Weekly News Recap (26 January – 1 February 2026) © Photo by United Nations Photo via Flickr International Justice Section ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Rules Duterte Fit to Stand Trial ICC:...
Weekly News Recap (30 December 2024 - 5 January 2025)
© Photo by Panoramas via Flickr
- Germany: Public Prosecutor General Charges Iraqi Couple with Torture, Enslavement and War Crimes
- US: Appeals Court Upholds Sexual Assault and Defamation Verdict Against Trump
- Ecuador: Judge Orders Detention of 16 Air Force Members For Involvement with Disappearance of Minors
- US: Treasury Sanctions Russian Judge for Human Rights Abuse
- South Korea: Arrest Warrant Issued For Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol
- Israel: High Court Overturns Key Provision of Controversial Law Regarding Police Investigative Practices
- Guinea: Opposition Leader At Risk of Two Years Imprisonment for Defamation
- Zimbabwe: Death Penalty Officially Abolished With Introduction of New Legislation
International Peace & Security Section
Mozambique: Over 13,000 Flee to Malawi Following Post-Election Violence
UN: Alarming Rise in Child Soldier Recruitment and Exploitation Highlighted
Palestine: OHCHR Reports Gaza Healthcare System on Brink of Collapse Amidst Attacks on Hospitals
UN: Five New Non-Permanent Members of Security Council Take Office
Montenegro: Ban on Possession of Weapons To Be Considered Amidst Aftermath of Shooting in Cetinje
- US: FBI Categorises New Orleans New Year Truck Attack As Solo Terrorist Act
International Justice Section
Germany: Public Prosecutor General Charges Iraqi Couple with Torture, Enslavement and War Crimes
On 30 December 2024, Germany’s Public Prosecutor General charged Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. on suspicion enslaving two Yazidi girls while they were ISIS members in Iraq and Syria between 2015 and 2017. The Prosecutor General stated that the charged suspects held a five year old girl from late 2015 and a 12 year old girl from October 2017, with the husband repeatedly raping both. This was until November 2017, when the couple left Syria and transferred the victims to other ISIS members. The minors also faced physical abuse and were subjected to forced labour in the household. The charges against Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. reflect the ongoing efforts of German authorities to hold perpetrators of international crimes, such as torture, enslavement, and war crimes in this instance, accountable. These charges follow the German Parliament’s 2023 decision to recognise the Yazidi genocide by ISIS and the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz’s conviction of an ISIS member for murder in June 2023.
US: Appeals Court Upholds Sexual Assault and Defamation Verdict Against Trump
On 30 December 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a US$5 million verdict against president-elect Donald Trump for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. This decision followed Trump’s appeal challenging the trial court’s handling of evidence and certain procedural decisions. Trump argued that the admission of evidence about other alleged sexual assaults violated the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE). Specifically, two women testified that Trump had assaulted them, and a recording of Trump describing non-consensual actions was also presented. The appeals court upheld the trial court’s decision to admit this evidence under Rule 415 of the FRE, which allows the inclusion of evidence of prior sexual assaults in civil cases related to alleged sexual misconduct. The court rejected Trump’s argument that the defamation claim was unrelated to the sexual assault, clarifying that claims “based on sexual assault” do not need to be exclusively about the assault itself. Trump also contested the exclusion of certain evidence and restrictions on cross-examining Carroll. The excluded evidence involved Carroll’s legal fees, reportedly covered by a Trump political opponent, and suggestions that Carroll had coached a witness. Additionally, Trump’s defense was limited from questioning Carroll on her decision not to file a police report, her claim of possessing Trump’s DNA, and her failure to seek surveillance footage from the department store where the assault allegedly occurred. The appeals court found no merit in these objections, affirming the trial court’s rulings. The case began in 2019 when Carroll sued Trump for defamation over his public denials of her sexual assault allegations. In September 2023, a jury ruled in Carroll’s favor concerning Trump’s 2019 statement. This ruling upheld the jury’s verdict concerning Trump’s similar 2022 statement, which Trump had also appealed. This legal setback for Trump followed a separate defamation victory in which he won US$16 million in a settlement against ABC, ABC News, and anchor George Stephanopoulos. That case centered on a misstatement in an interview suggesting Trump was found liable for raping Carroll.
