shared vulnerability and the common interest to fight a threat we cannot fight alone . . . We cannot have pockets of well-being in a world that is unwell.”

WHO action required

The open letter announcing the initiative called on the WHO to heed lessons of past issues with vaccine distribution for HIV and Ebola, while taking courage in previous civil society action that ensured AIDS treatment became available to all who need it.

WHO leadership is called upon to ensure global knowledge-sharing on COVID-19, produce a plan for the eventual manufacturing and distribution of vaccines, and ensure such a vaccine will be free to all. More inclusivity of civil society actors and increased transparency at the WHO could “lock-in accountability for this agreement,” according to the letter.

Calling on a “bold international agreement” with “equality and solidarity at its core,” the initiative calls on actors to remove barriers to healthcare for rich and poor people across the world. With 140 dignitaries and experts supporting the call, UNAIDS hopes to raise awareness and influence the proceedings at the World Health Assembly.

As UNAIDS spreads the news and health ministers have the opportunity to commit to the initiative, a glimmer of hope for global solidarity shines. Preventing a scramble between nations, once a COVID-19 vaccine is ready, could set an example for future cooperation and provide hope to millions of people living in developing countries.

Read also: Algeria, Saudi Arabia Extend COVID-19 Curbs Ahead of Eid al-Fitr

Facebook Spearheads Project to Boost Africa, Middle East’s Internet

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A 37,000 kilometer subsea cable is the centerpiece of a new internet availability project dubbed “2Africa” launched today. The “comprehensive” submarine cable network will directly link Europe to the Middle East and Africa through a series of “landings.”

2Africa backers include global tech giant Facebook, and international telecom majors Vodafone, France-based Orange, and China Mobile. The project’s regional communications partners are Saudi Arabia’s stc, Telecom Egypt, South Africa’s MTN GlobalConnect, and Mauritius-based infrastructure provider WIOCC. 

MENA region internet users should hold back their excitement, as the project will not be delivered until 2023 or 2024. When the network does go live, it is set to deliver more connectivity than the total combined capacity of all subsea cables serving Africa today, the partners said in a statement on Thursday.

“This will support healthy Internet ecosystem development by facilitating greatly improved accessibility for businesses and consumers alike,” the statement said. 

Africa has a rapidly growing population with increasing mobile phone ownership. One result is an ever-increasing demand for reliable internet. 2Africa will be a major boost for the continent, where internet saturation remains at a low 39% compared to a global average of 59%.

The new cables will have a design capacity of 150 terabytes per second (TBps), representing a vast improvement over the existing network which has 70 TBps of design capacity.

“Improving connectivity for Africa is a significant step which lays the groundwork for increased digitalisation across the continent,” said South Africa’s Vodafone subsidiary Vodacom’s International Business Chief Officer, Diego Gutierrez.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia will also stand to benefit greatly from the optic undersea cable. 2Africa will deliver the first new Mediterranean-Red Sea crossing in over a decade under an agreement already signed between the backers, Airtel and Telecom Egypt. 

“We trust that 2Africa will be a rich addition to our diversified investments in the subsea cable industry,” Telecom Egypt CEO Adel Hamed said.

The Egyptian crossing then connects to the Middle East via a data center at Jeddah, positioning Saudi Arabia’s “stc as a leading regional digital player in the MENA,” according to the Saudi telecom company’s Mohammed A. Alabbadi.

“This will undoubtedly play a significant role in enhancing stc’s international network capabilities,” Alabbadi said. 

“The partnership demonstrates stc’s commitment, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, to deliver meaningful digital transformation and build a digital society for all,” he added. 

Read also: Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Diplomacy in Wake of COVID, Oil-related Economic Losses

 

Turkey Recruits Child Soldiers to Fight in Libya: Report

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Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), a human rights documentation project, released a detailed report on May 11 based on the testimonies of witnesses in Syria and Libya chronicling Turkey’s use of mercenaries in the Libyan civil war. 

The 53-page document revealed numerous examples of the Turkish government recruiting Syrians, including vulnerable minors, to fight in support of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA). 

Turkey backs the Tripoli-based GNA headed by Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj in the civil conflict-turned-regional proxy war. 

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by General Khalifa Hafter, is based in eastern Libya and supported by Egypt, France, and Russia. 

Most of the boys are recruited by Syrian National Army members from Turkish-controlled areas of Syria, using easily obtained false identity documents. 

“Our investigation revealed that children are issued forged identity documents with false information about their date and place of birth, and are accordingly registered in the personal status records of the National Army,” STJ’s report stated. 

Witnesses STJ spoke to in person and via the internet said Syrian teenagers are lured into fighting for Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups in Libya with promises of cash, cigarettes, food, and housing. 

Recruitment Process 

A civilian shop-keeper from the town of Marea, in Turkish-held northern Syria, explained how a Syrian National Army commander stood outside his store, giving cigarettes to children he hoped to recruit.

