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International Peace & Security Section
Poland: Two Belarusian Nationals Detained after Drone Incident at Presidential Residence
Gaza: Major Israeli Offensive Forces Thousands of Palestinians to Flee Gaza City
China: Ships Collide with the Philippines Near Disputed Shoal in South China Sea
Guinea: Prepares to Vote on Constitution Referendum Favouring Coup Leader
UN: Security Council Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire Vetoed by the US
UN: Reports Civilian Killings in Sudan Conflict Have Increased Sharply in 2025
ICJ: Denies Equatorial Guinea’s Request for Provisional Measures Over Paris Property
On September 12, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an order denying Equatorial Guinea’s request for provisional measures in the case Equatorial Guinea v. France, which pertains to a property located at 42 Avenue Foch in Paris. Equatorial Guinea sought urgent protection to prevent France from selling the property, asserting its right to the property’s return under the UN Convention against Corruption. The ICJ determined that such provisional measures can only be granted when the requesting State sufficiently demonstrates a plausible legal claim. After evaluating the arguments from both parties, the Court concluded that Equatorial Guinea failed to establish a plausible right to recover the building. The ICJ highlighted that the Convention grants the requested State discretion, including options to return the property to either the requesting State or its former owners, or to provide compensation to victims. By a vote of 13 to 2, the Court rejected the request, finding that the criteria for urgent measures were not met.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/184/184-20250912-pre-01-00-en.pdf
ICC: Judgment in Abd-Al-Rahman Case Scheduled for 6 October 2025
On 15 September 2025, the judgment in the case The Prosecutor vs. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”) was scheduled for 6 October 2025 by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Trial Chamber I. A total of 74 witnesses have given evidence since 5 April 2022, when the trial against Ali Kushayb, who faces 31 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Sudan from August 2003 to March 2004, began. The accused may be convicted if the evidence submitted during the trial proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, or acquitted otherwise, according to Article 74 of the Rome Statute. The parties may appeal the decision to the ICC’s Appeals Chamber.
Colombia: JEP Sentences Former FARC Leaders Over Systematic Kidnappings
On 16 September 2024, Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) issued its inaugural war crimes ruling against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), sentencing seven former commanders to eight years of reparative measures for orchestrating a systematic policy of kidnapping that impacted over 21,000 individuals. The tribunal determined that the FARC abducted civilians for ransom and detained soldiers and politicians for prisoner exchanges, subjecting their captives to inhumane conditions, including confinement in chains, cages, and instances of sexual abuse. The convicted leaders are required to engage in initiatives aimed at locating missing persons, removing landmines, and implementing symbolic reparations while being under electronic monitoring. While the ruling underscores the importance of accountability and truth-telling, victims’ groups have expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of economic reparations, contending that the assets of the rebels could be utilised to assist affected communities. This decision reflects the JEP’s restorative justice model, which prioritises truth and reparations over incarceration.
ICC: Final Victim Reparations Submissions Considered in Al Hassan Case
On 17 September 2025, a hearing was held by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Trial Chamber X to receive submissions on reparations to the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Mr Al Hassan between 2 April 2012 and 29 January 2013 in northern Mali. The hearing allowed parties and participants to discuss specific issues directly with the Chamber and represented a crucial moment for the victims to have their voices heard. Trial Chamber X will assess the written observations and oral submissions presented by Legal Representatives of Victims, the Office of Public Counsel for Victims, the Defence, the Prosecution, and the Trust Fund for Victims, and the Registry. Reparations measures may be collective and/or individual, and may include compensation, rehabilitation, or symbolic measures.
Indonesia: Constitutional Court Upholds Military Law Amendments Despite Procedural Challenges
On September 17, 2025, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled 5-4 to dismiss petitions contesting recent amendments to the country’s military law, determining that parliament had adhered to proper procedures in enacting the legislation. The petitioners, which included human rights organisations, student groups, and the daughter of former President Abdurrahman Wahid, contended that the law was hastily passed in March without adequate public consultation. However, the Court concluded that the draft was made publicly available through websites and media channels, and that lawmakers had engaged with the public, thereby meeting the requirements for procedural transparency. The amendments increase the involvement of military personnel in civilian government roles, raising concerns about potential militarisation under President Prabowo Subianto and igniting protests. The ruling, delivered virtually without public attendance, represents a narrow affirmation of parliamentary authority, although dissenting judges expressed their disagreement. Petitioners have indicated their intention to pursue further challenges based on substantive issues.
