© Photo by Óglaigh na hÉireann via Flickr
International Peace & Security Section
US: Rights Group Alleges US Personnel May Be Liable for Enabling War Crimes in Gaza
Nigeria: At Least Two Killed and 100 Abducted by Gunmen in Zamfara
Syria: Israeli Drone Strike Kills Six Syrian Soldiers Near Damascus
UN: Security Council Votes to Wind Down Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon After 2026
Estonia: Plans to Borrow €3.6 Billion From EU to Increase Defence Spending
Guinea: Delays Plague Appeals Trial in Stadium Massacre Case
On 26 August 2025, nearly a year after Guinea’s landmark verdict on the 2009 Conakry stadium massacre, the appeals process remains stalled, creating frustration for victims and civil society groups. The massacre, in which over 150 people were killed and more than 100 women raped during a pro-democracy rally, marked one of West Africa’s gravest human rights atrocities. In 2024, the Dixinn Court convicted eight former officials, including Moussa Dadis Camara, and ordered around €12 million in compensation to victims. However, all parties (defendants, victims, and the state) filed appeals, yet the Court of Appeal has not set a hearing date. This judicial inaction leaves hundreds of survivors in limbo, many of whom continue to suffer trauma and socio-economic hardship. Civil society organisations warn that the lack of progress undermines both accountability and trust in Guinea’s justice system. International watchdogs such as the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) have echoed these concerns, urging authorities to ensure timely proceedings in line with fair trial standards. Without movement on the appeals, the country risks eroding one of its most significant steps toward addressing past crimes and delivering justice to victims.
https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/149119-guinea-appeals-trial-stadium-massacre-headaches.html
Indonesia: Rights Group Condemns Public Caning of Men Convicted for Same-Sex Relations
On 26 August 2025, two men, aged 20 and 21, were publicly caned 76 times each in Banda Aceh under the province’s Islamic Criminal Code for consensual same-sex relations. The Banda Aceh Sharia Court convicted them of violating Shariah laws after they were found kissing and hugging in a public park bathroom. The sentencing proceedings were conducted behind closed doors. Amnesty International strongly condemned the punishment, branding it a “disturbing act of state-sanctioned discrimination and cruelty.” Regional Research Director Montse Ferrer described the caning as a horrifying symbol of the systemic stigma and abuse LGBTQ+ individuals face in Aceh. She emphasised that consensual intimate relationships between adults must never be criminalised. Ferrer further stated that such corporal punishment is cruel, inhuman, and degrading, and may constitute torture under international law. Amnesty called on both Aceh and Indonesia’s central government to immediately halt such punitive practices and repeal discriminatory bylaws that authorise them, arguing that regional autonomy must not override human rights commitments.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/08/indonesia-caning-of-gay-men-an-act-of-cruelty/
Egypt: UN Urges End to ‘Rotation’ Detention Practice
On 26 August 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Egypt to end its “rotation” practice, a system which allows authorities to arbitrarily extend prison terms by charging detainees with new, often identical offenses under the Anti-Terrorism Law. The practice disproportionately targets activists, lawyers, journalists, and other critics of the government. Commissioner Volker Türk stressed that many detainees should never have been arrested, as charges often stem from legitimate expression and peaceful assembly. Human rights lawyer Ebrahim Abdelmonem Metwally has been held under rotation since 2017 despite multiple release orders, exemplifying how the system is used to repress dissent. A recent case involves Galal El-Behairy, who was arbitrarily detained after serving a prison sentence on 31 July 2021 for composing songs and poetry that criticised the Government. El-Behairy has since faced similar charges under both the counter-terrorism law and the penal code. On 19 August 2025, following questioning by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, new charges were filed against him, resulting in his detention being extended for at least another 15 days.