“The commander prevented anyone from entering the shop, gave the children cigarettes and started talking to them about the financial return they would get, telling them that things will be fine, as going to Libya is easy and they will be able to contact their families and return here after 3 months with a big amount of money,” the shop-keeper said. 

The Mu’tasim Division commander told the boys they “will be provided cigarettes, food and housing,” in Libya. 

The sales pitch seems to have worked, and the shop-keeper reported three boys between the ages of 15 and16, backed by their families, agreed to go and fight in Libya in exchange for a monthly salary of $3,000. 

He added: “I asked one of them if he knew how to use a weapon, and he replied that he would learn all of this in the military camp where he would be with his peers. The camp was set by the Mu’tasim Division, and each group it trained consisted of 25 children, according to what one of the children said.” 

Based on previous SJT investigations and testimony of former Marea Personal Status Department employee Ola Osama Al-Haraisi, it’s easy for the army to secure fake identity documents for child soldiers. 

Witnesses Testify: Fighters Clearly Children

“Anyone can get a forged ID with false information easily for a little amount of money, especially in the city of A’zaz,” Al-Haraisi explained. 

“Personally, I came across several forged documents containing false information regarding date and place of birth, that had been submitted by boys and girls in order to be allowed for recruitment or marriage,” she said.

On the ground in Libya, an anonymous fighter from the Tripoli-based Sultan Murad Division, loyal to Ankara, said “there are at least five children in my group.” The Syrian militia, made up of ethnic Turkmen fighters, told SJT “it is very clear that they are physically children.” 

“Likely, they came here through the armed groups that recruited them,” he added. 

The report confirms what many human rights groups and international observers had feared: The Turkish government is taking advantage of poor, displaced Syrian children and using them as cannon fodder for its meddling in the Libyan War. 

The opposition LNA has continually published images and videos of what it says are foreign fighters captured or killed in clashes with the GNA and associated Turkish-backed militias. 

The Syrian human rights activist stressed that Turkey is not alone, saying Russia also recruits Syrians to boost LNA ranks. 

“A further extended report on the enlistment of Syrians to fight alongside Khalifa Haftar’s forces is to be published soon by the organization,” SJT stated. 

 Read also: Libyan Government Kidnaps Its Own Anti-Corruption Official

 

Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Diplomacy in Wake of COVID-19, Oil-Related Economic Losses

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Saudi Arabia, who currently holds the G20 Presidency, will host an extraordinary trade and investment meeting with its Group of 20 counterparts today, May 14. Meanwhile, it continues to coax and cajole its fellow OPEC members into slashing oil production in a bid to rescue prices for their collective economic benefit. 

Virtual Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting 

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi and Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih will head the virtual meeting, where Minister’s are set to discuss “G20 Actions to Support World Trade and Investment through the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

G20 members, invited countries, international and regional organizations will discuss progress made since the last meeting on March 30, as well as both short and long-term strategies to sure-up international trade in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Trade and Investment Working Group (TWIG) has been tasked with the massive responsibility of finding ways to reduce trade disruptions and keep global supply chains running during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The TWIG must find solutions to “alleviate the impact of the pandemic in the short run, and support the reform of the multilateral trading system, build resilience in global supply chains; and strengthen international investment over the long run.”

The theme for Saudi Arabia’s 2020 G20 Presidency is “Realizing Opportunities for the 21st Century for All,” but its agenda focused on empowering people, safeguarding the planet and shaping new frontiers has been hijacked by the COVID-19 crisis. The Presidency has, however, catapulted the role into a strong position to use its influence and multilateral diplomacy to shape the G20 response to coronavirus. 

OPEC Deal and Diplomacy

Saudi Arabia learnt the hard way this year that unilateralism is not always the smartest choice. 

Riyadh and Moscow’s short-sighted decisions to increase production, prompted by the expiration of OPEC output agreement coincided with a massive drop in demand for crude oil caused by the COVID-19, sending prices through the floor.

The move has ultimately hurt the Saudi economy, with government revenue down 22% for the first quarter of 2020 due to record low oil prices and the economic fallout of COVID-19 on the local, and global economy. Facing the full reality of its decision, they chose to turn instead to diplomacy and domestic austerity measures to rescue the economy and stabilise oil markets.

Former British Ambassador to Riyadh Sir William Patey says “Saudi Arabia has quite a lot of resilience built in,” and could still come out of the oil crash “with their market share intact or even improved.” Nevertheless, they redoubled negotiating efforts last week, and the move has paid dividends. 

Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic machine went into overdrive last week as OPEC+ and G20 entered into marathon negotiations aimed at producing a deal to slash global production. On Tuesday, OPEC+ reached an historic agreement  to cut global petroleum outputs by 9.7 million barrels for two months. 

The agreement represents the largest cut to production in OPEC’s history and means members and no members like Russia and Mexico will reduce their combined output by around a tenth. The deal helped stabilise prices, bringing Brent Crude up to $29.83 on May 13. 