Colombia: JEP Hands Down First Military Sentences for “False Positives” Killings
On September 18, 2025, Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) issued its first sentences against members of the armed forces. 12 former soldiers were ordered to complete eight years of reparative work for the extrajudicial killings of 135 civilians between 2002 and 2005. The defendants, members of the La Popa battalion, acknowledged their responsibility for luring victims, including Indigenous individuals and those with intellectual disabilities, under the pretence of job offers before killing them and presenting their bodies as guerrillas slain in combat to secure promotions and other benefits. The JEP mandated the implementation of six community-based projects, some focused on Indigenous communities, as a form of reparation. Sentences were mitigated for some defendants due to prior prison terms served in regular courts. By accepting their accountability and disclosing previously unknown truths, the soldiers were able to avoid custodial sentences. The ruling highlights the imperative of accountability for state-perpetrated abuses in Colombia’s conflict, which resulted in at least 6,402 “false positives” killings throughout the nation.
Spain: Launches Investigation into Israel’s Alleged Rights Violations in Gaza
On 18 September 2025, it was reported Spain’s attorney general had launched an investigation into alleged Israeli crimes in Gaza. The inquiry will assess whether Israel’s conduct in Gaza constitutes serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, with the findings to be submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to the decree, gathering evidence in Spain is crucial, as it may facilitate international cooperation and later serve as “incriminating proof of the crimes committed.” The Spanish police have already gathered testimonies and additional evidence, which they say suggests serious breaches of international law. The investigators referenced Spain’s obligations under the Genocide Convention and its intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. Under Spanish law, their courts can hear cases on genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated abroad when the accused are Spanish nationals, residents in Spain, or present in Spain without the possibility of extradition. This inquiry echoes Spain’s previous investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/spain-authorizes-investigation-into-israeli-crimes-in-gaza/3691133
Poland: Two Belarusian Nationals Detained after Drone Incident at Presidential Residence
On 16 September 2025, Polish authorities detained two Belarusian nationals after a drone was flown over the official residence of President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. The drone, which entered restricted airspace, landed safely after the State Protection Service apprehended and arrested the Belarusian drone operators. The incident comes less than a week after Polish forces shot down suspected Russian drones in their airspace, intensifying regional concerns over hybrid threats and cross-border provocations linked to the war in Ukraine. A drone also briefly entered NATO ally Romania’s airspace on Saturday, leading to the scrambling of several fighter jets and the broadcasting of a warning message to Romanian citizens. The drone incursions are taking place against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, with thousands of Russian and Belarusian troops conducting the Zapad (West) 2025 military drills, while NATO has simultaneously launched Operation Eastern Sentry to reinforce its defensive posture in Eastern Europe, deploying assets from several members states, including France, Germany, and the UK.
Gaza: Major Israeli Offensive Forces Thousands of Palestinians to Flee Gaza City
On 16 September 2025, Israel launched its long-planned offensive on Gaza City, forcing an estimated one million residents to flee. While many initially vowed to stay, relentless airstrikes destroying high-rises, homes, and civilian infrastructure pushed those able to afford the journey southward to the al-Mawasi camp. Yet al-Mawasi, already overcrowded with forcibly displaced people from Rafah and Khan Younis and repeatedly struck by Israeli airstrikes, offered little safety. Witnessing the dire conditions in the camp, some who had fled there earlier even returned to Gaza City. On Tuesday alone, at least 91 people were reported killed as relentless bombings continued and a ground invasion with large numbers of tanks pushed further into the city.
China: Ships Collide with the Philippines Near Disputed Shoal in South China Sea
On 16 September 2025, it was reported that ships from China and the Philippines collided near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines) as maritime tensions continue to escalate. Following the incident, both parties exchanged accusations. China claimed a Philippine vessel had collided with one of its coastguard ships, while the Philippines Coast Guard asserted that Chinese “aggressive actions” damaged its vessel and caused injuries to one of its crew members due to shattered glass from a water cannon. This incident occurred less than a week after China announced plans to unilaterally turn the disputed Scarborough Shoal into a “nature reserve,” a move condemned by the Philippines, the US, and Canada as an expansionist cover lacking genuine environmental intent. The maritime tensions occur in a context where China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, creating unresolved disputes with several regional nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam. Furthermore, Beijing continues to reject a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that China’s claims were not backed by international law.
UN: Commission Finds Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza
On 16 September 2025, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released a report and concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza against Palestinians constitute genocide. The report found that Israeli forces carried out four of the five actions defined as genocide in the 1948 Genocide Convention, including killings, inflicting serious bodily and mental harm, forcing living conditions intended to destroy the Palestinians as a group in whole or in part, and inflicting measures aimed to limit births. Commission Chair Navi Pillay stated that “it is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.” The Commission examined statements by Israeli authorities and found direct evidence of genocidal intent. Furthermore, it analysed the behaviour patterns of Israeli forces in Gaza, including starvation tactics and the implementation of inhumane living conditions. The Commission concluded that “genocidal intent was the only reasonable inference that could be concluded from the nature of their operations.” It was also determined that Israel has not acted to stop or hold those who are responsible accountable for the commission of genocide, due to its lack of investigation into genocidal acts or prosecution of those accused of such crimes. Additionally, the Commission found that Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then Defence Minister Yoav Gallant have incited genocide. The Commission urged Israel to halt its starvation tactics, permit unrestricted humanitarian aid access, and ensure that all UN staff can operate unhindered. It further called on Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law, including ceasing the genocide in Gaza and fully complying with the measures mandated by the International Court of Justice.
Guinea: Prepares to Vote on Constitution Referendum Favouring Coup Leader
On 17 September 2025, preparations continued in Guinea for a constitutional referendum set for 21 September 2025. This pivotal vote could clear the path for military junta leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, to run in the next presidential election. The draft constitution removes the ban on junta members running in elections, a key provision of the previous transition charter. While presented as a step toward restoring civilian rule, the new draft constitution faces sharp criticism. Exiled opposition politicians have called for a boycott of the vote, denouncing it as an attempt by the junta leader to seize and legitimise power. Critics specifically object to the plan to lengthen the presidential term to seven years (renewable once) and to create a Senate where one-third of the members would be appointed by the president. The process has unfolded amid increasing government repression: the junta recently suspended three main opposition parties, and all public demonstrations have been banned since 2022.
EU: Proposes Curbing Trade Ties with Israel over Gaza War
On 17 September 2025, the European Commission proposed suspending certain trade-related provisions of the EU–Israel Association Agreement, citing violations of human rights and democratic principles linked to Israel’s war in Gaza. The proposal, which still lacks sufficient support among the EU’s 27 member states, also calls for sanctions on 10 Hamas leaders, violent settlers, and two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged member states to raise tariffs on Israeli goods, while Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and the release of hostages. The Commission announced it would freeze bilateral support to Israel, with exceptions for civil society and Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial centre. The proposal follows a review that found Israel in breach of Article 2 of the Association Agreement, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the obstruction of aid, intensified military operations, and settlement expansion in the West Bank’s E1 area, which undermines prospects for a two-state solution. The EU remains divided, with states such as Spain and Ireland pushing for tougher measures, including an arms embargo, while Germany and Hungary resist sanctions. Protests across Europe and pressure from human rights groups have intensified calls for action, as a UN inquiry on Tuesday described Israel’s campaign in Gaza as genocide.