Ecuador: Judge Orders Detention of 16 Air Force Members For Involvement with Disappearance of Minors
On 31 December 2024, an Ecuadorian judge in Guayaquil ordered the detention of 16 Air Force members over their suspected involvement in the disappearance of four minors aged 11 to 15. On 8 December 2024, the four children were reported missing after being seen playing soccer and then being forcibly detained by two soldiers. Their disappearance sparked nationwide protests against the military, which heads President Daniel Noboa’s crackdown against organised criminal groups plaguing the country. While the Defence Ministry admits to their detention by Air Force members, the Ministry claims that it was due to the childrens’ involvement in a robbery and maintains that they were later released. However, the Prosecutor’s Office denies having evidence of that robbery and released a forensic report showing that four charred remains found on the week of 23 December 2024 belong to the four disappeared minors.
US: Treasury Sanctions Russian Judge for Human Rights Abuse
On 31 December 2024, the United States’ Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Russian Judge Olesya Mendeleeva under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, pursuant to Executive Order 13818. This was for her involvement in sentencing former Moscow city councilor and human rights defender Alexei Gorinov in July 2022. The Treasury states that this arbitrary sentence of seven years imprisonment was part of the Russian government’s effort to silence dissent over its war of aggression against Ukraine. Gorinov reportedly suffered from physical abuse and the denial of medical treatment during his imprisonment. Under Executive Order 13818, Mendeleeva’s assets under US jurisdiction are frozen, financial transactions between her and US individuals are similarly prohibited, and she is not allowed to travel to the US. The Treasury calls for ‘Gorinov’s immediate and unconditional release and the release of all others whom the Russian Federation has arbitrarily detained’.
https://www.state.gov/sanctioning-judge-for-the-arbitrary-detention-of-alexei-gorinov/
South Korea: Arrest Warrant Issued For Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol
On 31 December 2024, a South Korean court issued an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the first time a sitting president in the country has faced such legal action. The Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant, allowing authorities to detain Yoon for up to 48 hours for questioning about his declaration of martial law earlier this month. Investigators also secured a warrant to search Yoon’s official residence. The arrest warrant is valid until 6 January 2025. The Joint Investigation Headquarters, composed of officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the National Office of Investigation, and the Ministry of Defense, is examining allegations that Yoon orchestrated an insurrection and abused presidential power. Yoon is accused of ordering military forces to block the National Assembly and arrest opposition politicians after declaring martial law on 3 December 2024. He justified the move by accusing the opposition Democratic Party of collusion with North Korean forces. However, the National Assembly quickly nullified the martial law order and impeached Yoon on 14 December 2024, finding the action unconstitutional under Article 77, which restricts martial law to cases of war or national emergency. Yoon’s lawyers have called the arrest warrant illegal, arguing that the CIO lacks authority to investigate insurrection, a claim they are pursuing through an injunction with the Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, South Korea has been in political turmoil, with Han Duck Soo, who briefly assumed the role of acting president following Yoon’s suspension, also impeached on 27 December 2024 for alleged obstruction of justice. Finance Minister Choi Sang Mok has since taken over as acting president and pledged to fill three vacancies on the Constitutional Court, which is overseeing Yoon’s impeachment. Protests have erupted across South Korea, with citizens divided between supporting Yoon and demanding his permanent removal. The Constitutional Court has until June 2025 to rule on Yoon’s impeachment.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_389449.html
Israel: High Court Overturns Key Provision of Controversial Law Regarding Police Investigative Practices
On 2 January 2025, Israel’s High Court of Justice struck down a significant provision of a controversial law that granted National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir expanded control over police investigative practices. The court ruled that this provision risked politicising the police force, undermining professional standards, and eroding public trust. While this key component was annulled, other parts of the law allowing increased oversight of police functions remain in place. The 2022 amendment, commonly referred to as the “Ben Gvir Law,” gave the minister sweeping powers to set police policies and investigative priorities. Critics, including human rights groups, raised alarms about the potential for abuse, arguing that Ben Gvir’s directives had already led to increased repression of Palestinian citizens and a rise in politically motivated arrests. Petitioners against the law contended that it threatened civil rights and democracy in Israel. The ruling comes amidst heightened political tensions in Israel, where the coalition government, formed by Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, has faced criticism for exacerbating systemic racism and fostering impunity within law enforcement. While the amendment was promoted as a measure to address rising crime, its implementation reportedly intensified police actions targeting Palestinians, including suppressing public expressions of Palestinian identity, such as flag displays. Ben Gvir condemned the court’s decision, calling it an affront to the authority of elected officials and warning that it would hinder governance and law enforcement. However, the court’s ruling underscores broader concerns about the politicisation of law enforcement, civil liberties, and democratic governance in Israel. This legal decision not only curtails ministerial overreach but also spotlights the deepening polarisation within Israeli society. Its implications extend beyond the immediate political context, influencing ongoing debates over justice, democracy, and the rule of law in a fraught and divided nation.