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International Peace & Security Section
African Union: Hosts Post ICJ Advisory Opinion Workshop to Advance Climate Justice
Türkiye: Hosts Gaza Stabilisation Force Talks as Potential UN Resolution Nears
Lebanon: Two Killed and Seven Wounded in Israeli Strikes in Southern Lebanon
US: Ends Temporary Protection Status for South Sudanese Nationals
Mali: Al-Qaeda Affiliate JNIM Tightens Grip on Capital with Blockade
Ukraine: Pokrovsk Defence Nears Collapse Amid Intensified Russian Drone Assault
ICJ: Comoros Files Declaration to Intervene in South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel
On 31 October 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a press release announcing that Comoros had filed a declaration of intervention in the case South Africa v. Israel, concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. Comoros based its request to intervene on Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, which allows States Parties to a convention that is being interpreted by the Court to participate in the proceedings. Under this provision, the Court’s interpretation of the treaty will be binding on the intervening State as well. Comoros argues that the case before the Court involves the interpretation of key provisions of the Genocide Convention, in particular Articles I to VI (which define genocide and the obligations of States to prevent and punish it) and Article IX (which concerns the Court’s jurisdiction). In its declaration, Comoros claims that Israel’s actions against Palestinians in Gaza constitute violations of its obligations under the Genocide Convention, specifically Articles III, IV, V, and VI, including the failure to prevent genocide; commission of genocide; conspiracy to commit genocide; direct and public incitement to commit genocide; complicity in genocide; and failure to punish genocide. The State also presented its own interpretation of the provisions in question, emphasising that its intervention was motivated by a “sincere conviction” that all States Parties to the Convention have a duty to prevent, suppress, and punish genocide by all possible means.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20251031-pre-01-00-en.pdf
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20251029-int-01-00-fr.pdf
ICC: OTP Warns of Potential War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan’s Darfur Region Amid Ongoing Investigation
On 3 November 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a statement expressing concern over reports of mass killings, rapes, and other crimes allegedly committed in El-Fasher, North Darfur (Sudan), which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC confirmed its jurisdiction over crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region, which began in April 2023. The OTP noted that the UN Security Council has been “working intensively” to establish the facts, both in the field and through national and international cooperation. The OTP clarified that within the ongoing investigation, it is “taking immediate steps” to safeguard and gather evidence of the alleged crimes in El-Fasher and called on individuals and organisations to directly report information and evidence regarding the situation to the Court.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/statement-icc-office-prosecutor-situation-el-fasher-north-darfur
UK: High Court Approves Use of Closed-Material Procedure in Afghanistan Inquiry
On 3 November 2025, the High Court of Justice (England & Wales) held that a closed-material procedure (CMP) can be used in the ongoing Afghanistan Inquiry. In the case Witness IIA126 v Chair of the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan, presided over by Mrs. Justice Steyn, the court permitted the handling of sensitive national-security materials under the Justice and Security Act 2013, while other confidential evidence, including details related to witness protection, falls under the court’s inherent jurisdiction. Special advocates represent parties excluded from the proceedings, such as Afghan claimants, though much of the record remains inaccessible to the public. This case originated when “Witness IIA126” contested the restrictions on disclosing classified information during the inquiry’s Green Hearings. The inquiry seeks to investigate alleged war crimes and unlawful killings by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.
