© Photo by Ground Report via Flickr
International Peace & Security Section
Nigeria: Military Airstrike Kills Over 100 Bandits in Zamfara
Mali: Over 30 Military Officials Arrested for Alleged Attempts to Destabilise the Government
Pakistan: US Designates BLA as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation
Haiti: UN Response Plan Faces Critical Funding Shortfall Amid Escalating Violence
Gaza: Rights Group Calls for Action to End “Unfolding Genocide”
Italy: At Least 26 Dead in Migrant Boat Shipwreck off Lampedusa
IIMM: Annual Report Reveals Rise in Serious Crimes Across Myanmar
On 12 August 2025, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing a troubling escalation in war crimes and crimes against humanity across Myanmar. Investigators documented widespread systematic torture and sexual violence in detention facilities, such as beatings, electric shocks, strangulation, gang rape, and the burning of sexual body parts. Distressingly, evidence shows that children aged 2 to 17 are being detained as proxies for parents and are not exempt from abuse. The Mechanism has made significant progress in identifying perpetrators and unit affiliations, including commanders responsible for abuse. The Mechanism has also intensified inquiries into summary executions, with both military-aligned forces and opposition groups implicated. Investigations now include air strikes on schools, hospitals, and homes, even those targeted during post-earthquake rescue operations, linked back to the Myanmar Air Force’s chain of command. Moreover, the Mechanism has collected compelling evidence regarding destruction of Rohingya property, forced displacement, and land appropriation, advancing its investigations into the 2016-2017 crackdown. While this comprehensive evidence has been shared with several jurisdictions – the International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, courts in Argentina, and the United Kingdom – the report also warns of growing funding constraints that threaten the Mechanism’s investigative capacity.
https://iimm.un.org/en/myanmar-mechanism-advances-its-identification-perpetrators-annual-report
Peru: President Approves Controversial Amnesty Law Shielding Military Personnel From Human Rights Prosecutions
On 13 August 2025, Peru’s President, Dina Boluarte, approved a contentious amnesty law shielding military, police, and self-defence personnel from prosecution for human rights abuses committed during the internal conflict between 1980 and 2000. The law, passed by Congress, effectively pardons those accused of atrocities such as torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances, and is expected to annul around 156 convictions and halt 600 ongoing investigations. Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, and families of victims have denounced the law as a betrayal of justice, warning it weakens Peru’s rule of law and tarnishes its international reputation. The UN Human Rights Commission and Inter-American Court of Human Rights previously urged Peru to reject amnesties for serious crimes, given ongoing obligations to investigate and prosecute such abuses. Supporters frame the legislation as a means to restore dignity to the armed forces for their role in combating insurgency, particularly against the Shining Path rebels.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/13/peru-amnesty-military-police-human-rights-abuses
Maldives: Rights Groups Urge Rejection of Death Penalty for Drug Trafficking
On 13 August 2025, a coalition of nine human rights organisations called on the Maldives to drop proposed amendments to its Drug Act that would reinstate the death penalty for drug trafficking, warning the move is inhumane, outdated, and contrary to international human rights standards. President Mohamed Muizzu has ordered a review of the amendments, first introduced in December 2024 as part of a government crackdown on narcotics following a sharp rise in drug-related arrests. The groups stressed that, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Maldives would be violating its obligations under Article 6(6), which affirms the goal of abolition. UN guidance limits capital punishment to the “most exceptional” crimes, such as intentional killing, and excludes drug trafficking from that threshold. Critics also argue the death penalty disproportionately affects low-level couriers while leaving drug trade leaders untouched, undermining efforts to dismantle criminal networks. They urged the government to pursue top-down prosecutions and permanently abolish capital punishment.