Mali: UN Experts Demand Release of Detained Civil Society Activist
On 26 August 2025, UN experts called for the release of Clément Mamadou Dembélé, a civil society activist from Mali who has been detained since November 2023 despite a court dropping the charges against him and ordering his release in April. Dembélé was initially accused of making death threats against the transitional president and his family, but the case was dropped with the judge citing a lack of evidence. Legal experts stress that his prosecution and ongoing detention could amount to “instrumentalization of the legal system by the Government.” They highlighted that this violates Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which safeguards individuals’ right to liberty and security and prohibits arbitrary arrests and detentions. It is also in violation of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) which outlaws arbitrary arrest, detention, and exile. The experts warned of an escalating pattern of rights abuses in Mali, especially targeting opposition members, civil society groups, journalists, and human rights activists in Mali.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/08/un-experts-pressure-mali-to-release-civil-society-activist/
Lebanon: Rights Group Calls for Release of Gaddafi’s Son From Pre-Trial Detention
On 28 August 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Lebanese authorities to immediately release Hannibal Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who has been in pre-trial detention since December 2015. HRW described his confinement in a windowless underground cell as arbitrary and harmful to his physical and mental health. Gaddafi was detained on allegations linked to the 1978 disappearance of Lebanese cleric Moussa al-Sadr, when he was only two years old. HRW stressed that Lebanon is violating due process under both international law and its own penal code, with more than 80% of prisoners in the country still awaiting trial.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/28/lebanon-immediately-release-gaddafis-son
Afghanistan: Rights Groups Call on UN to Establish Justice Mechanism for Afghanistan
On 28 August 2025, over 100 human rights organisations urged the UN Human Rights Council to create an international accountability mechanism for Afghanistan, citing the Council’s failure to address grave violations under Taliban rule. The open letter called for a body similar to those established for Syria and Myanmar, stressing the need to engage Afghan civil society and highlighting the EU’s role as “penholder.” The proposed mechanism would be a vital step in advancing accountability, collecting and preserving evidence, identifying perpetrators, and preparing cases for national and international courts. The appeal comes amid mounting evidence of crimes against humanity, including the Taliban’s systematic repression of women and girls. By proposing a resolution to establish an accountability mechanism for Afghanistan, the EU has a chance to demonstrate strong leadership on human rights and help secure justice for victims of crimes committed in Afghanistan.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/28/un-rights-council-should-support-justice-in-afghanistan
South Africa: Court Finds EFF Leader Guilty of Hate Speech
On 28 August 2025, it was reported that South Africa’s Equality Court ruled that statements by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema at a 2022 rally amounted to hate speech, finding they were direct calls to violence based on race and political affiliation. The court stressed that the remarks were not political rhetoric but “clear exhortations to violence.” The South African Human Rights Commission welcomed the decision, noting that freedom of expression does not extend to incitement of hatred and harm. Malema has faced controversy before, including for leading apartheid-era protest songs like Dubul’ ibhunu (“Kill the Boer”). The ruling comes amid ongoing legal reforms, including the 2024 Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, as South Africa continues to balance free expression with protections against racial incitement.
Lebanon: Rights Group Investigates Potential Israeli War Crimes
On 26 August 2026, Amnesty International released a briefing titled “Nowhere To Return: Israel’s Extensive Destruction of Southern Lebanon,” documenting how between 1 October 2024 and 26 January 2025, Israeli military forces intentionally destroyed over 10,000 civilian structures, including homes, mosques, cemeteries, parks, roads, and sports facilities, in 24 municipalities across southern Lebanon. Deliberate acts such as manually placing explosives within buildings and levelling areas with bulldozers occurred even after a ceasefire took effect on 27 November 2024, indicating these actions were committed outside active combat. Notably, the sites had already been secured, rendering the destruction non-military related. Furthermore, satellite imagery, 77 verified photos and videos, and eyewitness interviews confirmed the scope and method of destruction, while some soldiers were captured on camera celebrating the devastation. Amnesty stated that such destruction, carried out without military necessity, violates international humanitarian law. The organisation urged immediate investigations into potential war crimes, emphasising that these actions rendered areas uninhabitable and devastated civilian lives.
US: Rights Group Alleges US Personnel May Be Liable for Enabling War Crimes in Gaza
On 26 August 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserted that US military and intelligence personnel may be legally liable for assisting Israeli forces in committing war crimes in Gaza. According to HRW’s report, US forces have engaged in direct operational roles, including providing intelligence for Israeli strikes and coordinating plans targeting militants. These actions effectively render the US a party to the armed conflict, potentially exposing individuals to criminal responsibility under international humanitarian law. HRW emphasised that facilitating acts constituting war crimes, such as targeting civilians, could subject US personnel, including intelligence agents and contractors, to prosecution. Under international law, a state that “aids or assists” another in committing wrongful acts bears legal responsibility. The report underscores the gravity of US involvement, especially as Israeli forces have been accused of repeated violations, including unlawful killings and starvation measures. HRW called for urgent action: states should use their influence to end such wrongful conduct, suspend arms transfers, and uphold obligations under the Genocide Convention to protect civilians.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/26/gaza-us-forces-can-be-liable-for-assisting-israeli-war-crimes
Nigeria: At Least Two Killed and 100 Abducted by Gunmen in Zamfara
On 27 August 2025, authorities reported that gunmen killed at least two people and abducted over 100 in Zamfara State. The incident occurred on Sunday, when the attackers, referred to locally as bandits, stormed through the village of Gamdum Mallam in Adafka, Bukkuyum, on motorbikes and fired indiscriminately. Local officials reported that the bandits abducted many women and children and headed towards Makakari forest. Witnesses described how the bandits split into two groups, with one blocking the road and shooting at passersby, while the other abducted people and livestock. Hamisu Faru, a local lawmaker, stated that the bandits crossed into nearby villages and abducted a further 46 people in the Ruwan Rana village. Many locals now fear more attacks in the future. Zamfara remains a hotspot for attacks by bandits in northwest Nigeria. According to SBM Intelligence, between July 2024 and June 2025, at least 4,722 people were abducted in the region.
