WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement regarding the House passage of national security legislation:

"Protecting Americans and providing for our national defense is the fundamental duty of the federal government. As deadly and violent conflicts escalate on three world stages, I voted in support of the national security package passed today by the House to invest in U.S. weapons stockpiles and support U.S. military missions near areas of concern. Restocking American defense reserves and supporting our allies with munitions and resources to fight back against our adversaries is the only way to protect national security at home and prevent further American involvement in dangerous and deadly missions abroad.

"The bills passed today:

support Israel in their fight to protect themselves from Iran and its proxies.
arm Ukraine in their fight against a Russian invasion into Europe.
ensure the strength of our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific against China's escalating aggression.
impose and increase sanctions on our enemies in Russia, Iran, and China.
fight the fentanyl pouring across our border from drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
seize an estimated $5 billion in Russian assets in the U.S.
end China's spying on nearly 150 million Americans using TikTok.

"Importantly, this bill includes robust oversight benchmarks by the Inspector General to make certain American dollars are not wasted. The bill also mandates that the Biden Administration provide Congress an end-game strategy for involvement in Ukraine, including metrics and specific achievable objectives, that prioritizes U.S. national interests. Additionally, it includes cost-matching for economic aid to Ukraine to ensure other countries do their part. If we fail to support our allies and friends now, the cost of American national security will be paid in more American blood."

https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-national-security-package

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives met to consider the Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific security supplementals. The measures, which were introduced by House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and cosponsored by Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) and State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), were approved by the House with a vote of 366 to 58, 311 to 112, and 385 to 34 respectively.

Chairman Cole said, "The safety and defense of the nation is our fundamental duty. At a time of such turmoil in the world, America can't cower to evil. I proudly voted to stand firmly on the side of freedom. These measures protect our friends and partners, bolster American defense, and support the security of the free world. This House just showed tyrants and despots who wish harm upon us and our allies that we will not waver as the beacon of leadership and liberty."

The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
The bill totals $26.38 billion to support Israel in its effort to defend itself against Iran and its proxies, and to reimburse U.S. military operations in response to recent attacks.

$4 billion to replenish Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defense systems.
$1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system to counter short-range rockets and mortar threats.
$3.5 billion for the procurement of advanced weapons systems, defense articles, and defense services through the Foreign Military Financing Program.
$1 billion to enhance the production and development of artillery and critical munitions.
$4.4 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Israel.
$2.4 billion for current U.S. military operations in the region in response to recent attacks.
Provides additional flexibility for transfers of defense articles to Israel from U.S. stockpiles held abroad.
Prohibits funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).


The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
The bill totals $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine and assist our regional partners as they counter Russia, $23.2 billion of which will be used for replenishment of U.S. weapons, stocks, and facilities.

$23.2 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Ukraine.
$11.3 billion for current U.S. military operations in the region.
$13.8 billion for the procurement of advanced weapons systems, defense articles, and defense services.
$26 million to continue oversight and accountability of aid and equipment provided to Ukraine.
Bolsters oversight through in-person monitoring requirements.
Requires partners and allies to pay their fair share through cost-matching requirements.
Mandates agreement on repayment for economic support by the government of Ukraine.
Increases the fiscal limits on several Presidential drawdown authorities. 


The Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
The bill totals $8.12 billion to continue efforts to counter communist China and ensure a strong deterrence in the region.

$3.3 billion to develop submarine infrastructure, including investments in dry dock construction.
$2 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program for Taiwan and other key allies and security partners in the Indo-Pacific confronting Chinese aggression.
$1.9 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Taiwan and regional partners.
$542 million to strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the region.
$133 million to enhance the production and development of artillery and critical munitions.
Provides additional flexibility for Foreign Military Financing loans and loan guarantees.

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-series-security-supplemental-bills

President Biden signed this into law on April 24th: https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1783173478213922974

Turkiye will try to act as a peacemaker between the two feuding countries.

https://twitter.com/yGabobe/status/1764616848664907900

https://twitter.com/inside_africaa/status/1766148705776779513
According to Bloomberg, it may scrap it.

