ASIA

Sri Lanka (Security threat level – 3): On 14 July 2022, anti-government protesters began to withdraw from the President’s House and the prime minister’s office in the capital Colombo after storming and occupying the government buildings on 9 July. Despite statements by the Parliament speaker and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would resign from office on 13 July, Rajapaksa has not tendered his official resignation as yet. Meanwhile, acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has imposed a curfew for the administrative district of Colombo from 1200 local time (0630 UTC) on 14 July to 0500 local time on 15 July to quell the unrest. Heavily armed security personnel were deployed to guard the Parliament building following an attempt by protesters to enter the building. While there have been no reports of violence in Colombo or elsewhere in Sri Lanka on 14 July, clashes between protesters and security personnel occurred the previous day. At least one person was killed and 86 more were injured during the violence in the capital. In related developments, Singaporean media sources have reported that a private aircraft carrying President Rajapaksa and his entourage has arrived in Singapore, where he is expected to officially resign from office.

CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Haiti (Security threat level – 5): As of 14 July 2022, a week-long uptick in gang-related violence continues to affect the Cite Soleil suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince. Gunbattles between rival groups engaged in turf wars have left at least 89 people dead and more than 75 others wounded. While some of the victims were directly involved in the fighting, many were collaterally affected, as bullets went through house walls and struck individuals who were sheltering in place. Gang members have also crippled transportation by blocking off access to the Varreaux fuel terminal, which processes more than 70% of Haiti’s fuel supply. In a related development, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued on 13 July a Security Alert warning of multiple flaming barricades erected throughout Port-au-Prince, including on segments of Airport Road.

Panama (Security threat level – 3): On 13 July 2022, police officers fired tear gas to disperse protesters at Cinco de Mayo Plaza, which is located near the National Assembly building in the capital Panama City. Demonstrators set fires in the streets and clashed with police officers but there were no reports of injuries. Protesters have gathered throughout the country since 6 July to protest the rising cost of living in Panama. The demonstrations have continued despite government mandates that lowered prices of basic goods, such as fuel and select foodstuffs. Additional protests may occur later on 14 July.

EUROPE

France (Security threat level – 3): As of 14 July 2022, firefighters in southwestern France are battling two major wildfires outside the city of Bordeaux in Gironde department. The blazes, which ignited on 12 July near the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, have so far consumed nearly 4,000 hectares (9,885 acres) of land. Emergency crews evacuated more than 6,000 tourists from five campsites near La Teste-de-Buch and an additional 500 residents were evacuated from Landiras — where multiple roads have been shut down. Authorities have deployed approximately 1,000 firefighters equipped with six firefighting aircraft to control the blazes, which remain uncontained. Thus far, there have been no reports of fire-related injuries or deaths.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

North Macedonia (Security threat level – 2): On 14 July 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Skopje issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: “There have been ongoing protests regarding the revised French proposal on North Macedonia’s accession to the European Union in central Skopje near the vicinity of the Government Building, Parliament Building, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Skopje. The Parliament will hold sessions on the proposal on Thursday July 14 and Friday July 15. Avoid the vicinities of Government Building, the Parliament Building, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government buildings as protests can quickly turn violent. Expect traffic disruptions and road closures around these locations and in central Skopje.”