The fighting in Syria hasn't stopped... yet

Colombia's border crisis, fighting in northern Syria, and Senegal's French street names. Plus, by the end of this issue, I'll probably convince you to sign up for an Egyptian streaming service, listen to an Algerian-Jewish musician, and swap Joe Rogan for a South African podcast by a Black woman.

Colombia's border crisis: What's going on?

What happened:
Colombia is dealing with a major surge in violence along its border with Venezuela. Over 80 people have been killed in just a few days, and 32,000 people have fled their homes. It's gotten so bad that Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared an emergency in the country's Catatumbo region on Monday.

Why this matters:
For most of his time in office, President Petro has tried to negotiate with armed groups instead of fighting them. His strategy, called "total peace," was all about talks and ceasefires. But that's being seriously tested right now.

Tell me more:
There are two main armed groups involved:

• The National Liberation Army (ELN) -- a Marxist guerrilla group that's been around since the 1960s. They never agreed to the 2016 peace deal that ended most of Colombia's armed conflict. Last week, Petro suspended peace negotiations with the ELN, accusing them of committing war crimes in this latest fighting.
• The 33rd Front -- This group split from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) because they didn't accept the 2016 peace deal.

Both are fighting for territory, political scientist Luis Fernando Trejos told Caracol radio last week.

The Colombian government has sent in security forces and social workers, but tens of thousands of displaced people still don't know when (or if) they can go home. Meanwhile, Petro is under growing pressure to show he can handle security challenges without just relying on peace talks.

Why is this happening now?
Experts have been warning for weeks that violence in Catatumbo (the conflict zone near the border) was getting worse. Petro even admitted on Tuesday that his government "failed" to stop the situation from escalating. Political scientist Jorge Mantilla argued in La Silla Vacía that his peace strategy was too idealistic and lacked a backup plan.

What about Venezuela?
Colombia's neighbor Venezuela plays a big role in all this. The ELN has been able to operate across the border with little interference from Venezuela's government. That makes it harder for Colombia to contain the violence---you can't negotiate peace with one side while the other is hiding across the border.

To make things even more chaotic, Colombia's foreign minister resigned on Monday, likely to prepare for a presidential run in 2026. That's a big deal because Colombia needs strong diplomacy to deal with the ELN and its connections to Venezuela. Petro replaced him with his 30-year-old chief of staff, Laura Sarabia, which raised eyebrows---some doubt she has the experience to handle this crisis.

Btw:
The Americas will have a lot in store this year. In 2025, four countries---Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Honduras---will hold presidential votes. Argentina holds midterms, Canada picks a new leader, and Mexico elects judges in historic nationwide contests. First up? Ecuador on February 9.

Yes, Assad fell last month, but fighting hasn't stopped in Syria

What happened:
You might be surprised to read this, but the fighting in Syria hasn't stopped---especially in northern Syria, where tensions are escalating around the Tishreen Dam. Located 90 km east of Aleppo, the dam is a critical source of water and electricity, but it's now becoming a battleground between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed groups. Since the start of the year, at least 21 civilians have been killed in the clashes, and the situation is only getting worse.

Why this matters:
What's happening at Tishreen Dam will shape the future of northern Syria and Kurdish politics for years to come. Controlling the dam means controlling power---literally and politically. Since 2012, Kurdish forces have controlled large parts of northern Syria, but now, Turkey and its allied armed groups are pushing to take over those areas. With Assad's sudden fall, the old power balance has collapsed, and now it's an open question who will control what. The situation is shifting fast, and the fight over strategic locations---like the Tishreen Dam---is part of a bigger struggle for dominance in post-Assad Syria.

Who's fighting and why?
You remember on December 8, when Bashar al-Assad's regime fell. The next day, SDF lost control of Manbij, a key city, to the Turkish-backed armed group SNA. After retreating, SDF moved towards the Euphrates River, with Tishreen Dam becoming a front line. Now, both sides are fighting for control of the dam.

So, the main groups involved are:

• The Kurds (SDF - Syrian Democratic Forces): A coalition of mostly Kurdish fighters who control parts of northern Syria (Rojava). They've been key allies of the U.S. in the fight against ISIS and want autonomy for Kurdish areas.
• Turkey & Turkish-backed fighters (SNA - Syrian National Army): Turkey sees the SDF as a threat because of its ties to the PKK (a Kurdish group in Turkey that Ankara considers a terrorist organization). Turkey supports the Syrian armed group, the SNA, to push the Kurds out of border areas and expand its influence in Syria.

What's at stake?

• Control over northern Syria: Turkey wants to prevent a strong Kurdish presence near its border, fearing it could inspire Kurdish separatism inside Turkey. The SDF, on the other hand, wants to hold onto these areas to maintain their autonomy.
• The Tishreen Dam: This dam provides electricity and water to much of northern Syria, and is one of the few crossings of the Euphrates River. Whoever controls it controls essential resources for the region.
• Civilians caught in the middle: The area has Kurdish civilians who have been protesting Turkish attacks since January 8. Turkey accuses the SDF of using them as "human shields", while the SDF says Turkey is targeting civilian infrastructure. At least 21 civilians have died, and more than 2,000 people have been injured, according to ANHA, a Kurdish news service closely associated with PYD (Democratic Union Party) and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Health workers, journalists, and even ambulances transporting the wounded have been targeted.
• Press freedom: Among the killed were two Kurdish journalists, Nazim Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin, who were hit by a Turkish drone while covering the front lines.
• Wider geopolitics: The U.S. has supported the Kurds, but Turkey is a NATO ally. This makes the conflict part of a bigger, messier international power struggle.

Where's the Syrian government in all this?
Yes, this is all happening on Syrian soil. The country, nonetheless, is in a bit of a limbo state right now, especially in...