Haiti, Cameroon, Gaza

Today's three stories you should know.

Haiti

Wealthy businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr has taken over leadership of beleaguered Haiti as a powerful gang leader threatened to topple the government. Saint-Cyr was sworn in at the heavily-fortified temporary seat of government in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which is about 90 percent controlled by criminal gangs. The country’s most powerful gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” posted a video on social media in which he asked Haitians to support the alliance of gangs he leads. Haiti descended into chaos after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. A U.N.-backed security force led by Kenyan police was deployed to the country a year ago, but strapped for resources, it has struggled to contain the gangs. A transition council now headed by Saint-Cyr is due to hold elections in November, but it is unclear if that is realistic.

More from AP here.

Cameroon

Cameroon’s top opposition leader Maurice Kamto has rejected a court order that he cannot run in a presidential election set for October, accusing the government of trying to arbitrarily block his candidacy. The country’s president, 92-year-old Paul Biya, has been in power for 43 years and is the oldest national leader in the world. The constitutional court said Kamto could not stand because his party already has another candidate registered. Rights groups have said that barring his candidacy will cast doubt on the credibility of the elections.

More from France 24 here.

Gaza

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) did not mince words today in a report on the Israel and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has taken over aid distribution in Gaza while Israel locks out the U.N. and the thousands of trucks of supplies it has at the ready. MSF called the GHF effort "a system of institutionalized starvation and dehumanization,” adding that attacks on civilians were indiscriminate and targeted. At least 1,700 have been killed while seeking aid since May 27, most of them near GHF sites, according to the Palestinian health ministry. "This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing," MSF said.

More from Middle East Eye here.