6:00 PM ET, Friday, July 28, 2023
The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines, broken down by region of the world:
In the Americas
U.S. to Grant Entry to Some Non-Mexican Migrants in Mexico as Refugees. The Biden administration announced on Friday that it will start allowing some migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who are already in Mexico to apply to enter the U.S. as refugees. White House national security advisor said the move will open another legal pathway for migrants to enter the U.S. to discourage them from illegal border crossings. Refugees have a path to citizenship and government benefits not offered to other migrants and have their status approved before entering the country, unlike asylum seekers. Mexico’s incoming foreign minister Alicia Barcena said this week that Mexico and the U.S. are in talks related to processing migrants from the four countries under the refugee initiative. She said that Mexico is seeking to establish an “international space” in southern Mexico for these migrants to seek humanitarian protection and employment assistance. Reuters
Western Europe
EU Sanctions Rwandan Army Officer, Others Accused of Backing M23 Rebels. The EU added nine Congolese and Rwandan individuals to a sanctions list for his alleged involvement with the M23 rebel group. One of the sanctioned individuals suspected to have supported M23 is Captain Jean-Pierre Niragire, commander of the special forces of the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) in the North Kivu region. The M23 is one of several armed groups in eastern Congo which the DRC and some Western states say is supported by Rwanda, which Kigali denies. The M23 launched an offensive in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in March last year, displacing over a million people in the region. The governments of Rwanda and the DRC did not comment on the sanctions. Reuters
Central and Eastern Europe
Russia Says it Downs Ukrainian Missile in Southern Russia. The Russian military on Friday said it intercepted a Ukrainian missile in the city of Taganrog in Russia’s southern Rostov region. The Russian Defense Ministry said the missile was a modified “Soviet-made S-200 missile.” The ministry added that debris from the missile hit some commercial and residential areas, injuring at least 14 people. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said that Russia “reserves the right to take tough retaliatory measures” in response to the attacks. Separately, the Russian military said a second missile was intercepted elsewhere in Rostov, but it was downed “in a deserted area.” Ukraine did not comment on the incident. CNN NBC News New York Times Reuters
Explosion Hits Russian Oil Refinery, Suspected Bomber Arrested. An explosion hit the Rosneft-owned Kuibyshev oil refinery in the southern Russian city of Samara on Friday. Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein said on social media that the blast appeared to have been caused by a bomb and did not cause serious damage or casualties. RIA news agency cited Rosneft saying that the explosion occurred at a non-operational old building at the refinery. TASS news agency added that a person suspected of causing the blast has been detained. Reuters RFE/RL
Russian Missiles Hit Dnipro. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian missiles hit a residential building and a building of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday evening. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said at least five people were injured in the attack. It is unclear how many missiles were used in the attack. Reuters
African Leaders Raise Ukraine Peace Plan With Putin. African leaders at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg called for an end to the Ukraine war, promoting their Ukraine peace plan. The African leaders were not directly critical of Russia, though they offered more concerted and forceful statements urging for an end to fighting, specifically noting the war’s impact on food supplies. The African peace plan reportedly includes steps for de-escalation, including a pull-back of Russian forces, removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, the suspension of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, and sanctions relief for Moscow. Putin said Russia respects the proposal and is carefully studying it, though he repeatedly blamed Ukraine for refusing to negotiate. African Union chair Azail Assoumani offered some support to Putin, saying that Moscow has shown readiness and that “now we have to convince the other side.” Kyiv has repeatedly refused any ceasefire or peace deal that does not include the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. The African leaders also called for a restoration of the Black Sea grain deal, which Moscow refused to renew last week. Putin earlier moved to alleviate African concerns of the closure of Black Sea routes for Ukrainian foodstuffs by promising thousands of tons of free Russian grain to six African countries. Reuters Deutsche Welle
Asia and Oceania