But according to Inside Africa the MOU between Somaliland and Ethiopia will evolve into a comprehensive agreement.
https://twitter.com/inside_africaa/status/1766550804289221087

https://twitter.com/MohamedAaye/status/1766180555417174217

Here is my guess on this: Turkiye is probably working out some kind of agreement between Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland that will probably grant defacto recognition to Somaliland without actually publicly saying it is a fully independent country. Let Somaliland and Ethiopia do their thing as long as this does not get in the way of Turkiye's defense agreement with Somalia.

Somalia Gets Shafted by Turkiye

Somalia has ended up getting the royal screw by Turkiye. The Turkish company Favori LLC controls revenue generation from Mogadishu airport. Somalia and Favori LLC used to have an arrangement that divided the revenue generated from the airport at 55% for Favori LLC and 45% for Somalia. This changed dramatically to Favori LLC getting 94% of the revenue from the airport while Somalia gets only 6%.

Favori LLC received $200m in revenue from the airport and in return gave Somalia only $12 million.

Somalians were blocked at the airport from flying unless they handed over an addition $9
Somalians are blocked from flying unless they pay an additional $9

Turkish drone strikes in Somalia: https://twitter.com/HAGGOOGANE/status/1770066835536273497

ACCRA, April 18 (Reuters) - Members of Ghana's LGBT community and activists are waiting to see whether the West African country's president will sign into law a bill that would further restrict their rights and likely worsen the persecution many face.
Kwame, a gay man who spoke to Reuters on the condition his real name was not used, already bears the scars of Ghana's widespread intolerance of homosexuality.
"I was born with two eyes, but this is what I have now," said the 30-year-old, removing his oversized spectacles to reveal an eye that he said was damaged when neighbours attacked him over his sexuality in 2021.

"Imagine if the bill becomes law," he said, fearing the crackdown would embolden those who feel they can target LGBT people with impunity, "empowering ... people to be murderous."
Parliament unanimously passed the bill in February, but President Nana Akufo-Addo has delayed signing it with his office citing two pending challenges at the supreme court.
On Thursday, the High Court in Accra was due to rule on a lawmaker's petition to compel Akufo-Addo to act on the law within seven days, but it postponed the decision to April 29, prolonging the tense legal limbo.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/lgbt-ghanaians-await-court-ruling-restrictive-new-law-2024-04-18/

The military regime in Niger denounced the military cooperation agreement with the United States dating from 2012 after a three-day visit by senior American officials to Niamey and has told us to basically get lost. This follows on the heels of France after the former French colony told the France military to get out. The last French soldier left in December
Mr. Abdramane characterized the US military presence as  a burden in Niger forcing Niger to pay billions of dollars per year for the military base and drone operations we have in Niger.    We have a little more than 1000 soldiers in Niger and a major drone base in Agadez.
The military junta came to power on July 26th, 2023 overthrowing the current president and denounced military agreements with France.
Editorial: Niger is really pissed off at the United States over being accused of supplying Uranium for Iran's nuclear weapons program and also still holds a grudge against us after the late Colin Powell accused Niger of supplying Uranium to Iraq and then going in and invading the country based on this fabrication.
https://www.lesahel.org/editorial-sommes-devacuer-les-lieux/
http://news.aniamey.com/h/119675.html
https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/africa-file-special-edition-niger-cuts-the-united-states-for-russia-and-iran

Moscow is looking to fill the gap now that the military junta in Niamey has given the US Military the boot. Niger had been on the frontlines with the West fighting against the jihadists in Africa's Sahel Region. However, relations have changed dramatically with military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso bothof which have also sought closer relations with Russia.

Russian influence has grown in the Sahel as the Wagner Mercenary Group was reorganized and rebranded as Africa Corps following the August 2023 death of its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash that has never been fully explained.

Russia Vying for Influence

It is being reported that there are fake videos of the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey, Niger of the embassy being set on fire by protestors:

Source: https://x.com/NigeriaMFA/status/1690330616682663936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3ANigeriaMFA%7Ctwcon%5Es1

https://undark.org/2024/03/13/satellites-show-damaged-buildings-gaza/#:~:text=So%20far%20in%20the%20conflict,the%20northern%20parts%20of%20Gaza.

This was a BDS Israel protest that is being held at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence