© Photo by Martin Kuvat via Flickr
International Peace & Security Section
Nigeria: Attack by Boko Haram Militants Kills Nine People in Northeastern Nigeria
Iran: Nearly 500,000 Afghans Have Returned From Iran Since June
South Sudan: WFP Airdrops Food to Areas Affected by Conflict in South Sudan
Kenya: UN Urges Kenya to Investigate Deadly Protest Violence and Uphold Human Rights
Mexico: Women Searching for Mexico’s Disappeared Face Daily Threats Amidst Government Neglect
Libya: UN Mission in Libya Calls for Immediate De-Escalation in Tripoli
Sudan: Fighting in North Kordofan Forces 700 Sudanese Families to Flee
Iraq: PKK Disarmament in Iraq to Take a Few Months According to Turkey’s Ruling AK Party
Haiti: UN Warns Haitian Gang Violence Threatens Regional Stability
Spain: Investigation Opens into Alleged War Crimes Against Madleen Humanitarian Ship
On 8 July 2025, Spain’s National Court opened a criminal investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and several senior military officials over a raid on 1 June 2025 on the humanitarian aid ship Madleen, bound for Gaza in international waters. Filed under Spain’s universal jurisdiction by Spanish activist Sergio Toribio (the sole Spanish national aboard) and the Committee for Solidarity with the Arab Cause, the complaint alleges war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture, illegal detention, piracy, and attacks on a humanitarian mission. The court is investigating claims that Israeli forces used drones and tear gas, detained the 12 activists – including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan – and deported them unlawfully. The judge has requested evidence from Israeli authorities and cooperation from the International Criminal Court. This marks Spain’s first formal war crimes probe into Israeli leadership over Gaza operations, seen by supporters as a pivotal move against impunity and a test of international humanitarian law enforcement.
Egypt: Rights Group Demands Release of Detained Palestine Supporters
On 8 July 2025, Amnesty International called on Egypt to immediately and unconditionally release activists detained solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians amidst the war in Gaza. The rights group also urged an investigation into reported torture, incommunicado detention, and other abuses in custody. “It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them,” said Amnesty researcher Mahmoud Shalaby. Amnesty has documented the arrest of at least 123 people since 2023 for activities such as attending the Gaza March in June 2025, with detainees accused of “funding a terrorist group” and “publishing fake news.” Arbitrary detention is prohibited under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Global March to Gaza, planned from 15 – 19 June 2025, was halted after dozens of participants were detained or deported on arrival in Egypt. Clashes broke out in Cairo and Ismailia. Egyptian authorities cited lack of “special approval” to cross at Rafah, while organisers insist they sought to coordinate through proper channels.
ECtHR: Russia Held Legally Responsible for Downing of MH17 Flight
On 9 July 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Russia is legally responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on 17 July 2014, over eastern Ukraine – marking the first time any international court has formally held Russia accountable in the MH17 case. All 298 passengers and crew were killed when a Russian-made Buk missile, launched from territory held by Moscow-backed separatists, brought down the aircraft. In a separate ruling, the Court concluded that Russia also violated international human rights law during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Although the verdicts were issued jointly by Ukraine and the Netherlands, the ECtHR’s requirements are largely symbolic, since Russia ceased complying with its judgments after 2022 and withdrew from the Council of Europe. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the decision as “null and void.” The ECtHR’s determination comes alongside earlier criminal convictions in Dutch courts and ongoing investigations by international bodies like the United Nation’s ICAO.
