From Cuba to South Africa; here is a look at present day geopolitical conflicts

SUMMARY

Amid the ongoing pandemic threat, violence is escalating across the globe leading to unrest and chaos. Here's a look at some ongoing conflicts from across the globe:

By Pradeep Suresh Jul 14, 2021 5:15:23 PM IST (Updated)

Geopolitical tensions are on the rise again. From Tigray to Cuba to South Africa, unrest has sprung up amidst the ongoing pandemic. These tensions not only impact the local population of the area, but they also have a larger fallout in terms of global supply issues. Below are the top ones the world is grappling with currently.

Haiti: The situation in the tiny nation located on the island of Hispaniolain theCaribbean Sea has been bad for a long time. However, the murder of President Jovenel Moise last week has worsened the situation in the impoverished nation where local gang leaders are now threatening to take the law into their own hands.

South Africa: Rioting triggered by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma has escalated into a major concern with deaths along with widespread looting and arson being reported from across the nation. The unrest that started in the KwaZulu-Natal province after Zuma was imprisoned for contempt of court as small-scale blocking of roads in Zuma's home area intensified and spread to Gauteng, South Africa's most populous province, including Johannesburg, the country's largest city.

Cuba: Cubans, facing the country’s worst economic crisis in decades,took to the streets over the weekend, calling for a change of guard and better access to COVID-19 vaccines along with improvement of the financial situation. With the government supporters clashing with protestors, the situation could take a turn to the worst.

Yemen: One of the biggest humanitarian crises in the globe is taking shape in the impoverished state of Yemen where a civil war is taking place since 2014. The conflict that pits the Shia Houthis against President Hadi's faction that is backed by Sunni tribes continues without respite with foreign powers including Saudi Arabia and Iran playing the role of overt and covert backers.

Syria: Syria has been in tatters since 2011 when the Arab spring movement that rocked the entire middle-eastern region spiralled into a brutal civil war that pitted the majority Sunni population against the government forces, whose ranks and files were dominated by Alawites, Shia sect. The situation worsened other parties, primarily Kurdish groups and Islamic State too decided to chip in leading to interventions from foreign powers such as Russia, Turkey and the US.

Tigray: The tensions between the Ethiopian government, led by prime minister Abiy Ahmed, and the northern region of Tigray that is dominated by the Tigray ethnic group, has destabilised entire eastern Africa. With global concerns over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, many fear that the tensions may lead to a crisis across the region that has been marred by violence and poverty.

Papua crisis: Papua has suffered a simmering separatist conflict since it was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised U.N.-backed referendum in 1969. The ongoing tensions escalated after Indonesia deployed 400 more soldiers in the easternmost region when President Joko Widodo ordered a crackdown on separatists after an intelligence chief in Papua was shot dead in an ambush. . (Image AP/ Text: Reuters)

Myanmar: While Myanmar has made headlines in recent times for the conflict between the military-led government and pro-democracy activists, the country has been a hotbed for various internal conflicts and separatist movements formed based on religious and ethnic lines. From Karen rebels in the north to Rohingyas in the northwest, these groups have intensified their activities in recent times. (AP Photo)

Afghanistan: The exit of the US has opened a Pandora box in the country with extremists Taliban benefiting the most. With the Taliban on the verge of taking back control of the country, questions are being raised about how this will affect the region and neighbouring nations that have close ethnic and tribal links to the Afghan people.