The Wire - March 18, 2024

//The Wire//2100Z March 18, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: PROTESTS BEGIN IN CUBA, VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN HAITI.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Haiti: The situation on the ground remains tenuous as violence continues and the geopolitical situation remains challenging to describe. Many low-level gangs have taken advantage of the chaos in order to settle scores; many reports have surfaced of piles of bodies being found in the street, the reason for which is not often discernible. AC: Many people appear to be killed for any number of reasons, and perhaps most dangerously, for any reason at all. This unfortunately is not new for Haiti, and has been a tragic reality for those living in the beleaguered nation for years.Cuba: Growing dissatisfaction among the populace has become more palpable following demonstrations throughout the country. Many of the demonstrations are in response to recent food shortages, which have increasingly become more serious over the years. A recent spike in blackouts and food shortages has resulted in localized demonstrations in many cities and towns throughout the nation. Niger: The ruling military council has terminated the defense agreement that had previously allowed U.S. personnel to remain in the country. AC: As a reminder, Niger is technically in a state of military coup, following the ousting of President Bazoum in July, 2023.-HomeFront-Massachusetts: Six children have been criminally charged for speech crimes following the revelation of allegedly racist group chat messages. The District Attorney has charged all six juveniles with intent to commit a crime. Two of the children will be charged for interfering with civil rights, and another child will be charged with interfering with a witness. The charges come directly after the local NAACP branch sent a letter to the local school district, demanding an investigation.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In Niger, the ruling military council has mandated the immediate removal of all U.S. personnel from the territory of Niger. However, the timeline for such removal has not been clearly outlined. As it will take some time for the U.S. to draw down forces in the region, what comes next is not certain. Additionally, it is not clear as to if the U.S. will be leaving Niger. Immediately following the coup last year, similar demands were made as the military leadership sought to consolidate power. Currently, the U.S. military presence in Niger is largely focused at Base 201 (a secret drone base from which the U.S. conducted many operations against ISIS in the region), as well as at the U.S. Embassy, and the international airport in Naimey. At the time of the initial coup, it is likely that the American response was to “sit tight” and wait for an ECOWAS-led intervention force to restore order to the capital…a force that never came. Almost a year after tensions began, ECOWAS is not in a position to even guarantee their own internal security, much less launch an invasion into Niger. Consequently, it is possible that the U.S. will face the loss of yet another strategic military foothold in Africa, if an agreement with the ruling government of Niger cannot be established.Analyst: S2A1//END REPORT//