US: Legal Sanctions Imposed on Palestine UN Rapporteur Albanese
On 10 July 2025, the United States (US) State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Territories, citing her “virulent antisemitism” and anti-Israel bias. Albanese has been outspoken in describing Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocide” and has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute Israeli officials – including Prime Minister Netanyahu – for war crimes. In response, Albanese dismissed the move as “Mafia‑style intimidation”, but affirmed her commitment to justice. Amnesty International and UN human rights experts criticised the sanctions, warning they undermine the independence of UN mandate holders and amount to punishing accountability advocates. The US action is viewed as part of a broader effort to quash criticism of Israel’s 21-month war in Gaza, aligning with its long-standing policy of shielding allies from international scrutiny, particularly from the ICC.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/09/israel-gaza-war-un-sanctions
UN: Report Accuses Companies of Complicity in International Crimes
On 10 July 2025, a new United Nations (UN) report by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese accuses tech giants, including Amazon, owner of Alexa, of enabling Israel’s alleged “genocide and apartheid” policies in Gaza. It argues that these companies facilitate Israeli military operations through data collection, surveillance, and logistics, effectively contributing to civilian targeting and systemic abuses under international law. The report urges firms to conduct rigorous human rights due‑diligence to ensure their products and services are not used to commit war crimes, and calls for stronger international regulations. It also highlights that private-sector complicity in such abuses could constitute corporate liability, recommending sanctions and legal reforms. Haaretz frames this as a watershed moment, marking the first time a UN mandate has explicitly linked big tech firms to war crimes via indirect support. The article raises urgent ethical and legal questions about Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, and other companies supplying technology that may be co‑opted for surveillance, targeting, and suppression in conflict zones.
Syria: Amnesty Urges Al-Sharaa to Release Alawite Killings Report
On 10 July 2025, it was reported that Amnesty International had pressed Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa to publish the full findings of a fact-finding committee investigating the killings of Alawite civilians. The group stressed that survivors have “the right to know what happened” and demanded independent, impartial investigations to ensure accountability and reparations. Al-Sharaa set up the committee on 9 March 2025 after pledging to punish those responsible, promising that “no one will be above the law.” The move followed attacks by pro-Assad forces in Latakia and Tartous and subsequent reprisals by Sunni militias that Amnesty says killed over 100 in Banias alone and as many as 1,500 by June 2025. The UN’s human rights chief Volker Türk has condemned the violence. Under Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, reprisals against civilians are banned, with commanders liable if they fail to prevent such attacks. Rights groups say full transparency is essential to address possible international crimes.
South Korea: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Re-Arrested Over Coup Attempt and Abuse of Power
On 10 July 2025, a court issued a second arrest warrant for former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol who was subsequently re-arrested 124 days after his initial release from detention. He is facing serious charges including attempted insurrection, abuse of power, falsifying documents, and obstruction of justice. The re-arrest was approved due to concerns about evidence tampering and a strong basis for the charges. Yoon had declared martial law in December 2024 — the first such move in 50 years — which was widely condemned as a coup attempt. The declaration, which imposed strict controls on political activity and media, was quickly rejected by the National Assembly. Despite a legal obligation to comply, Yoon delayed withdrawing it, leading to impeachment proceedings. As he is no longer president, he is now fully subject to criminal prosecution.
Cuba: Report Details Ongoing Abuse of Cuban Protesters, Urging International Action
On 11 July 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported severe human rights violations against individuals detained for participating in Cuba’s July 2021 anti-government protests. In a new report, HRW condemned both the conditions faced by prisoners and the continued harassment of those released. According to interviews, detainees endured beatings, unsanitary and overcrowded prison conditions, disease outbreaks, and limited access to food, water, and medical care. Those who spoke out were punished with solitary confinement. Even after their release in January 2025—following Vatican-led mediation—many former prisoners faced harsh restrictions, such as bans on political activity and travel limits. Some, including activist Félix Navarro, were re-arrested for allegedly violating these terms. HRW called the arrests arbitrary and urged foreign governments, especially in the Americas and the EU, to support Cuban human rights groups and condemn the government’s abuses. Cuba remains in a deep economic crisis marked by inflation, food and medicine shortages, and high poverty. The 2021 protests erupted in response to these hardships and widespread repression. Though 533 prisoners were released in January 2025, the US—which had briefly removed Cuba from its terrorism blacklist under President Biden—now plans to reinstate the designation, a move the UN warns could worsen Cuba’s humanitarian crisis.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/11/cuba-protesters-detail-abuses-in-prison
Nigeria: Attack by Boko Haram Militants Kills Nine People in Northeastern Nigeria