ICJ: Public Hearings Scheduled on Guatemala’s Intervention Request in Belize-Honduras Dispute over Sapodilla Cayes Sovereignty
On 5 November 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that public hearings will be held from 24 to 26 November 2025 in the case Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes/Cayos Zapotillos (Belize v. Honduras), concerning Guatemala’s request to intervene. The dispute, initiated by Belize in 2022, concerns sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes, located between Belize’s Barrier Reef and the Gulf of Honduras. Guatemala submitted its request to intervene in 2023, arguing that the case overlaps with the Guatemala-Belize dispute, which also concerns sovereignty over the territory and is currently pending before the Court. Belize’s claim of sovereignty is based on the argument that the Cayes have been part of Belizean territory since the early 19th century, first as a settlement, later as British Honduras, and since 1981 as independent Belize. Honduras first claimed sovereignty over the Cayes in 1981, in communications to the British Ambassador. Although this request was denied, Honduras incorporated the Cayes into its 1982 Constitution. In the case Guatemala v. Belize, Guatemala claims to have historical, legal, and practical links to certain territories that Belize currently administers and argues that the boundaries and status of the territory have never been fully agreed. Both countries have submitted a special agreement to the ICJ to resolve the dispute. Guatemala will present its oral arguments on 24 and 26 November, while Belize and Honduras will present theirs on 25 and 26 November. The ICJ has provided information for those wishing to attend the hearings in Press Release No. 2025/52, dated 5 November 2025.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/185/185-20251105-pre-01-00-en.pdf
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/185/185-20221117-PRE-01-00-EN.pdf
Libya: Former Police Chief Accused of Crimes Against Humanity by ICC Arrested in Tripoli
On 5 November 2025, Libyan authorities arrested Osama Almasri Najim, the former chief of Libya’s judicial police, who is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, and murder. The Tripoli Prosecutor’s Office reported that evidence links Najim to the abuse of at least ten detainees and the death of one prisoner at Tripoli’s main prison. His arrest follows a diplomatic controversy earlier in 2025 when Najim was detained in Italy under an ICC warrant but was subsequently released and repatriated on an Italian Air Force jet, an action condemned by the ICC as a violation of obligations under the Rome Statute. Najim’s arrest by Libya has renewed scrutiny of Italy’s previous handling of the case.
France: Trial Against Lafarge and Former Executives for Financing Terrorism in Syria Postponed
On 6 November 2025, it was reported the trial of Lafarge, a French multinational construction materials company, was postponed to 18 November. Several of its former executives, including former CEO Bruno Lafont are accused of financing terrorist organisations and violating international sanctions. During the Syrian civil war, Lafarge allegedly paid several million euros to the Islamic State (ISIS) and other armed groups to ensure that its cement plant in Syria could continue operating, despite the grave risks faced by its employees, some of whom were kidnapped and had their lives threatened. The complainants are 11 former Syrian employees, supported by the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Sherpa. The case is unprecedented, as it examines corporate criminal liability in the context of armed conflict. Lafarge remains under investigation for complicity in crimes against humanity, although the current trial will not address that charge. Earlier in the proceedings, the French Supreme Court ruled on the admissibility of the complicity in crimes against humanity charge, noting that Lafarge and its executives were aware that the armed groups they funded acted with purely criminal intent. According to reports, French intelligence services were aware of Lafarge’s relations with ISIS, which, in turn, used the company’s cement to build shelters and tunnels for terrorist purposes. The defendants are also accused of violating the European Union embargo prohibiting financial and commercial relations with terrorist groups. The trial was initially expected to begin on 4 November and run until 16 November 2025, was postponed on Wednesday after the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office announced irregularities in the referral order concerning Lafarge’s former director in Syria.
https://www.asso-sherpa.org/lafarge-syria-trial-begins-financing-terrorism
ICC: Confirms War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Charges Against Ugandan Rebel Leader Joseph Kony
On 6 November 2025, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed 29 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Joseph Kony, the founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), for atrocities committed in northern Uganda and neighbouring countries. The charges include murder, rape, sexual enslavement, and the conscription of child soldiers. This hearing marks a historic first in absentia confirmation at the ICC, allowing legal proceedings to advance despite Kony remaining at large. Prosecutors characterised the LRA’s decades-long campaign of terror as one that has ravaged entire communities. The trial will progress to the next phase once Kony is apprehended or surrenders to The Hague.
https://apnews.com/article/icc-court-judges-uganda-rebel-kony-d8363510e469b0eb7ca53be219bc1efa
Netherlands: Court Upholds Government Discretion in Arms Exports to Israel Despite Serious Risk of Genocide Against the Palestinians
On 6 November 2025, the Hague Court of Appeal dismissed a case filed by ten human rights organisations aimed at halting Dutch weapons exports to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The NGOs contended that the Netherlands, as a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention, has a responsibility to prevent serious violations of international law, referencing an International Court of Justice order from January 2024 which ordered Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza. While the court acknowledged the existence of a “serious risk” of genocide, it ruled that the Dutch government has “considerable discretion” in matters of foreign policy and national security. The ruling emphasised that, although plausible risks are present, the court cannot mandate specific preventive measures when the state has already undertaken efforts to limit arms exports and economic cooperation in occupied territories. Additionally, the NGOs were ordered to cover the legal costs of the proceedings.
