Latest news with #mobilization
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Algeria: Parliamentary Committee Urges Construction of Civilian Shelters Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Amid escalating tensions with neighboring Sahel countries, a parliamentary committee in Algeria has recommended the construction of shelters to protect civilians as part of preparations for a proposed 'General Mobilization Law.' The initiative signals Algeria's readiness to face potential foreign aggression and reflects a broader government effort to bolster national defense capabilities. The Legal Committee of the People's National Assembly, Algeria's lower house of parliament, reviewed the government's draft mobilization law and called for swift action to establish logistical infrastructure and protective facilities such as shelters, adapted to emergency and wartime conditions. The committee's recommendations emphasized not only physical preparedness but also the psychological mobilization of the Algerian public. The committee advocated for increased investment in technological capabilities to ensure national cybersecurity. It also encouraged support for Algerian researchers and innovators, both within the country and abroad, to develop locally-produced digital content. This push stems from concerns over foreign social media platforms, which the government has accused of disseminating false information and undermining public trust. Significantly, the committee also proposed exploring the involvement of prisoners in the mobilization effort, suggesting their potential contribution in times of national crisis. The report marks a key step toward parliamentary debate scheduled for the coming week, after which the draft law will be submitted for a vote. In its justification, the committee cited what it described as Algeria being 'targeted by colonial powers and contemporary forces of evil,' including internal and regional actors. It referenced an increasingly unstable regional and international environment, calling for early and comprehensive preparation to safeguard sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity. The proposed legislation aims to marshal both material and human resources. However, the committee stressed that its core purpose is to prepare Algerians morally and psychologically to withstand various forms of aggression, whether military, through enhanced defense readiness, or economic, by supporting local industry and reducing dependency on imports and the informal economy. The report also outlined objectives in the political and diplomatic arenas, urging the continuation of institutional development and the strengthening of Algeria's foreign relations based on mutual respect and advocacy for global justice. In the media and cultural domains, the draft law calls for purging the media sector of so-called 'intruders' and countering foreign cultural influence. It emphasizes the role of educational and religious institutions, especially mosques, in promoting national spirit and resilience. The committee called on Algerians to unite behind the country's political leadership, security forces, and constitutional institutions. It emphasized national solidarity as essential to countering external threats and ensuring the success of the mobilization initiative. The mobilization law was introduced following an incident in April in which Algeria's air force shot down a Malian drone, sparking diplomatic tension. Niger and Burkina Faso sided with Mali, intensifying regional strain. Although tensions with France have also flared, there is no indication of imminent conflict. The draft law includes provisions to shift the military to wartime readiness, suspend discharges and retirements for key personnel, recall reservists, and reorient industrial production and resource usage to support national defense.
Russia Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine catching men ‘like dogs on the street'
Ukrainian recruitment officials have been catching would-be soldiers 'like dogs' in the country's streets, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Putin made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with members of 'Business Russia,' during which he noted that Russia has been enjoying a steady flow of volunteers to fight against Ukraine. 'While the Kiev authorities are engaged in forced mobilization – people are caught like dogs on the street, then our guys go voluntarily, they go themselves… They are catching 30 thousand people there now, and we have 50-60 thousand a month enlisting willingly,' Putin said. Ukraine launched a general mobilization following the escalation of the conflict with Russia in early 2022, barring most men aged between 18 and 60 years old from leaving the country and setting the conscription age at 27. Last year, faced with mounting losses and manpower shortages, Kiev lowered the limit to 25, while introducing stricter penalties for draft dodgers and simplifying other mobilization rules. Mobilization in Ukraine has grown increasingly chaotic and violent over the course of the conflict, with numerous videos circulating online showing enlistment officers, frequently backed by civilian police, chasing would-be recruits in the streets, brawling and threatening them with military-grade weaponry. The Ukrainian mobilization effort has become popularly known as the 'busification' - describing the process of violently packing recruits into minibuses, which are commonly used by enlistment officials. While top Ukrainian officials have repeatedly rejected allegations of issues around mobilization as 'Russian propaganda,' last month the country's military admitted the process has run into certain shortcomings. 'Busification is a shameful phenomenon, and we're doing our best to avoid it,' deputy head of Ukraine's Defense Ministry Lt. Gen. Ivan Gavrilyuk has said. This year, Kiev launched an enrollment campaign aimed at men aged 18 to 24 who are not subject to compulsory service. The centerpiece of the drive is a one million hryvnia ($24,000) fee for one year of service offered to the younger volunteers. The campaign has been promoted with assorted propaganda videos and posters, which usually focus on this sum and calculate it into items, supposedly appealing to the youth, including servings of fast food and online game currencies.
Russia Today
12-05-2025
- Russia Today
Ukrainian recruiter filmed beating potential draftee (VIDEO)
A Ukrainian military recruiter has been filmed punching a man twice in the stomach amid Kiev's forced mobilization campaign, according to footage widely shared on social media. The man appeared to offer no resistance, although local authorities accused him of 'provocative actions.' The incident reportedly took place during an ID check in the northeastern city of Kharkov. The footage, which was undated, was filmed from a nearby building and was shared by the outlet on Sunday. In the clip, the man is seen being stopped by a military patrol. One recruiter checks the man's papers, before another approaches and abruptly punches him in the abdomen. The man doubles over in pain and is then pressed against a nearby kiosk by the recruiter. At no point did the man appear to resist or provoke the officer. Five recruitment officers were present at the scene, while no police were visible in the video. The fate of the man is unclear. Following the backlash, the Kharkov recruitment center confirmed the incident and launched an investigation, but claimed the altercation 'arose due to provocative actions by the civilian.' However, it condemned the actions of the serviceman who assaulted the potential conscript, stressing that 'any physical or psychological pressure is unacceptable and prohibited.' Ukraine announced general mobilization in 2022 after the escalation of the conflict with Russia, barring most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Faced with mounting losses and manpower shortages, Kiev tightened conscription rules last year and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25. The ongoing draft campaign has been marred by recurring violence, with reluctant recruits often seeking to evade or resist military personnel attempting to detain them in public spaces.