On 7 July 2025, it was reported at least nine people were killed and four injured in an attack by Boko Haram militants on the Malam Fatori community in Borno state in northeastern Nigeria, which is located about 270 km from the state capital, Maiduguri. Sugun Mai Mele, the Commissioner for Local Governments, pledged that the Borno state government and the military would do everything possible to guarantee the safety of the community. He emphasised their commitment to ensuring the stability of Malam Fatori due to its strategic importance and advised the people to remain resilient to prevent future attacks. The Commissioner outlined that excavators would be sent in to dig trenches around the local government headquarters to deter future attacks by Boko Haram militants. He also warned locals against any form of collaboration with insurgents. To support those affected, the families of the victims were given 500,000 naira (US$326), while the four injured victims received 250,000 naira (US$163). The Commissioner for information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, also announced plans to resettle 3,000 displaced families in Malam Fatori, bringing the total number of resettled households from the area to 5,000. Tar outlined the state government is committed to ensuring security measures are in place to protect their homeland.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/9-killed-in-attack-by-boko-haram-in-northeastern-nigeria/3623713
Iran: Nearly 500,000 Afghans Have Returned From Iran Since June
On 7 July 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 450,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since the start of June. This follows an order from Iran in May demanding undocumented Afghans, an estimated four million people, to leave the country by 6 July or face deportation. The IOM reported that from 1 June to 5 July, 449,218 Afghans returned from Iran. The total number of returnees for the year so far was 906,326. Severe cuts to foreign aid have affected the response to the crisis, with the UN, international NGOs, and Taliban officials appealing for more funding to support the needs of those returning. The UN has warned the sudden influx could destabilise Afghanistan, which is already grappling with poverty, unemployment, and the impacts of climate change. The UN refugee agency said that “forcing or pressuring Afghans to return risks further instability in the region, and onward movement towards Europe.”
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250707-nearly-450-000-afghans-left-iran-since-june-1-iom
South Sudan: WFP Airdrops Food to Areas Affected by Conflict in South Sudan
On 7 July 2025, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that over 40,000 people in South Sudan’s Upper Nile region, an area plagued by conflict, are “desperately” hungry. The WFP has started airdropping food to affected areas, its first humanitarian aid delivery to the region in the last four months. Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s South Sudan Country Director, said the conflict has destroyed livelihoods, caused widespread displacement, and put people at risk of famine. The WFP reported that about 32,000 people are experiencing “catastrophic levels of hunger,” while over one million people in Upper Nile are facing “acute hunger.” McGroarty said the WFP airdrops were critical to preventing people from entering famine. The WFP expressed that the ongoing conflict is impeding the humanitarian response in the area. The Upper Nile region has seen intense fighting between government troops and armed militias opposed to President Salva Kiir’s government. The conflict has led the UN to issue warnings that South Sudan is on the edge of civil war.
Kenya: UN Urges Kenya to Investigate Deadly Protest Violence and Uphold Human Rights
On 8 July 2025, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed serious concern over the violent crackdown on protests in Kenya on 7 July 2025, which left at least 10 people dead and over 80 injured. The UN is calling on Kenyan authorities to investigate the incidents, ensure accountability, and adhere to international human rights standards in the use of force. The protests, held in Nairobi and other cities, were marked by violent clashes, looting, and property destruction. Security forces reportedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The protests followed growing public outrage over police brutality, government corruption, and the recent death of activist Albert Ojwang in police custody. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasised the need for Kenyan authorities to protect the rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, and to avoid the excessive use of force. He reminded law enforcement to follow international principles that limit the use of lethal force to situations of strict necessity. The 7 July protests commemorated the 1990 movement against Kenya’s one-party rule and reflected broader unrest that has escalated since 2024 amid economic hardship and dissatisfaction with government policies. The UN reaffirmed its willingness to assist Kenya in addressing the causes and consequences of the violence.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2025/07/kenya-concerns-over-deaths-protests
Mexico: Women Searching for Mexico’s Disappeared Face Daily Threats Amidst Government Neglect
On 8 July 2025, Amnesty International reported that women searching for forcibly disappeared loved ones in Mexico face escalating violence and systemic neglect, with at least 16 women killed in the process. In its new report, “Disappearing again,” Amnesty reveals that 97% of women searchers endure daily threats, including torture, sexual violence, and forced displacement, while receiving little to no protection from the state. These women—often mothers, sisters, and daughters of the disappeared—are left to carry out dangerous search efforts alone, all while balancing caregiving duties in a society with no support infrastructure. Their work exposes them to organised crime and a culture of impunity in which Mexican authorities rarely investigate disappearances or offer assistance. The report criticises the government for obscuring the true scale of the crisis. An audit in 2023 drastically reduced the official number of disappeared from over 115,000 to 12,000, raising suspicions of data manipulation. Around 80,000 cases remain in vague categories in the National Register, hindering searches and pointing to possible complicity by authorities. Amnesty is demanding the full inclusion of families—particularly women—in state policies addressing disappearances. The organisation warns that without transparency, accountability, and protection, both the victims and their families risk being “disappeared again.”