Syria: Israeli Drone Strike Kills Six Syrian Soldiers Near Damascus
On 27 August 2025, it was reported that an Israeli drone strike had killed six Syrian soldiers in Damascus. Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, stressing that Israel poses a direct threat to regional peace and security. The incident occurred as both Syria and Israel are participating in ongoing US-mediated talks aimed at reducing tensions in southern Syria. Syrian authorities are hoping the discussions will lead to a security agreement that could pave the way for broader political negotiations. On Monday, Syrian officials accused Israel of violating its sovereignty after 60 Israeli soldiers crossed into Syrian territory near Mount Hermon. The Israeli military stated it conducted a routine operation in southern Syria, but denied operating in Beit Jinn, a town near Mount Hermon on the border with Lebanon. Following the fall of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last year, Israel has cited national security concerns to justify its military actions in Syria, including what it describes as a responsibility to protect the Druze minority in southern Syria. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced in January that Israeli forces would remain at Mount Hermon for the foreseeable future.
Sudan: RSF Forces Kill At Least 24 People in El-Fasher
On 28 August 2025, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that at least 24 people were killed and 55 others injured in an attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the besieged city of El-Fasher. The assault struck a populated area, including the central market and the Awlad al-Reef neighbourhood. Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in civil war between the Sudanese Army and RSF. The city of El-Fasher is the military’s last stronghold in the Darfur region and has become the focal point of intense fighting over the past year. This recent attack is the latest in a series of RSF assaults, during which an estimated 89 civilians have been killed in the last 10 days. Under the siege, El-Fasher is facing a humanitarian crisis. UNICEF described the situation as “an epicentre of child suffering, with malnutrition, disease, and violence claiming young lives daily.” The agency also reported that 260,000 people, including 130,000 children, remain trapped in the city, enduring dire conditions. According to the UN, the conflict has been marked by widespread atrocities, including ethnically motivated killings and sexual violence. The fighting has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and the displacement of 14 million people. The International Criminal Court announced it is pursuing an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan.
UN: Security Council Votes to Wind Down Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon After 2026
On 28 August 2025, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to extend a longstanding peacekeeping mission in Lebanon until the end of 2026, after which the mission will begin to wind down and withdraw from the region. Created in 1978, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) monitors Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. According to the resolution, UNIFIL will end its mission on 31 December 2026. From that date, it will begin a one-year “orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal of its personnel,” with the goal of reassigning full security responsibility of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Government. Acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, stated this will be the last time the US supports the UNIFIL extension, noting that Lebanon’s security situation has changed drastically in the past year, allowing the country to assume greater responsibility for its own security. In 2006, after a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, UNIFIL’s mandate was broadened to authorise peacekeepers to assist the Lebanese army in keeping areas of southern Lebanon free of weapons and armed groups not affiliated with the Lebanese state. This development created tensions with Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful political force, which maintains control over much of southern Lebanon. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticised UNIFIL efforts, stating it “failed in its mission and allowed Hezbollah to become a dangerous regional threat.” In November, the US negotiated a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel after over a year of conflict triggered by the war in Gaza. The US is now pursuing a disarmament plan for Hezbollah, which is linked to a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the UNIFIL mission extension, outlining that it reinforces demands for Israel to withdraw from areas it still occupies and affirms the “necessity of extending state authority over all its territory.”
Mauritania: Over 140 People Die in Migrant Shipwreck
On 29 August 2025, at least 140 people were reported dead after a migrant boat sank while travelling to Spain’s Canary Islands. According to Spanish NGO Walking Borders, there were 160 people on board the vessel when it sank around 60 kilometers north of the Mauritanian capital city, Nouakchott. It was reported the boat departed from The Gambia. Mauritanian authorities confirmed that 17 people survived, while over 70 bodies have been recovered so far. Walking Borders have described the incident as “one of the biggest tragedies of the summer.” The Canary Islands crossing, a popular route for migrants seeking to reach Europe, spans the Atlantic from northwest Africa to the Spanish islands and is considered one of the most treacherous migrant crossings in the world. In 2024, figures indicated that 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands via this route, while an estimated 9,750 people died along the way.
Estonia: Plans to Borrow €3.6 Billion From EU to Increase Defence Spending
On 30 August 2025, Estonia announced plans to borrow €3.6 billion through the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan fund to bolster its defence capabilities. In a joint press conference, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underscored the need for European nations to increase defence spending in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Estonia is already one of NATO’s top defence spenders relative to GDP. Von der Leyen highlighted that “Estonia is making the Eastern flank safer. And Europe, stronger.” Michal warned that Russia poses a serious threat to the region that can only be stopped through united military strength from Europe and its allies. Von der Leyen’s visit to Estonia is part of a four-day tour of European countries that share a border with Russia or its close ally Belarus. The tour intends to reinforce solidarity with border nations and promote Europe’s defence industry. The trip includes stops in Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania.
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/08/30/estonia-to-borrow-up-to-36-billion-in-eu-defence-loans
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