Ukraine: Russian Soldier Sentenced to Life for Executing POW
On 6 November 2025, a Russian soldier, Dmitry Kurashov, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, for murdering Ukrainian soldier and prisoner of war (POW) Vitalii Hodniul. Hodniul had surrendered in January 2024, after Russian forces captured his dugout. Kurashov shot him and was later taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces. Kurashov pleaded guilty in court. This marks the first time Ukraine has convicted a Russian soldier for killing a POW, despite numerous reports of Russian forces executing captured Ukrainian soldiers. According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, 322 cases involving the killing of Ukrainian soldiers are currently under investigation. Killing POWs or wounded soldiers constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law and is considered “one of the most serious crimes,” said the case’s lead prosecutor, Mykyta Manevskyi. Kurashov, who lost his left eye in combat in Ukraine, had joined a Russian “Storm V” assault unit after being offered early release from prison, where he had been serving time for theft. His defence lawyer argued that a 10-year sentence would be more appropriate. According to Reuters, Kurashov claimed to be innocent and expressed hope for a future prisoner swap.
African Union: Hosts Post ICJ Advisory Opinion Workshop to Advance Climate Justice
On 3 November 2025, the African Union (AU) hosted a Post-Advisory Opinion Workshop at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on the ICJ Advisory Opinion concerning the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change. The event brought together representatives from AU Member States, AU organs, and international legal experts, participating both in person and virtually. The workshop examined the implications of the ICJ’s Opinion issued on 23 July 2025, which established that States have binding legal obligations to prevent, mitigate, and address the impacts of climate change, rooted in principles of equity, due diligence, and cooperation. Discussions centred on how to operationalise the Opinion within the UN, in international climate agreements, across African regional frameworks, and domestically, including through legislative and judicial measures. The AU subsequently endorsed a Post-Advisory Opinion Action Plan to guide immediate, medium-term, and long-term engagement, reinforcing Africa’s leadership in climate governance and promoting the right to a sustainable and healthy environment as a legal obligation.
Türkiye: Hosts Gaza Stabilisation Force Talks as Potential UN Resolution Nears
On 3 November 2025, at a meeting in Istanbul, foreign ministers from Türkiye, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE and Qatar discussed potential troop contributions to an international stabilisation force for Gaza. It was suggested that a UN sanctioned resolution could be ready within two weeks, though disagreements over its mandate and leadership risk delaying progress. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said deployments would depend on the mission’s authority, warning that conflicting terms could deter participation. Türkiye has offered troops, an idea Israel rejects due to Ankara’s supposed ties with Hamas, while Jordan offered to train a future Palestinian police force. Western diplomats say broad participation likely hinges on visible US leadership to ensure Israel’s cooperation. Arab states are insisting on a clear Israeli withdrawal timeline for a sustainable peace to be achieved. Meanwhile, continued violence threatens the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, with 115 people killed on Tuesday, the deadliest day since the truce began on 10 October.
Lebanon: Two Killed and Seven Wounded in Israeli Strikes in Southern Lebanon
On 3 November 2025, Israel launched attacks in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh province, killing two people and wounding seven others. The strikes came a day after Israel threatened to escalate its offensive on alleged Hezbollah targets, and just two days after another attack in the same province killed four people. These attacks are the latest in a long series of Israeli operations carried out despite the ceasefire agreed in November 2024, which was meant to halt more than a year of cross-border clashes and weeks of Israeli strikes on Beirut. Since the truce, Israel has continued near-daily air raids in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa region and has kept troops in five areas of the south. Although Israel claims its strikes target Hezbollah positions, numerous civilians, paramedics, and journalists have been among the casualties. According to the UN, Israeli forces have killed at least 111 civilians since the ceasefire came into effect a year ago. The recent Israeli attacks have raised concerns of a renewed escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, as the fragile ceasefire appears increasingly meaningless. Amid mounting tensions, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ordered Lebanon’s armed forces to confront any new Israeli incursions in the south, following the killing of a municipal employee during a previous raid.
