Introducing the 30th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between December 10, 2023 and January 13, 2024. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine each respective country’s future direction and governance.

One noteworthy event has occurred in France, French President Emmanuel Macron faced a rift within his ruling coalition on Wednesday as Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau tendered her resignation in protest over a controversial immigration law, which far-right Marine Le Pen called an “ideological victory” for her camp. bill, a compromise between the centrist president’s party and the conservative opposition, reflects a rightward shift in politics across much of Europe as governments try to stem the rise of the far right by getting tougher on immigration.

Shifting our focus to Belize, In a major political development, Senator Eamon Courtenay is poised to step down from his ministerial duties in the Belize government by the end of the year. Courtenay, who has held the portfolios of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration, will relinquish these roles effective December 31st, to focus on his private law practice. This decision aligns with a pre-existing agreement, limiting his ministerial tenure to a three-year term. Despite his resignation from these key ministries, Courtenay will maintain his position as a Senator and Leader of Government Business in the Senate. He will also sustain his cabinet privileges, along with the responsibility of overseeing Belize’s ongoing cases at the International Court of Justice. Prime Minister John Briceo heaped praise on Courtenay’s significant contributions to the Belize government. He attributed Belize’s elevated diplomatic and foreign trade status to Courtenay’s strategic leadership. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the milestones achieved in the Immigration Department during Courtenay’s tenure, notably the introduction of e-passports and a groundbreaking amnesty program. Following Courtenay’s departure, Francis Fonseca will take the reins of the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade ministries, while also retaining his current role as Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology. The Prime Minister himself will oversee the Immigration portfolio. This reshuffle forms part of a broader set of changes involving other ministers and officials within the Briceo administration, marking a period of transition for the Belize government.

In Somalia, the news of the untimely demise of Somalia’s Minister of Women and Human Rights, Khadijo Mohamed Diriye, surfaced on social media. The confirmation, initially from Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s office rather than the family, triggered heightened suspicions, prompting calls for an autopsy to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death. Khadijo Diriye’s last known location was in Baidoa on Monday, December 18, where she congratulated Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) on his 5th anniversary of presidency. According to her office, she received an urgent travel request to Djibouti with Prime Minister Barre, who awaited her at the Mogadishu airport. While official statements conveyed that Khadijo fell critically ill and passed away at a military hospital in Djibouti, concerns escalated, prompting demands for transparency. Prime Minister Barre’s office expressed condolences, citing an acute illness during her participation in the Heritage Forum in Djibouti.

In the realm of regulatory affairs, The Indian government has issued compliance show cause notices to nine offshore crypto exchanges and initiated measures to block the URLs of these exchanges. It cited their illegal operations and non-compliance with the PMLA provisions in India. The move, according to CoinDesk, aims to ensure adherence to the prevention of money laundering regulations, Cointelegraph noted that this action falls under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and reflects the government’s commitment to curb unlawful activities in the crypto space.

Shifting our attention to legal advancements, Suriname’s former dictator Desi Bouterse was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murders of 15 opponents of the then-military regime in December 1982, ending a historic 16-year legal process. Bouterse, 78, was previously sentenced in the case in 2019 and in 2021 but had appealed both decisions. The court on Wednesday upheld his conviction and the latest sentencing was seen as final with no more appeals allowed. The judge handed down 20 years given the ex-president’s age and that it was the highest sentence allowed at the time of the killings.