© Photo by UNAMID via Flickr
International Peace & Security Section
Nigeria: Military Airstrike Targeting Rebels Mistakenly Kills Several Civilians
Somalia: US Airstrike Kills 16 Islamic State Militants in Northern Somalia
Peru: Indigenous Leader Calls on Government to Declare State of Emergency Against Illegal Mining
Sudan: Over 200 Civilians Killed in Paramilitary Group Attack on Villages in White Nile State
Ukraine: Ongoing Russian Invasion Reversing Progress for Women and Girls
Albania: UN Human Rights Committee Finds Albania in Violation of Rights of Three Roma Children
Brazil: Former President Bolsonaro Charged Over Failed Coup Attempt
On 18 February 2025, Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco formally charged former President Jair Bolsonaro with attempting a coup following his 2022 election loss. Bolsonaro and 33 others face charges before the Federal Supreme Court (STF) for crimes including armed criminal organisation, coup d’état, and attempting to abolish the democratic rule of law. The prosecution alleges Bolsonaro led efforts to undermine election results, spread false claims about the voting system, and mobilise security forces to suppress opposition voters. Prosecutors also revealed plans to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a Supreme Court justice. Bolsonaro denies the charges, calling them baseless and politically motivated. His defence argues he never supported actions against democracy. The case follows a federal police indictment in November 2024 after nearly two years of investigations. Bolsonaro was also previously accused of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination records. The STF, led by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, will determine whether the case proceeds to trial.
Canada: 2022 Freedom Convoy Protests Organiser Sentenced to Three Months House Arrest
On 19 February 2025, a key organizer of the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests in Canada, Pat King, was sentenced to three months of house arrest, followed by 12 months of probation and 100 hours of community service. The sentence, issued by Ontario Superior Court judge Charles Hackland, is far lighter than the 10-year term sought by prosecutors. King was found guilty in November 2024 on five charges, including mischief and disobeying a court order, for his role in coordinating trucker-led protests against COVID-19 restrictions that blocked streets in Ottawa for weeks. The protests led to the first-ever invocation of Canada’s Emergencies Act, allowing the government to freeze assets and arrest organizers. The ruling follows the federal government’s appeal of a decision that deemed the act’s use unconstitutional, despite a separate inquiry finding it justified. Other convoy organizers still face legal proceedings on related charges.
US: Montana Judge Strikes Down Law Defining Sex as Binary
On 19 February 2025, a Montana judge ruled that a state law defining sex in strictly binary terms is unconstitutional, citing violations of the Montana Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and privacy. Judge Leslie Halligan of the Montana Fourth Judicial District Court found that Senate Bill (SB) 458, passed in 2023, excluded transgender, intersex, and Two-Spirit individuals, causing them harm. She granted summary judgment in favour of the plaintiffs and blocked the state from enforcing the law. Halligan ruled that the law created a legal gap for individuals whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex, violating equal protection rights. She also held that it interfered with medical professionals’ ability to provide individualised care, infringing on the right to privacy. This ruling comes amidst a wave of state and federal measures targeting LGBTQ+ rights. Across the US, 25 states have enacted bans on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, while other laws restrict LGBTQ+ representation in schools and sports. The US Supreme Court is set to rule on key LGBTQ+ issues, including state bans on gender-affirming care for minors.
Tunisia: Human Rights Activist Sihem Bensedrine Released from Jail
On 19 February 2025, Tunisian human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine was released from jail following a ruling by the Court of Appeal, despite still facing other charges. The UN had previously called for her immediate release on 5 February 2025. Bensedrine, 75, was arrested in August 2023 over allegations related to her role as President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD), which investigated human rights abuses under past Tunisian regimes. Authorities accused her of falsifying corruption reports, despite the Court of Auditors finding no evidence. She was charged with fraud, forgery, and abuse of office. While in prison, Bensedrine went on a hunger strike in January 2025 and was hospitalised. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and UN experts condemned her detention as politically motivated, aimed at discrediting the IVD’s findings, which implicated former officials in corruption. Her case is part of a wider crackdown on political dissidents, with 170 people detained ahead of President Kaïes Saïed’s re-election in October 2024. Bensedrine has spent nearly 40 years exposing human rights violations in Tunisia, enduring multiple arrests and exile. Her release highlights ongoing concerns over Tunisia’s retreat from democratic reforms under President Saïed, who has increased control over the judiciary since seizing power in 2021.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250219-tunisia-court-orders-release-of-top-rights-activist
Poland: HRW Urges Poland to Reject Bill Suspending Asylum Rights at Belarus Border
On 19 February 2025, it was reported that Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Poland to reject a proposed bill that would temporarily suspend asylum rights along its border with Belarus. The bill would allow the Polish government to deny asylum applications in certain border areas for an initial 60 days, with the option for indefinite extensions. HRW’s Lydia Gall criticised the bill, stating that it contradicts Poland’s international and EU obligations. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also raised concerns, urging Poland to establish fair asylum procedures instead of restricting access. The bill comes amidst scrutiny over Poland’s treatment of migrants at the Belarus border, with reports of unlawful pushbacks. Poland is currently facing a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) over these allegations, with a Grand Chamber hearing held on 12 February 2025. The proposed law conflicts with Poland’s commitments under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, both of which uphold the principle of non-refoulement, prohibiting the return of individuals to places where they face persecution. The Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has also warned that the bill violates Poland’s Constitution and EU law.