Romania: Signs Deal with Germany’s Rheinmetall to Build Gunpowder Plant Amid Rising European Defence Efforts
On 3 November 2025, NATO member Romania signed an agreement with German defence company Rheinmetall to construct a gunpowder factory in Victoria, Brașov County. The €535 million (US$616 million) plant, expected to start in 2026 and to be completed in 2029, aims to produce ammunition powder for Europe and globally, and will create around 700 local jobs. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan described the joint venture as a sign of Romania’s emergence as a key player in Southeast Europe’s defence industry, noting that the project would mark a significant expansion after years of limited domestic defence production. Part of Romania’s investment is expected to be financed through the European SAFE mechanism to enhance defence readiness. Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger emphasised that the factory would integrate Romania into both the European and NATO defence ecosystems. Romania’s growing role in NATO follows Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the country having donated a Patriot missile system to Ukraine and hosting an international F-16 pilot training hub for allied forces, including Ukraine.
US: Two Killed in Latest Strike on Vessel in the Pacific
On 5 November 2025, the US killed two people in a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, bringing the number of people killed in US attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific to an estimated 67 since September. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said the vessel was involved in “illicit narcotics smuggling” and that the strike was ordered by President Donald Trump. A short aerial video showed the vessel hit by a missile and engulfed in flames, though the identities of those on board were obscured. Legal experts have condemned the attacks as extrajudicial killings, even if the targets are suspected of drug trafficking. Latin American governments and victims’ families have criticised the operations, arguing many of those killed are likely fishermen. Both Republican and Democratic US lawmakers have demanded clarity on the legal basis for strikes in international waters. The announcement comes as the US steps up its military presence in the Caribbean, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, aimed at combating drug cartels. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned the strikes as a pretext for regime change, while Trump suggested Maduro’s days as president are numbered but did not confirm whether strikes inside Venezuela would occur. In response to growing concern, UN human rights chief Volker Turk called on the US to halt the attacks to prevent further extrajudicial killings.
US: Ends Temporary Protection Status for South Sudanese Nationals
On 6 November 2025, it was reported the US is terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudanese nationals, ending more than a decade of deportation relief granted due to armed conflict in the country. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that affected individuals will have 60 days to leave the country or face deportation. USCIS said that South Sudan “no longer meets the criteria for an ongoing armed conflict that poses a serious threat” to returnees. The agency added that those who report their departure through the Customs and Border Protection app may receive a free flight, a US$1,000 “exit bonus,” and potential eligibility for future legal immigration. The TPS designation for South Sudan, introduced in 2011 under the Obama administration, had been repeatedly extended and currently applies to 232 people. The move is the latest in a series of revocations by the Trump administration targeting protections for nationals from countries including Cameroon, Haiti, and Nepal. Human rights advocates warned that returning South Sudanese face renewed risks amid reports of escalating political tensions and instability. The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan recently cautioned that power struggles and local conflicts could reignite widespread violence despite the fragile peace deal signed in 2018.
Sudan: Paramilitary RSF Agrees to US-Backed Ceasefire Terms
On 6 November 2025, Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced they had agreed to a US-led proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire, opening the door for urgent aid delivery amid the nation’s catastrophic war. The RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been engaged in a devastating civil war since April 2023, which has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, displacing millions. The RSF’s acceptance follows its recent seizure of the strategically vital, famine-stricken city of El Fasher, which consolidated its control over the Darfur region. The proposal, coordinated by the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, reportedly outlines an initial three-month humanitarian truce to be immediately followed by a nine-month political process aimed at transitioning the nation back to civilian rule. While the RSF stated it looks forward to commencing these discussions, the rival SAF have not yet officially agreed to the terms, having previously rejected the plan unless the RSF completely withdraws from all occupied civilian areas and surrenders its weapons.