DRC: Ebola Outbreak Kills 31 Since Early September
On 18 September 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 31 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the beginning of the month. The outbreak, the first in the country in three years, was declared in early September near the town of Bulape in the central-southern Kasai Province. So far, 48 confirmed and probable cases have been recorded across four districts. WHO and its partners have delivered over 14 tons of essential medical supplies and deployed experts to support the government’s response. More than 900 contacts have been identified and are under follow-up, while vaccination efforts are ongoing for contacts, possible contacts, and frontline workers. On Tuesday, the first two patients to recover were discharged.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/18/who-says-ebola-outbreak-in-congo-kills-31
UN: Security Council Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire Vetoed by the US
On 18 September 2025, a UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza,” was vetoed by the US. The draft resolution also demanded the release of all hostages, and that Israel lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. The resolution was proposed by the elected 10 members (non-permanent members) of the Security Council, and received 14 votes in favour, with only the US voting against. As one of the five permanent Security Council members, the US has the power to veto resolutions. This marked the sixth time the US used its veto power to block a proposed Security Council resolution during the nearly two-year Israeli war in Gaza. Danish Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen noted that despite the resolution not being adopted, “14 members of this Council have sent a clear message,” underscoring support for a ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the lifting of all aid restrictions into Gaza. Lassen further highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating, “famine has been confirmed in Gaza – not projected, not declared, confirmed.”
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165881
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-vetoes-un-demand-ceasefire-aid-access-gaza-2025-09-18/
Malawi: Rival Candidates Claim Victory in Presidential Elections Amid Delayed Results
On 19 September 2025, both President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party and challenger Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party declared victory in Malawi’s presidential elections, prompting warnings from the Electoral Commission. With more than 99% of votes counted, officials have yet to release results, urging candidates to respect procedures. Electoral Commission chair Annabel Mtalimanja stated that results would not be rushed under political pressure, emphasising that the commission has up to seven days from polling day to announce the outcome. The vote, held on 16 September, also elected parliamentary representatives and over 500 local councillors across the country of 21 million people. The race is widely expected to be close between Chakwera, 70, and former president Mutharika, 85. A candidate must secure over 50% of the vote to win outright, otherwise a runoff will be required. The two men also faced off in 2019, when Mutharika was initially declared the winner before the Constitutional Court annulled the results due to electoral irregularities. Malawi, meanwhile, remains tense as it faces an economic crisis and soaring inflation.
UN: Reports Civilian Killings in Sudan Conflict Have Increased Sharply in 2025
On 19 September 2025, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported a sharp increase in civilian killings during the first half of 2025 in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, with at least 3,384 civilian deaths recorded between January and June, reaching nearly 80% of total civilian deaths in 2024. The majority of killings were caused by artillery shelling, air and drone strikes in densely populated areas, particularly during the RSF offensive on El Fasher and the ZamZam and Abu Shouk displacement camps in April. The report also documented at least 990 summary executions in the first half of 2025, with incidents tripling between February and April, largely in Khartoum after Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured parts of the city. Witnesses also described SAF search operations in civilian neighbourhoods where children as young as 14 were summarily executed on suspicion of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) affiliation. The OHCHR warns that such atrocities underscore the scale of civilian suffering in Sudan, now facing perhaps the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Saudi Arabia-Pakistan: Formalises Mutual Defence Pact
On 19 September 2025, it was reported Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan had signed a “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” on Wednesday in Riyadh, formalising their decades-long security partnership. This agreement declares that any aggression against one country shall be considered an aggression against both, thereby strengthening joint deterrence. Analysts have immediately labelled the pact a “watershed moment” that reshapes the region’s geopolitics, highlighting a growing wariness among Gulf states about the reliability of US security guarantees. The commitment to utilise “all military means” has raised intense speculation, particularly in India, over whether Pakistan has extended a nuclear umbrella over Saudi Arabia. While a senior Saudi official claimed the pact was a culmination of years of discussions and not a reaction to a specific event (such as the recent Israeli strike on Doha), the timing is widely interpreted as a direct signal to Israel. Regionally, the defence treaty is expected to complicate Saudi relations with India and exacerbate tensions with Iran, which will likely perceive it as a hostile security development.
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