Sweden: Supreme Court Rejects Greta Thunberg’s Climate Lawsuit
On 19 February 2025, Sweden’s Supreme Court ruled that climate activist Greta Thunberg’s lawsuit against the state for insufficient climate action is inadmissible. The court assessed the case in stages, analysing European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) precedents and Sweden’s constitutional framework. It ultimately ruled that deciding government climate policy falls outside the court’s powers, maintaining the separation between judicial and political decision-making. Thunberg and 600 activists filed the lawsuit in 2022, arguing Sweden’s failure to act on climate change violated citizens’ rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). They cited a 2024 ECtHR ruling in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v. Switzerland, which found Switzerland responsible for climate inaction under the ECHR. However, the Swedish Supreme Court dismissed the case because it was filed by individuals rather than an association, without ruling on whether an association could bring a similar claim in the future.
US: Trump Media Sues Brazilian Justice Over Social Media Censorship
On 20 February 2025, media companies linked to US President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of suppressing free speech by ordering social media suspensions for spreading disinformation. Rumble Inc. and Trump Media & Technology Group claim Moraes’ actions amount to unlawful censorship of US companies operating on American soil. They argue his orders forced them to censor a US-based political commentator, violating free speech rights. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the orders are unenforceable in the US. The complaint contends that Moraes exceeded his authority and is not entitled to foreign sovereign immunity. It also accuses him of cracking down on political dissidents and implies his involvement in the 2017 plane crash death of his predecessor, Justice Teori Zavascki. Moraes has been involved in high-profile disputes over online content moderation, including with X (formerly Twitter). Notably, he is also presiding over coup charges against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of plotting to overthrow the current government.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-lawsuit-brazil-judge-bolsonaro-0061c2f1ea145e3ce3714aa25f49ba67
ICJ: African Union to Participate in Advisory Proceedings Concerning Israel
On 20 February 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) permitted the African Union (AU) to participate in advisory proceedings concerning Israel’s obligations related to the presence and activities of the UN, international organisations, and third states in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Acting ICJ President Judge Julia Sebutinde determined that the AU could provide relevant information on the matter. The AU has until 28 February 2025, to submit a written statement. Further procedural steps will be decided later.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/196/196-20250220-pre-01-00-en.pdf
Nigeria: Military Airstrike Targeting Rebels Mistakenly Kills Several Civilians
On 17 February 2025, Nigerian authorities stated a government airstrike targeting rebels in the northwest area of Nigeria had killed several civilians. The airstrike was in response to a rebel attack on a police division. The number of civilians killed was not disclosed. Spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Olusola Akinboyewa, said in a statement that an investigation was underway to confirm the number of fatalities. According to Amnesty International, at least 10 people were killed in the airstrike. In a statement, Amnesty said the attack was the latest in a string of human rights violations by the Nigerian military. They also called upon the government to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. This was the second time this year the Nigerian military had killed civilians in an airstrike. In January, a military air raid targeting rebels in Zamfara state in northwestern Nigeria mistakenly killed several civilians working in community security outfits. The Nigerian Air Forces frequently carry out airstrikes to combat extremists in the north of the country. Since 2017, the air raids have killed approximately 400 civilians, according to research from the SBM Intelligence firm. In December 2023, a military drone strike mistakenly killed over 80 civilians during a religious event in the northern Kaduna state. In May 2024, the Nigerian military announced two of its members would face a court martial over the incident. However, the military did not disclose the findings of the investigation, a move which was criticised by rights groups for its lack of transparency.