Syria: Commission Report Finds Violence in Alawite Areas Could Amount to War Crimes
On 14 August 2025, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria published a report on the widespread and systematic violence along Syria’s coastal regions, particularly in Alawite-majority areas, likely amounting to war crimes. The Commission documented atrocities including extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions, sexual violence, forced marriages, and looting, resulting in approximately 1,400 fatalities – most of them civilians from the Alawite community. While these attacks were carried out by several government-affiliated armed factions, the report found no evidence of direct orchestration by Syria’s central interim government. The Commission’s findings are based on extensive investigations, including over 200 interviews with both victims and witnesses. Worryingly, reports indicate that violations persist in many affected areas, including the abductions of women, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and ongoing looting and property seizures. The Commission emphasised the urgent need for accountability and the restoration of public trust. The new government has acknowledged these findings and pledged actions in line with the UN’s recommendations, but the Commission stressed that more decisive measures are required to prevent further atrocities.
Afghanistan: UN Experts Call for Global Rejection of Taliban Rule
On 14 August 2025, UN human rights experts urged the international community to reject Taliban rule in Afghanistan, denouncing it as violent, illegitimate, and systematically oppressive. They cited widespread abuses including public executions, corporal punishment, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and discrimination against ethnic, religious, and LGBTQ+ minorities. The experts warned that the Taliban enforces “an institutionalised system of gender oppression” so severe it amounts to the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds. They praised recent International Criminal Court arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders and called for an “all-tools” approach, combining advocacy, pressure, and international accountability, to end impunity. Recommendations included creating a comprehensive investigative mechanism with a full mandate to document and address abuses. “Every day without action strengthens the Taliban’s oppressive grip,” they said, framing support for the Afghan people as both a moral duty and a global responsibility. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. Among major powers, only Russia formally recognises its rule.
India: Rejects Arbitration Tribunal’s Authority in Indus Waters Dispute
On 14 August 2025, India’s foreign ministry reiterated its refusal to recognise the authority of the Court of Arbitration handling disputes under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, calling the tribunal “illegally constituted” and its decisions “per se void.” The statement rejected the court’s June Supplemental Award on Competence, which affirmed jurisdiction despite India’s suspension of the treaty earlier this year. The arbitration body, convened under the treaty after Pakistan initiated proceedings in 2016, focused on technical and interpretive rules for run-of-river hydroelectric projects on western rivers. In April, India halted recognition of the treaty following a militant attack in Kashmir, demanding that Pakistan end support for cross-border militancy. In August, the tribunal issued an Award on Issues of General Interpretation, reaffirming that its rulings are “final and binding” and stressing that India’s absence from the proceedings does not remove its jurisdiction. Analysts warn the standoff threatens a decades-old water-sharing pact seen as a rare example of India-Pakistan cooperation, with broader implications for South Asian water security and the credibility of international dispute resolution.
IRMCT: UN Court Denies Early Release for Bosnian Serb War Criminal
On 14 August 2025, the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) in The Hague has once again denied the early release request of Goran Jelisic, a former Bosnian Serb detention camp guard notorious for calling himself a “Serb Adolf Hitler.” Jelisic is serving a 40-year sentence for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war. Although eligible after serving two-thirds of his term, the court, led by Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, cited the exceptional gravity of his crimes, his lack of demonstrated remorse, and the absence of any public apology or reconciliation efforts as key factors in rejecting the application. The judge also discounted any humanitarian grounds for leniency. Jelisic has previously sought early release in 2017 and 2021, both of which were also denied. His submissions reiterated regret and a plea for forgiveness, but the court noted that such sentiments without tangible actions toward repair or reconciliation fall short of the necessary standards.