China Anti-Corruption Drive Targets Top PLA Generals. China’s top anti-graft body is reportedly investigating top commanders in the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force. Sources told the South China Morning Post that anti-corruption investigators have taken away the force’s current commander Li Yuchao, as well as his past and present deputies, Zhang Zhenzhong and Liu Guangbin. Li is the most senior general to be targeted in the latest anti-graft investigations. A source said he was targeted by investigators after March, when Wei Fenghe, the rocket force’s first commander, retired as defense minister. One source said said military commanders caught up in the investigation “had good reputations before their promotion” and then “became immoral after moving to Beijing headquarters.” The PLA Rocket Force plays a critical role in maintaining and deploying China’s nuclear weapons and is seen as a key element in China’s strategic deterrence and efforts to pressure Taiwan. South China Morning Post
China’s Xi Meets With World Leaders on Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with several world leaders in Chengdu on Friday. Xi and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazounai signed a cooperation plan for Belt and Road Initiative plans in Mauritania, including projects for infrastructure, trade, financial cooperation, agriculture and water conservancy. Xi also met with Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye and agreed to strengthen communication and collaboration. XI additionally further promoted the Belt and Road Initiative in meetings with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The diplomatic flurry comes as Beijing celebrates the 10th anniversary of the initiative. Reuters South China Morning Post
China to Hold Drills in South China Sea. China’s Maritime Safety Administration on Friday said Chinese forces will hold military training deals in the South China Sea from July 29 to August 2. The exercises will take place in a large area including the disputed Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank. Chinese authorities said vessels will be prohibited from entering the area during training. Reuters
Middle East and Northern Africa
Russia Claims Coalition Drone Dangerously Approached Russian Warplane Over Syria. Russian Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov told TASS news agency that a drone from the U.S.-led coalition in Syria flew “dangerously close” to a Russian Su-34 military jet on Friday morning. Gurinov said the incident took place over Syria’s northern Raqqa province and involved a MQ-9 drone. Gurinov’s report came after incidents earlier this week in which the U.S. said Russian fighter jets flew aggressively at U.S. drones over Syria, damaging some drones in the encounters. This comes amid a spate of reported similar incidents by both Russia and the United States in recent days. Reuters
Turkish Drone Strike on PKK in Iraq Kills Four. Iraqi Kurdistan’s counterterrorism service reports that a Turkish drone strike killed four suspected Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants and injured one in the northern Iraqi province of Sulaimaniya on Friday. Local officials say those targeted were in a vehicle in the Sharbazher district when the drone strike occurred. Turkey regularly conducts airstrikes in northern Iraq as part of its long-running campaign in Iraq and Syria against PKK militants and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara deems as terrorist groups. Reuters
Sub Saharan Africa
Niger Coup Leaders Dissolve Government. Niger coup leaders dissolved the country’s government and suspended the constitution on Friday. The head of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani was declared the new head of state and head of a newly former ruling military body, the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP). The ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained inside the presidential palace on Wednesday, has not made a public statement since Thursday morning, but several world leaders say they have spoken with him and that he is “fine.” Tiani warned against any attempt to extract Bazoum, saying foreign military intervention will lead to the “massacre of the Niger population and chaos.” Military leaders say they removed Bazoum from power over Niger’s deteriorating security situation. The West African bloc ECOWAS is holding an emergency summit on Sunday to discuss the crisis. The UN says it is still delivering aid in Niger, though it has not had any contact with the military since the coup. BBC Reuters
Cyber and Tech
Senate Takes Step Towards Cyber-Focused Military Branch. The U.S. Senate on Thursday advanced an amendment that makes progress towards establishing a U.S. Cyber Force. The amendment, passed as part of the Senate’s version of the $866 billion National Defense Authorization Act, directs the Department of Defense to tap the National Academy of Public Administration to evaluate the advisability of establishing a seventh, cyber-specific military branch and assess its performance in comparison to how the U.S. military currently handles cyber operations. Pentagon leaders have resisted the formation of a U.S. Cyber Force, arguing that U.S. Cyber Command is still developing. However, lawmakers in favor of exploring a cyber military service say it may be needed to remedy shortfalls and resource issues in Cybercom. The Record
TSA Renews Pipeline Cybersecurity Guidelines. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Thursday renewed cybersecurity regulations for operators of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities. The TSA initially issued security directives in 2021 in response to the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack. The updates contain minor changes, closing regulation loopholes and providing operators with more flexibility in protecting their facilities and assets. Key elements include reporting and testing requirements. The Record
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