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/01/israel-court-annuls-key-component-of-controversial-police-law/
Guinea: Opposition Leader At Risk of Two Years Imprisonment for Defamation
On 2 January 2025, it was reported that Guinean opposition leader Aliou Bah, head of the Liberal Democratic Movement (MoDel), is facing a two-year prison sentence after being charged with “insult and defamation” against junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya. Arrested on 26 December 2024 and imprisoned four days later, Bah appeared in court in Conakry on 2 January 2025, where the prosecutor called for his imprisonment. Bah denied the allegations, and his lawyer described the case as a suppression of free speech and labelled the charges “false.” Bah’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on dissent under Guinea’s military junta, which has increasingly restricted freedoms since seizing power in a 2021 coup that ousted President Alpha Condé. The junta’s actions have drawn widespread concern, with reports of two opposition figures disappearing in July after being detained by armed men. Additionally, two high-ranking officers and a doctor have died in custody under unclear circumstances. Freedom of the press is also under threat; journalist Habib Marouane Camara, who runs Lerevelateur224, was arrested in December 2024 by armed men, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The trial and broader crackdown underscore mounting tensions between the junta and Guinea’s opposition, raising concerns about the country’s democratic future.
Zimbabwe: Death Penalty Officially Abolished With Introduction of New Legislation
On 2 January 2025, Zimbabwe officially abolished the death penalty when President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the Death Penalty Abolition Act into law. The new legislation eliminates capital punishment as a sentencing option, marking a historic shift for the country and aligning it with a global trend toward the abolition of the death penalty. The law also mandates the commutation of death sentences for approximately 60 inmates currently on death row to life imprisonment. However, a controversial provision in the act permits the potential reinstatement of the death penalty during states of emergency. Human rights advocates have called for the removal of this clause to ensure the abolition remains unequivocal and insulated from political changes. The legislation follows a December 2024 parliamentary vote that demonstrated broad support for ending the death penalty. Although Zimbabwe has not conducted executions for nearly two decades, it had not previously formalized a moratorium or abolished capital punishment outright. This decision positions Zimbabwe as the 127th country worldwide to abolish the death penalty and the 24th on the African continent. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have praised the move, with Amnesty hailing it as a “beacon of hope” for the abolitionist cause. Advocacy groups view the abolition as a significant step toward aligning Zimbabwe’s legal framework with international human rights standards. Zimbabwe’s decision underscores a growing movement on the African continent to eliminate capital punishment, signaling progress in the region’s commitment to upholding human rights and justice reform.
International Peace & Security Section
Mozambique: Over 13,000 Flee to Malawi Following Post-Election Violence
On 30 December 2024, it was reported an estimated 13,000 refugees, many of whom are women and children, had fled to Malawi from Mozambique to escape violence following the disputed Presidential election in October. Authorities say the number of refugees is expected to rise. Sofia Jimu, the traditional leader of the Tengani area in Mozambique, is among those who have fled to Malawi. She outlined the lack of food as a main challenge at the refugee centre she is staying, with some children suffering starvation. However, she reported she has been given maize flour and beans to distribute to people staying there. The tensions in Mozambique escalated after the Constitutional Council confirmed Daniel Chapo, presidential candidate for the ruling Frelimo Party, as the election winner. The results were challenged by the Runner-up, Venancio Mondlane, who was a candidate for the opposition Podemos party. It is estimated more than 200 people have been killed since the post-election violence began in October. Dominic Mwandira, the Commissioner for Nsanje district in Malawi, highlighted the lack of resources to take care of the asylum-seekers in temporary camps as a challenge. The Malawi Red Cross Society and Plan International are offering support to new arrivals. Malawi authorities say they are planning to relocate asylum-seekers to a larger centre. While Malawi’s Department for Refugees and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malawi are conducting an assessment to identify resources needed to care for asylum-seekers.