https://balkaninsight.com/2025/08/14/bosnian-serb-war-criminal-denied-early-release-for-third-time/
Lebanon: Rights Group Warns Judicial Reform Falls Short of International Standards
On 15 August 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) welcomed Lebanon’s new judicial reform law, but warned it falls short of international standards on judicial independence. Passed by parliament on 7 August and set to take effect in January 2026, the law stems from a 2018 draft developed by a coalition of legal NGOs. The reforms expand judges’ participation in judicial elections, allow self-nominations, strengthen judicial self-governance, and protect judges’ freedom of expression. They also set strict criteria for removal and restructure of the Supreme Judicial Council to reduce executive influence. However, HRW raised concerns over Article 42, which permits the head public prosecutor to order lower-level prosecutors to halt proceedings, a measure the group says could undermine investigations. The rights group also cited flaws in the legislative process, including disputed vote counts, last-minute amendments without review, and the omission of recommendations from NGOs and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. HRW urged further amendments in line with international recommendations and called for ending military court jurisdiction over civilians. The criticism comes as Lebanon faces accusations of obstructing the Beirut port explosion investigation and continues to rank low in global rule of law indices, placing 108th out of 142 countries in the latest World Justice Project survey.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/15/lebanon-judicial-reforms-positive-but-fall-short
Sudan: At Least 63 People Die of Malnutrition in El-Fasher
On 11 August 2025, a local health official reported that at least 63 people, mostly women and children, had died of starvation and malnutrition in the besieged city of El-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur state. The official stated that the deaths occurred between 3-10 August, adding that the numbers reflect only those who were able to reach hospitals. Many others were buried by their families, who were unable to seek medical attention due to unsafe conditions and lack of transportation. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has voiced concern over the rising number of deaths from hunger, disease, and displacement across several regions in Sudan. Reports from the UN indicate that the Lagawa displacement camp in East Darfur state, which accommodates over 7,000 people, is experiencing critical food shortages. El-Fasher remains under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the ongoing civil war between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The conflict has severely obstructed the delivery of aid, leaving vulnerable people without access to food and healthcare. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN, outlined that community-run kitchens have shut due to lack of food, with some residents forced to eat animal feed to survive.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250811-63-died-of-malnutrition-in-sudans-el-fasher-city/
Nigeria: Military Airstrike Kills Over 100 Bandits in Zamfara
On 11 August 2025, the Nigerian military announced it had killed over 100 armed gang members in a joint air and ground operation in Zamfara state. The military said the operation took place on Sunday morning in the Bukkuyum local government area, following reports that more than 400 armed gang members were preparing to attack a village. The armed groups, referred to locally as bandits, have been terrorising villages across the northwest and central Nigeria. Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, stated that the airstrike killed several high-ranking bandit leaders. A UN monitoring report suggested that the military’s actions were likely in response to a series of banditry attacks, especially kidnapping, that occurred in Zamfara last month. The bandits are known for extorting taxes from local farmers and miners, as well as kidnapping people and holding them hostage for months, often demanding ransom payments for their release. More recently, the bandits have started cooperating with jihadist groups in the region. The Nigerian government has launched multiple military operations against these groups, but so far, such actions have failed to stop the attacks. This ongoing violence has worsened Nigeria’s hunger crisis, particularly in the northwest, as the bandits force farmers off their land.
https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-military-says-dozens-of-gang-members-killed/a-73606653
Mali: Over 30 Military Officials Arrested for Alleged Attempts to Destabilise the Government
On 11 August 2025, it was reported authorities in Mali had arrested over 30 military personnel accused of trying to destabilise the government. The arrests targeted several high-ranking officials, including General Abass Dembele, the former governor of the central Mopti region. The arrests come amid escalating tensions as Mali’s leaders look to consolidate their grasp on power. Following coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali’s military leaders seized power, pledging to restore security in a country where militant groups controlled vast regions in the north and centre. In April, a national conference proposed General Assimi Goita as president and recommended the dissolution of all political parties. Goita had been acting as interim leader since 2021 and was subsequently appointed president for a five-year term. This decision triggered protests in the capital city, Bamako, and prompted the military junta to suspend political activities across the country. In July, Goita’s five-year term was officially approved, with authorities stating it could be renewed as many times as necessary. Under Goita’s presidency, security challenges have persisted, and in recent months, the country has experienced an increase in attacks by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group that is also active in Burkina Faso and Niger. Experts say that JNIM’s combat tactics have become more advanced, and the group has gathered significant resources through attacks on military bases, thefts, kidnappings, and taxes on local communities. Since the military coups, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have severed ties with Western countries, instead seeking support from Russia.