Libya: UN Mission in Libya Calls for Immediate De-Escalation in Tripoli
On 9 July 2025, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on all Libyan parties to prevent a further escalation of violence in Tripoli, following increased reports of military build-up in the capital. In May, Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah ordered the dismantling of what he referred to as irregular armed groups, which led to intense clashes in Tripoli between two armed groups, resulting in the deaths of at least eight civilians. UNSMIL stated it continues to try and reduce tensions and urged all parties to act in good faith to fulfil this goal. It added, forces deployed in Tripoli must withdraw. In 2021, a Government of National Unity in Tripoli was established but the House of Representatives in Benghazi has since ended its recognition of the government’s legitimacy. Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that removed leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has suffered long-term instability. In 2014, the country divided into rival eastern and western factions, though a truce in 2020 paused fighting. For the last decade, eastern Libya has been mostly under the control of Commander Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army, while Tripoli and western Libya have remained divided, with power split among different armed groups.
Sudan: Fighting in North Kordofan Forces 700 Sudanese Families to Flee
On 10 July 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that heavy fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had forced 700 households to flee several locations across Bara town in the Bara locality of North Kordofan State. The IOM added that “the situation remains tense and highly fluid.” In recent days, intense clashes have erupted between the two sides, as the Sudanese army is trying to recapture Bara, a main stronghold of the RSF in North Kordofan. Bara is a key strategic town that connects Kordofan in southern Sudan and Darfur in western Sudan to the capital Khartoum through a national road that leads to Omdurman, west of Khartoum. Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been at war. The UN reports that more than 20,000 people have been killed and 14 million displaced. However, the actual death toll is likely far higher, which is estimated to be around 130,000.
Iraq: PKK Disarmament in Iraq to Take a Few Months According to Turkey’s Ruling AK Party
On 10 July 2025, Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, stated the handover of weapons by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq should be complete in a few months. He said the handover process will be overseen by a confirmation mechanism, including officials from Turkish intelligence and the armed forces. According to Celik, the process “needs to be completed within three to five months, if it exceeds this period, it will become vulnerable to provocations.” The PKK, which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish since 1984, decided to disband in May. The decades-long conflict, originally with the aim of creating an independent Kurdish state, resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people. As part of the peace process with Turkey, PKK militants are set to start the handover of weapons on Friday in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq.
Haiti: UN Warns Haitian Gang Violence Threatens Regional Stability
On 11 July 2025, the United Nations issued a stark warning that escalating gang violence in Haiti poses a growing threat not only to national stability but also to the wider Caribbean region. A new UN report highlights a surge in killings, abductions, and mass displacement spreading beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, into rural areas like Artibonite, Centre, Ganthier, and Fonds Parisien. Between October 2024 and June 2025, at least 4,864 people were killed across the country. Massacres, such as the October 2024 Pont Sondé attack that killed over 100 people, have intensified the crisis, fueling the displacement of entire towns—like Mirebalais, where all 100,000 residents fled. UN officials stressed that Haiti’s weak state presence outside the capital is allowing armed gangs to expand, particularly along routes to the Dominican Republic, raising fears of transnational trafficking. Security efforts by Haitian forces and the international Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission have been ineffective due to funding and manpower shortfalls. Political uncertainty in key donor countries, especially the US—which has reduced its aid under President Trump—has further jeopardised the mission.The UN is urging both the Haitian government and international community to strengthen law enforcement, enforce an arms embargo, and maintain support for the MSS and BINUH missions to prevent further deterioration.
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