UN: Alarming Rise in Child Soldier Recruitment and Exploitation Highlighted
On 31 December 2024, it was reported that the date of 31 December 2024 marked the end of the thirty-fifth year of the UN’s commitment to protect children from being recruited as soldiers, in alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, armed groups have escalated the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. Most of these children were abducted and forcibly recruited. A big portion of these children were girls who have suffered rape and sexual violence, have been bought, sold and trafficked. The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict declared that the increase has also been documented in Israel, Palestinian, Sudan, Lebanon, Myanmar and Ukraine.
Palestine: OHCHR Reports Gaza Healthcare System on Brink of Collapse Amidst Attacks on Hospitals
On 31 December 2024, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a report stating that Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza have pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse. The last functioning major healthcare facility in northern Gaza was taken out of service after a raid by Israeli military forces, leaving the population of North Gaza with almost no access to adequate health care. Staff and patients were forced to flee or were taken into custody, with many reports of torture and ill-treatment. The director of the hospital was taken into custody and his fate and whereabouts are unknown. In the exceptional circumstances when medical personnel, ambulances and hospitals lose their special protection because they fulfil the strict criteria to be considered military objectives, any attack on them must still comply with the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack. Failure to respect any of these principles constitutes a breach of international humanitarian law. Ultimately, under certain circumstances, the deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities may amount to a form of collective punishment, which would also constitute a war crime.
Ivory Coast: Withdrawal of French Troops Announced
On 1 January 2025, it was reported French forces will withdraw from the Ivory Coast after a decades-long military presence. The Ivory Coast has become the latest African nation to reduce military ties with France. In an end of year address to the nation on Tuesday, Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, announced French troops will leave the country this month. Ouattara added that the military infantry battalion of Port-Bouet in Abidjan that is run by the French forces “will be handed over” to the Ivory Coast army. It is reported France has nearly 1,000 troops stationed in Ivory Coast. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have already removed French troops from their soil, while in November, both Senegal and Chad announced the withdrawal of French forces from their territory. Ivory Coast remains an ally of France, and the scaling back of military ties comes as France is trying to revitalise its weakening political and military influence in Africa with a new strategy and a reduced military presence in the region. Since the end of its colonial rule, France’s military presence has been removed from 70 percent of African countries where it once had troops stationed. They currently only remain in Djibouti with 1,500 troops and Gabon with 350 troops. These developments in Africa are regarded as part of a wider change in the region’s engagement with France, amid growing discontent of French influence. After ordering the removal of French troops, military leaders in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have developed closer links to Russia.
UN: Five New Non-Permanent Members of Security Council Take Office
On 2 January 2025, the new non-permanent members of the Security Council assumed office for the 2025-2026 term. The new members – Somalia, Pakistan, Panama, Greece and Denmark were elected by the General Assembly in June. The Security Council consists of 15 members, including five permanent members, the US, UK, France, Russia and China, who have the right to a veto power. The remaining 10 members are non-permanent members, with five seats renewed each year. The non-permanent seats are decided based on geographical distribution, with two seats allocated to the African group, one to the Asia-Pacific group, one to the Latin American and Caribbean group and one to the Eastern European group. Speaking at the ceremony for newly elected members, Pakistan’s Ambassador, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed “cooperative multilateralism with the UN at its core is the best way of tackling the multifaceted challenges of today.” The five newly elected countries join Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia as non-permanent members.
https://www.africanews.com/2025/01/02/security-council-welcomes-five-new-non-permanent-members/
Tunisia: At Least 27 Migrants Dead After Two Shipwrecks
On 2 January 2025, it was reported at least 27 people had died after two migrant boats capsized off Tunisia while attempting to cross the Mediterranean. A further 83 people were rescued by the Tunisian Coast Guard. The boat sank in the waters off the city of Sfax. The search for remaining missing people is still ongoing. Last month, the Tunisian Coast Guard recovered the bodies of 30 people who died in two separate incidents after their boats capsized while they were attempting to reach Europe. The sea migration route between Africa and Europe is one of the most dangerous in the world. Most of the migrant deaths recorded in the Mediterranean set sail from Libya and Tunisia. In 2023, the EU reached a migration agreement with Tunisia aimed to improve Tunisia’s ability to reduce the number of boats leaving its shores. The deal, worth €255 million, has increased the number of interceptions of boats in Tunisian waters, however, rights groups and Mediterranean rescue missions have criticised the agreement and questioned how it will protect the vulnerable. In October 2024, the EU ombudsman stated the European Commission did not publish “any information” related to the risks it identified before signing the agreement. The Ombudsman also outlined the alarming reports of the human rights situation in Tunisia and the treatment of migrants, which cannot be ignored in this context.