Pakistan: US Designates BLA a Foreign Terrorist Organisation
On 12 August 2025, the US designated Pakistan’s Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) along with its armed division, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the measure “demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to countering terrorism.” The announcement from the Department of State follows the BLA’s classification as a “specially designated global terrorist” (SDGT) group in 2019, which came after a series of attacks. In March this year, the US stated the separatist group was responsible for multiple assaults in Balochistan, including the hijacking of a train that resulted in the deaths of 31 people. The revised classification allows for stronger measures and makes it illegal for anyone in the US to assist the group, whereas the earlier designation focused mainly on restricting financial resources. This move also comes as US President Donald Trump is seeking to enhance relations with Pakistan’s government. Balochistan is the largest but least populated province of Pakistan and has experienced multiple uprisings since the country was founded in 1947. The most recent insurgency began in the early 2000s, as secessionists pushed for independence and a share in the province’s natural resources. Supporters of the movement have accused the Pakistani government of exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources while neglecting its people. The designation coincides with a trip by Pakistan’s army leader, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to Washington, and follows a US-Pakistan trade deal expected to give US firms access to Pakistan’s oil resources. In Balochistan, separatists oppose the extraction of resources by both Pakistani and foreign companies and have launched attacks on those working on such projects.
https://www.dw.com/en/us-designates-bla-separatists-in-pakistan-a-foreign-terrorist-group/a-73613466
Haiti: UN Response Plan Faces Critical Funding Shortfall Amid Escalating Violence
On 12 August 2025, it was reported that the UN’s response plan in Haiti is severely underfunded amid escalating gang violence and a worsening hunger crisis. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, stated that Haiti’s 2025 humanitarian response plan seeks over $900 million, but has so far only received 9.2% of the required funds. She added that this is “the lowest level of funding for any response plan in the world.” By comparison, UN financial tracking data shows that this year’s $2.63 billion appeal for Ukraine has received 38% of its funding target, while a $4 billion appeal for Palestine has received 22% of its requested funds. In relation to the crisis in Haiti, Richardson noted, “the response from the international community is just not at par with the gravity on the ground.” The situation in Haiti remains dire, with over 3,100 people killed this year in gang-related violence. More than half the population faces food insecurity, and approximately 1.3 million people have been displaced. Over 8,000 people are living in makeshift displacement camps facing famine conditions. Last year, a Kenyan-led mission with UN backing was deployed to assist Haitian police in combating gang violence. However, the mission has faced significant funding challenges and has made little impact in curbing the violence. Additionally, several aid organisations have been forced to scale back services due to the safety concerns. Richardson stressed that to end the violence it is essential to halt the trafficking of arms into Haiti, along with imposing sanctions on those who financially support the gangs.