Saudi Arabia has also committed to cut an extra 1 million barrels per day from June, a move aimed at encouraging fellow producers to follow suit as uncertainty remains over the impact of the OPEC+ deal on oil prices. Kuwait followed suit yesterday, pledging to cut 80 000 barrels per day in June.

“The State of Kuwait welcomes joint coordination with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pointing that it would initiate a voluntary reduction in its oil production by 80,000 barrels per day for next June in addition to the announced reduction according to its share in (OPEC + group) agreement,” Kuwaiti Minister of Oil Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel said on Wednesday. 

Despite its diplomatic efforts paying off, and the OPEC+ deal being reached, the Kingdom’s economy is still in bad shape, according to analyst Michael Stephens.

“The Kingdom’s economy is in a terrible state and it will take some time to recover any sense of normality,” Stephens told the BBC.  

On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced a range of “painful” austerity measures including tripling its value added tax (VAT) rate and cutting a popular public sector ‘cost of living’ allowance. 

“These measures reflect a drastic need to rein in spending and to try to stabilise weak oil prices,” Stephens said, referring to the Kingdom’s strong diplomatic push to get the new oil agreement off the ground. 

Saudi Arabia is not alone with its coronavirus and oil-driven economic woes. The coronavirus lockdowns, triggered by the pandemic, has rocked economies across the globe

Saudi Arabia is also in a far better position than many countries, even its fellow rich G20 members, to handle the crises. The kingdom has a sovereign wealth fund valued at $320 billion to fall back on, as well as revenues from the majority state-owned oil company Aramco which is valued at an astronomical $1.7 trillion. 

It appears the Saudi Arabia has learnt an important lesson on the value of diplomacy and what the global economy’s interconnectivity really means. It has been a costly learning-curve but the Gulf state, with its built in resilience and “whatever it takes” attitude to economic prosperity, looks likely to come out of the COVID-19 crisis far better than many other global powers. 

 

Read also: Saudi Arabia Introduces Painful Budget Cuts and Tax Increases

Iran and US Desperately Hide Friendly Exchange

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“All politics is local” is a common expression used in American politics. That even important foreign policy moves are influenced by national politics is becoming more and more clear, as Iran and the US desperately try to hide a moment of friendly cooperation.

A prisoner exchange that could be lauded as a moment of shared empathy and cooperation received no such attention as both countries down-played the event. The eye-opening turn of events highlights how much of the geopolitical posturing between the nations is done to placate local voters.

The unexpected act of diplomacy stands in stark contrast to the bellicose rhetoric usually employed by diplomats from both nations. It all started when Iran publicly called for a prisoner-exchange in which it would demand no preconditions or negotiations. The request did not receive an immediate response, prompting Iranian politicians to paint it as an example of American unwillingness to cooperate with the Islamic republic.

A humanitarian bluff

Ali ‘Ebad’ Rabiei, a former minister and intelligence officer, acted as the Iranian government’s spokesman saying: “We are prepared to discuss this issue without any preconditions but the Americans have not responded yet.” 

The spokesman mischievously highlighted the US’ difficulties in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to how US officials had done previously about  the pandemic in Iran.

As the days continued, the Iranians clearly did not expect the prisoner swap to materialize as it continued to press its point. On a government website, Rabiei again pitched Iran as the ‘bigger person,’ prioritizing health over politics.

“We have stated our readiness to discuss the release of all prisoners without preconditions,” Rabiei announced, “but Americans have not responded yet. It seems to us that Americans are more prepared than before to end this situation.”

Unexpected American response

But behind the scenes, something unexpected was happening. While normally any communication between the two nations is done through a third party, US officials indicated that no such mediator would be necessary.

The Swiss mediator who facilitated a 2019 prisoner exchange between the two nations would not be required as a Trump official had already launched direct communication with Iran.

Ken Cuccinelli, the director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services directly communicated to Iran that all it had to do was send a plane to pick up its citizens. The response, sent through social media, was an unprecedented form of direct communication with the Iranian regime.

Hiding the good news

But the breakthrough in humanitarian cooperation revealed that, even in the midst of a global health crisis, the two nations cannot stop playing politics. Cuccinelli’s revelation that the US would be open to an unconditional prisoner swap, was couched in combative language. “We have 11 of your citizens who are illegal aliens who we have been trying to return to your country,” Cuccinelli tweeted, in an effort to make the friendly diplomatic exchange sound combative.

The phrasing of the tweet prompted Indian publication the Week to call the act of cooperation “a new front in their bitter relationship,” producing exactly the response the US official had undoubtedly hoped for. An unmediated prisoner exchange without the need of a third party could hardly be considered an escalation, but the event highlighted the extent to which US-Iranian geopolitics are influenced by national politics.

The initial Iranian bluff had clearly tried to paint the US as the heartless and uncooperative party, while the US response acted as if it was ‘getting rid’ of prisoners that are normally a valuable commodity.

The strange events unfolding reveal how both countries’ politicians appear trapped by their combative national narratives against the other, now fearing that they look weak by having achieved tangible, meaningful diplomacy.