Darien Gap: Migrants Crossing Darien Gap Down 42% in 2024
On 2 January 2025, Panama’s Migration authorities reported that over 300,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap into Panama in 2024, 42% less than the number who made the journey in 2023. The Darien Gap connects Colombia with the Central America nation Panama. The route is a popular journey for migrants attempting to reach the US. Panama’s President, Jose Raul Mulino, has taken a tougher stance on migration since he took office in July. His approach included fencing parts of the Darien route with barbed wire, imposing fines and deporting migrants on flights funded by the US. In 2024, 302,203 migrants crossed the Darien Gap, down 42% from the record number of 520,085 reported in 2023. In 2024, 69% of the migrants crossing the Darien were from Venezuela, who were fleeing a long-standing economic crisis. Mulino stated his government has deported 1,548 migrants on flights organised through their agreement with the US. However, last year, 209,000 Venezuelan migrants who crossed the Darien Gap were permitted to continue their journey as Panama and Venezuela cancelled direct flights following Venezuela’s disputed election in July. Experts have warned the measures imposed by Panama may not be successful long-term, as they do not address the core problems forcing people to migrate and could result in people taking even more dangerous journeys.
Palestine: UN Warns of Escalating Civilian Crisis in Gaza and West Bank Amidst Evacuation Orders and Strikes
On 2 January, 2025, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that civilians are not safe anywhere in Gaza anymore. This was issued days after Israel sent out new evacuation orders of large areas within Gaza. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) published that five youth were reportedly killed on Wednesday night – and others injured – in a strike on a tent in Mawasi, a “safe-zone”. Furthermore, the OCHA reminds that over 80 per cent of Gaza is now under unrevoked Israeli evacuation orders. This means, humanitarian support is further declining. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has estimated that over 1,000 housing units and 100 shops were damaged from explosions or bulldozing. Over 90 people were displaced, while electricity, water and networks have been damaged.
Montenegro: Ban on Possession of Weapons To Be Considered Amidst Aftermath of Shooting in Cetinje
On 3 January 2025, it was reported that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić plans to propose a potential nationwide ban on firearm possession, spurred by a devastating mass shooting in the town of Cetinje. The tragedy unfolded on 1 January 2025, when a gunman, Aco Martinović, used an illegal firearm to kill 12 people, including two children aged five and nine, before taking his own life as police closed in. Four others were critically injured and are receiving medical care. In response, the government declared three days of mourning, ending on 4 January 2025. The incident has underscored serious shortcomings in Montenegro’s security infrastructure. Local reports revealed that only nine police officers were present in Cetinje at the time of the attack. This prompted the National Security Council to schedule an emergency session on January 3 to discuss measures for improving public safety. Prime Minister Spajić called for urgent actions, including a potential ban on firearm possession, stricter regulations to detect and seize illegal weapons, and the recruitment of additional police officers. The Council will also consider introducing a new Law on Weapons to prevent similar tragedies. Political fallout has accompanied the mourning. Former President Milo Đukanović criticized the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Directorate, alleging inadequate responses that allowed the gunman’s rampage to continue. The shooting has also revived painful memories for the town, which experienced another mass shooting in August 2022 that left 10 dead. This latest tragedy has intensified calls for stricter gun control and heightened security measures in Montenegro. As the nation mourns, its leaders face growing pressure to ensure the safety of citizens and prevent such horrific events from recurring.
US: FBI Categorises New Orleans New Year Truck Attack As Solo Terrorist Act
On 2 January 2025, the FBI identified the deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans as a lone-wolf terrorist act, carried out by Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a US citizen and military veteran from Texas. On New Year’s Day, Jabbar used a rented truck to ram through barricades, targeting pedestrians, killing 14, and injuring 35 others. He also opened fire before being subdued. Investigators recovered an ISIS flag and three phones from the truck, along with videos Jabbar had posted online expressing support for ISIS while en route to New Orleans. FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia emphasised that Jabbar acted alone, with no evidence of accomplices or external assistance. Surveillance footage revealed that Jabbar placed two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at intersections on Bourbon Street, which were safely neutralised. Two other suspicious items were found to be harmless. The attack, described as premeditated and evil, has shocked the community. The FBI is urging anyone with information about Jabbar or the incident to come forward. Meanwhile, investigations continue into other potential leads, including an unrelated explosion at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, though no definitive connection has been established.
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