Saudi Arabia: Surge in Executions for Drug Related Charges
On 12 August 2025, it was reported that Saudi Arabia had executed eight people in a single day on drug-related charges in the southern region of Najran. The majority of those executed were foreign nationals, including four Somali and three Ethiopian nationals, accused of “smuggling hashish into the kingdom.” Additionally, one Saudi man was executed for the murder of his mother. These deaths come amid a rise in capital punishment, primarily targeting foreign nationals for drug-related crimes. Rights groups Reprieve and the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) have called the surge in executions an “unprecedented execution crisis.” In 2021, Saudi authorities ended an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment for drug offenses, resulting in a sharp rise in executions. In 2024, a record 345 executions were carried out in Saudi Arabia, with nearly 50% of them for non-lethal offenses. Foreign nationals accounted for 92 of these executions. The country is on track to surpass that record in 2025, with 230 executions reported so far, including 154 for drug-related crimes. Reports from Reprieve and ESOHR indicate that between 2010 and 2021, Saudi Arabia executed nearly three times more foreign nationals for drug-related crimes than Saudi nationals, despite foreign nationals making up just 36% of the country’s population. Jeed Basyouni, who leads Reprieve’s MENA death penalty projects, warned that the global war on drugs continues to follow the same failed approach, with officials “killing poor and marginalised groups” in response to drug-related concerns. He added that these individuals are rarely afforded basic legal rights, such as legal representation or interpreters during their trials.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-executes-eight-people-single-day
Gaza: Rights Group Call for Action to End “Unfolding Genocide”
On 12 August 2025, the Elders, a group of global leaders, called on states to take decisive measures against the genocide and famine in Gaza. From 9-12 August, Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand and UNDP administrator, visited Egypt and the Rafah border crossing. In a statement, the delegation said their observations reinforced their view that there is “not only an unfolding, human-caused famine in Gaza. There is an unfolding genocide.” Founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, the Elders is a group of “global leaders working for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet.” During their visit, the delegation witnessed evidence of food and medical aid being blocked from entering Gaza and heard accounts of Palestinian civilians, including children, being killed while trying to access aid. The group urged Israel to immediately open all border crossings into Gaza, including the Rafah crossing. They also called for the immediate suspension of arms transfers to Israel and recommended sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Additionally, they called on states to suspend trade agreements with Israel. The group criticised the lack of action, stressing that many countries are “prioritising their own economic and security interests” while children in Gaza are starving to death. Robinson emphasised “governments that are not using all the tools at their disposal to halt the unfolding genocide in Gaza are increasingly complicit.” Meanwhile, Clark highlighted the difficulties faced by new mothers who are unable to adequately feed themselves or their newborn babies. Clark added the health system is on the verge of collapse, which “threatens the very survival of an entire generation.”
Italy: At Least 26 Dead in Migrant Boat Shipwreck off Lampedusa
On 13 August 2025, it was reported at least 26 migrants had died in a shipwreck near the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, while another 60 people were rescued. The Italian coastguard stated search and rescue operations are still ongoing and warned that the death toll is expected to rise. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated that between 92 to 97 people were on board the boats. The migrants had departed from Libya, attempting to reach Europe through the treacherous Mediterranean crossing. On Wednesday morning, an Italian law enforcement aircraft discovered a capsized boat with bodies in the water approximately 24 kilometres off Lampedusa, triggering a rescue operation. According to survivor accounts, the group had set off from Tripoli on two boats. When one of the boats got into difficulty, passengers were transferred to the second boat, which subsequently overturned in rough seas. UNHCR spokesperson Filippo Ungaro reported that 675 people have died in the central Mediterranean so far in 2025 while attempting the crossing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government has pledged to stop migrant sea journeys from Africa and has introduced measures against the human smugglers, including stricter prison terms, calling on other nations to take similar steps.
https://www.reuters.com/world/least-26-die-migrant-shipwreck-off-italys-lampedusa-island-2025-08-13/
Weekly News Recap (16 – 22 February 2026) © Photo by Coast Guard News via FlickrInternational Justice SectionBosnia and Herzegovina: Court Upholds War-Crimes Convictions for Abuse of PrisonersECtHR: Finds Bulgaria Failed to Investigate Racist Motive in AssaultECtHR: Finds Serbia Failed to Carry Out an Effective Investigation into 1991 Conflict-Era KillingTunisia:
Weekly News Recap (9 – 15 February 2026) © Photo by DW Akademie – Africa via Flickr International Justice Section KSC: Closing Statements Begin in Thaçi’s Trial Hong Kong: High Court Sentences Jimmy Lai to 20 Years’ Imprisonment Mali: Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence Against Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara
Weekly News Recap (2 – 8 February 2026) © Photo by Óglaigh na hÉireann via Flickr International Justice Section France: Judges Issue Criminal Summonses in Gaza Aid Blockade Investigation Libya: Death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Ends Prospects for ICC Trial in Libya Case Switzerland: Foreign Minister Reported to ICC for