https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-airstikes-civilians-9f97fb91d5d58ed09e93d78cff399b20
UN: Appeals for US$6 Billion to Help Hunger Crisis in Sudan
On 17 February 2025, UN officials appealed for US$6 billion in funding for Sudan to help the hunger crisis and the mass displacement of people. This year’s UN appeal for Sudan represents a 40% increase compared to 2024, as aid budgets globally are under significant pressure, partly due to the announcement from US President Donald Trump to pause funding for aid programmes The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing for 22-months, resulting in the displacement of a fifth of Sudan’s population and exacerbating the hunger crisis which affects about half the population. With the situation set to worsen, the funding is essential to provide life-saving assistance. Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, said “Sudan is now the epicentre of the world’s largest and most severe hunger crisis ever.” At least five locations in Sudan have been reported to have famine, including displacement camps in Darfur. One of the famine-stricken camps was attacked by the RSF last week. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said “this is a humanitarian crisis that is truly unprecedented in its scale and its gravity, and it demands a response unprecedented in scale and intent.” The UN appeal aims to reach nearly 21 million people with humanitarian assistance in Sudan, which requires US$4.2 billion, with the rest of the funding being used to support those displaced by the conflict.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/un-seeks-6-billion-ease-appalling-suffering-sudan-2025-02-17/
Somalia: US Airstrike Kills 16 Islamic State Militants in Northern Somalia
On 17 February 2025, Somali officials stated US airstrikes targeting Islamic State terrorists had killed 16 militants in northern Somalia. Spokesperson for security operations in the Puntland region, Brigadier General, Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, confirmed the attack killed at least 16 militants, including two senior members, and also destroyed a bomb factory. Ahmed said the attack was carried out by Somalia’s international partners, the US and the United Arab Emirates, who are both backing Somalia in the fight against terrorism. He added the airstrikes targeted the villages of Godka Kunle and Xankookin, located in the Cal Miskaad mountain range in Puntland’s Bari region. Somali has been working with the US to eliminate Islamic State groups who have established bases in the mountainous areas of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia. Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, praised the action by the US, and stated it “reaffirms the strong partnership between Somalia and the US in the fight against terrorism.” This is the second airstrike conducted by the US in Somalia this month. On February 1, the US carried out a strike against senior ISIS-Somalia members who were hiding out in caves in the Golis Mountains area of Puntland, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 ISIS members. The Puntland authorities have recently begun a military offensive against extremist groups in the region. They claim to have killed over 200 Islamic State militants and to have gained control of villages and bases in the mountainous territory held by Islamic State groups.
Peru: Indigenous Leader Calls on Government to Declare State of Emergency Against Illegal Mining
On 17 February 2025, Teófilo Kukush Pati, President of the Wampís Nation, an Indigenous group from the Peruvian Amazon, called on the government to declare a state of emergency against illegal miners. Pati said children are being used as “human shields” to protect illegal mining activities. He reported that miners are “incentivising” some locals with money, and when police forces arrive to conduct armed raids, miners position children in front of the dredges used to extract the gold from the river. Peru is the main producer of gold, zinc, tin, lead and molybdenum in Latin America. However, illegal mining activities have seriously threatened both the local environment and human rights. Over the past two years, numerous attacks on established mines have resulted in at least 30 deaths. In July 2024, an indigenous land rights activist was murdered, with indigenous groups reporting that several community leaders have been killed in clashes with miners, loggers and drug traffickers. Between January and October of 2024, customs reported US$1.096 billion in operations connected to illegal mining. In the same year, Peru produced 108 million grams of fine gold, a 6.9% increase on the previous year. The government has 85,000 registered artisanal miners, predominantly from deprived and remote areas. However, only 20% of these miners have formal permits, while the remainder are working illegally or with suspended permits.