Mali: Al-Qaeda Affiliate JNIM Tightens Grip on Capital with Blockade
On 6 November 2025, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) brought Mali’s capital, Bamako, to a breaking point after imposing an effective and months-long economic and fuel blockade. This siege, the first time JNIM has targeted the capital, has caused severe fuel shortages, price hikes, and school closures, significantly increasing popular discontent and pressure on the military government. Analysts suggest that the group, which has been growing in power since 2017, is intentionally leveraging this crisis to force the military government of Colonel Assimi Goita into negotiating a power-sharing deal or to incite protests that could lead to a regime change more favourable to their interests. The military government, which previously refused talks with the group, has threatened to impound vehicles abandoned at petrol stations but is now exploring local leader-led talks to end the siege as the crisis deepens.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/6/is-mali-about-to-fall-to-al-qaeda-affiliate-jnim
Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa Triggers Worst Climate Disaster in Nation’s History and Humanitarian Crisis
On 6 November 2025, the UN described Hurricane Melissa as Jamaica’s worst climate disaster on record, with around 1.5 million people affected and initial damage estimates reaching 30% of GDP. Kishan Khoday, the UN Development Programme (UNDP)’s Resident Representative for the Caribbean, said the Category 5 storm generated nearly five million metric tonnes of debris across western Jamaica, equivalent to about half a million truckloads. Authorities have confirmed 32 deaths, while 36,000 people urgently need food assistance and over 100,000 homes have been damaged. Around 30 communities remain cut off, with widespread power and communications outages. UNDP has allocated an initial US$400,000 to support assessments and early recovery, while the World Food Programme (WFP) is airlifting food from Barbados for more than 6,000 households. The disaster response involves over 60 organisations working with Jamaica’s national authorities. Khoday highlighted local resilience, citing survivors’ determination to rebuild amid what he called the “harsh realities of the climate emergency.” Neighbouring Cuba and Haiti also sustained severe damage from Melissa, with more than 120,000 Cuban residents still in shelters and widespread destruction to homes, schools, and health facilities.
Kazakhstan: To Join the Abraham Accords with Israel
On 6 November 2025, the White House confirmed that Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords, becoming the fifth country to do so after the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The signing is expected to take place during the Central Asian Summit in Washington, attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The move is largely symbolic given Kazakhstan’s longstanding diplomatic ties with Israel. According to US officials, it signals Astana’s intent to deepen regional cooperation and promote interfaith dialogue. US officials also said Tokayev had personally expressed interest in joining the accords, viewing them as a platform for engagement and integration. The development comes amid Washington’s efforts to strengthen influence in Central Asia, a region historically dominated by Russia, and to secure partnerships in energy and critical minerals. During the summit, Kazakhstan and the US signed an agreement on mineral cooperation. President Donald Trump, who brokered the original accords in 2020, has pushed for further expansion, saying he expects additional countries to join soon, including potentially Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine: Pokrovsk Defence Nears Collapse Amid Intensified Russian Drone Assault
On 6 November 2025, it was reported that Ukraine’s months-long defence of the eastern city of Pokrovsk appears to be collapsing after a major Russian offensive in late October left Ukrainian forces trapped in parts of the city and neighbouring Myrhnohrad. The loss of Pokrovsk, a key crossroads in the Donbas, would mark a significant strategic setback for Ukraine, giving Russia a base for potential further advances. Despite massive Russian casualties, Moscow’s strategy combining overwhelming manpower with superior long-range drone warfare has begun to yield results. Ukrainian commanders report that Russia now controls at least 60 per cent of Pokrovsk, using massed drone formations such as the elite Rubikon unit to dominate the airspace and ambush Ukrainian supply routes. Ukrainian special forces, led personally by intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, mounted two last-ditch helicopter raids to reinforce northern positions, though their success remains unclear. Analysts warn that Ukraine’s poor planning has left it exposed. The imminent fall of Pokrovsk, achieved at enormous cost, underscores Russia’s growing battlefield momentum in the Donbas and the urgent need for renewed Western support.
https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/11/06/ukraines-valiant-defence-of-pokrovsk-is-nearing-its-end
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