Sudan: Over 200 Civilians Killed in Paramilitary Group Attack on Villages in White Nile State
On 18 February 2025, Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), attacked villages in White Nile state, killing over 200 civilians, including women and children, according to Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese legal advocacy group. The attacks involved field executions, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and looting, with RSF forces reportedly shooting civilians attempting to flee across the Nile River. Sudanese Minister of Culture and Information Khalid Ali Aleisir condemned the attack as part of systematic violence against civilians and labeled RSF a terrorist organisation. The UN has documented RSF’s deliberate assaults on civilians since 2023, contributing to over 12 million displacements and severe humanitarian suffering. The RSF’s actions violate international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. In response to the crisis, the UN and partners have launched a US$6 billion humanitarian aid package. The African Union and UN officials have called the Sudanese civil war the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Congo: M23 Rebels Seize Bukavu in Eastern Congo
On 18 February 2025, it was reported the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels had seized Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Congo. On Friday, M23 rebels entered Bukavu and were met with little resistance from the Congolese army. Last month, the rebels captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and advanced south onto Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. Some residents in Bukavu have accused the Congolese authorities of abandoning them. M23 is one of over 100 armed groups fighting against the Congolese army for control of the mineral-rich eastern Congo. The group outlined its aim is to protect the interests of the Congolese Tutsis and to guard them from Hutu rebel groups who fled to Congo after participating in the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsis in 1994. Rwanda is accused of backing M23, a claim the Rwandan government denies. However, UN experts have stated the Rwandan army is in “de facto control” of the rebel group. The Burundi army had sent troops to eastern Congo in support of the Congolese army’s fight against M23 rebels. But M23’s capture of the city indicates an unprecedented territorial expansion and risks the possibility of the conflict escalating into a regional war. Fighting this year alone has worsened the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, with an estimated 350,000 people internally displaced around Goma and Minova.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/17/rwanda-backed-m23-rebels-capture-drc-city-bukavu
Türkiye: 282 People Arrested in Crackdown on PKK Suspects
On 18 February 2025, Turkish Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, revealed that police had detained 282 people accused of “terror.” Those detained include journalists, opposition politicians and academics with alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The crackdown on terror suspects coincides with attempts from Ankara to reinvigorate peace talks with the PKK, which have been stalled for a decade. The process began in October when a nationalist political party contacted jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US and the EU. The police raids against terror suspects began five days ago in 51 cities including Istanbul, Ankara and the majority Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. On Tuesday, Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 60 people over alleged terror connection, including members of the main pro-Kurdish DEM party, numerous left-wing figures and journalists. Since December, a delegation from the DEM party has made two visits to Ocalan and has organised subsequent talks with Türkiye’s main parliamentary groups. Last week, the delegation met with Kurdish representatives in Iraq. PKK fighters operate out of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. In October, Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), advised Ocalan to abandon violence in return for a possible early release from prison where he has been held in solitary confinement since 1999. This appeal is supported by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and has reignited hopes for a resolution to the conflict that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. It is anticipated Ocalan will soon call on his followers to end the violence, with Kurdish politicians expecting it to come no later than Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, in March.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/18/turkiye-arrests-282-amid-bid-to-reconcile-with-pkk
Ukraine: Ongoing Russian Invasion Reversing Progress for Women and Girls
On 19 February, 2025, the UN Women reported that as of three years into the ongoing, the effect of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is reversing decades of progress for women and girls, leaving 1.8 million internally displaced and 6.7 million in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 3,799 women and 289 girls have been reported killed, although the real number is believed to be much higher. The UN representative in Ukraine, Sabine Freizer Gunes, explains that an entire generation of Ukrainian women have been pushed backwards, meaning they are facing heightened exposure to gender-based violence, rising unemployment, decreased decision-making power, greater domestic burdens, and a severe mental health crisis. UN Women has additionally reported that gender-based violence has surged 36 percent since 2022 in the country and depression rates among women and girls have worsened. Despite this hardship, Ukrainian women are leading humanitarian responses and driving economic resilience. Ukrainian women have taken on key roles as aid workers, community leaders and entrepreneurs. Today, one in every two businesses in Ukraine is founded by a woman. Women are also entering traditionally male-dominated sectors such as security, transportation and demining.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160291
Albania: UN Human Rights Committee Finds Albania in Violation of Rights of Three Roma Children
On 20 February 2025, it was announced that the UN Human Rights Committee decided that Albania violated the rights of three Roma children by failing to register their births, leaving them stateless and without legal recognition. Born in Greece to Albanian parents without residency status, the children were unable to obtain proper birth certificates. Upon returning to Albania, bureaucratic obstacles prevented their registration, barring them from education, healthcare, and social services. The committee found Albania in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), citing discrimination against Roma communities. While the ruling is non-binding, Albania has 180 days to report on measures taken to address the issue.
UN: Violence in DRC Pushes Citizens Into Displacement and Hunger
On 20 February 2025, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that the escalating violence in the country has continued to uproot thousands more people to neighbouring countries where they face dire conditions without many basic necessities. According to the UNHCR, 35,000 Congolese nationals have now reached Burundi since the beginning of February, as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters continue to advance across both South and North Kivu. The vast majority of people fleeing into Burundi are women and children who lost family members, sometimes children, while fleeing. Additionally, hunger is a soaring issue in Goma surroundings. In North Kivu, the WFP has reached 9,000 people with emergency food assistance out of a target of 83,000. The reason that they have a hard time reaching the goal is due to the escalating violence. Security must improve for the WFP to reach tens of thousands more of the most vulnerable. Growing lawlessness of warlords responsible for grave crimes including rape, were reported from prisons in Goma, Kabare and Bukavu.
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