© Photo by Alisdare Hickson via Flickr
International Peace & Security Section
Thailand: Suspends Peace Deal with Cambodia After Border Landmine Explosion
UN: Calls for Urgent Action on Millions Displaced by Climate Change
Tanzania: Key Opposition Figures Released After Deadly Election Protests
Pakistan: Parliament Votes to Expand Army Chief’s Role and Restrict Supreme Court
Ethiopia: Tensions with Tigray Raise Fears of Wider Horn of Africa War
Ukraine: Russian Attack on Kyiv Leaves 6 Dead and 35 Injured
US: Launches ‘Southern Spear’ Mission in South America as Attacks on Vessels Reach New High
Sudan: RSF Advance on el-Obeid Amid Fear of Humanitarian Catastrophe
IRMCT: Bosnian Croat Official Convicted of War Crimes Granted Early Release
On 10 November 2025, it was reported the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) granted conditional early release to Bruno Stojić, a former Bosnian Croat official, from his 20-year sentence for war crimes committed during the Bosnian War. The court’s decision of 8 November 2025, announced on Monday, noted that Stojić, who served two-thirds of his sentence, has demonstrated remorse and achieved a sufficient level of rehabilitation, accepting responsibility for his role in the leadership of the self-proclaimed Herceg-Bosna (Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia). During psychiatric sessions, Stojić admitted his guilt, stating he wants “to sink into the ground” when thinking of the victims of the killings, rapes, and other war crimes for which he was convicted. His conduct in prison was exemplary, with no disciplinary issues, and authorities noted his acknowledgment of past crimes. Stojić has agreed to avoid contact with victims or witnesses and to be supervised by Croatian authorities, surrendering his travel documents. Other former Herceg-Bosna officials were also convicted for war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Jadranko Prlić and Slobodan Praljak, the latter of whom died after taking poison in court during sentencing.
https://www.irmct.org/sites/default/files/case_documents/MSC53844R0000665414.pdf
Kosovo: Former Serbian Police Officer Convicted of War Crimes in Prizren
On 11 November 2025, Šaćir Lutvija, an ethnic Gorani and former Serbian police officer, was convicted of war crimes committed in Kosovo and sentenced to ten years in prison by the Basic Court of Pristina. Lutvija was found guilty of unlawful arrest of civilians, inhuman treatment, and murder. As one of the inspectors responsible for interrogating 11 Albanian civilians in Prizren during a police and military campaign targeting ethnic Albanians, he was accused of overseeing brutal interrogations in which detainees were beaten and subjected to electric shocks on their hands and genitals. One of the victims died from the abuse, and the remaining ten were seriously injured. Lutvija, who has been in detention since October 2023, pleaded not guilty. His defence argued that the conviction was unlawful and not supported by sufficient evidence, announcing plans to appeal the verdict.
IRMCT: Rejects Mladić’s Request for Temporary Release
On 11 November 2025, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) dismissed an application by Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, seeking temporary release to attend a family memorial service. Mladić, who is serving a life sentence following his 2021 conviction for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, argued that humanitarian considerations warranted an exception. The President of the Mechanism held that the request failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances, and noted that similar applications by other convicted persons had routinely been refused. The decision emphasised that equal treatment of all detainees is fundamental and that there was no reason for Mladic to “be treated differently.” The court also rejected an application for early release in July on humanitarian grounds because of his declining health.
https://www.irmct.org/sites/default/files/case_documents/MSC54435R0000665420.pdf
Sweden: Appeal Court Upholds First-Ever Genocide Conviction for Forced Transfer of Children
On 11 November 2025, the Svea Court of Appeal in Sweden upheld the 12-year sentence imposed in an earlier judgment on a Swedish national for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed against members of the Yazidi community. The case, brought under Sweden’s universal jurisdiction framework, concerned acts perpetrated in Syria and Iraq in support of the Islamic State group. The Court of Appeal confirmed the District Court’s findings, including that the defendant’s forcible transfer of Yazidi children constituted genocide, the first time a Swedish court has recognised genocide through this specific act. It also upheld convictions for enslavement, unlawful detention, and other abuses amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes. The judgment represents a significant development for future prosecutions involving the forced transfer of children in armed conflict, marking the first-ever conviction for genocide through the transfer of children
France: Former Congolese Rebel Leader’s Trial for Crimes Against Humanity Begins in Paris
On 12 November 2025, Roger Lumbala’s trial began before the Cour d’Assises in Paris for complicity in crimes against humanity allegedly committed between 2000 and 2003 in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while he led the Congolese Rally for National Democracy (RCD-N). Lumbala is accused of ordering widespread and systematic acts of torture and inhuman treatment, and of providing perpetrators with the means to commit crimes including murder, torture, rape constituting torture or inhuman acts, theft, pillage, and enslavement through forced labour and sexual slavery. He is also accused of being part of a criminal association with the aim of preparing crimes against humanity. During the military operation “Erasing the Board” in North Kivu and Ituri, which aimed to take control of resource-rich regions in eastern DRC, RCD-N fighters allegedly attacked the civilian population violently under Lumbala’s command and assistance. The attacks affected thousands of people, and 35 survivors are participating as civil parties in the trial, with around 30 expected to testify before the court and jury in Paris. The trial is historic as it represents France’s first use of universal jurisdiction for crimes committed in the DRC. It is also the first time that crimes from the Second Congo War are being examined by a national court, rather than a military or international tribunal. Consequently, Lumbala is the first Congolese national to stand trial before a national court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Second Congo War (1998–2003). Under the French Criminal Code, Lumbala may be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty.
https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/trial-of-roger-lumbala-qa/
Ukraine: Russian General Charged Over Kherson Occupation
On 13 November 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that Russian Major General Oleksandr Kornev has been formally charged with the crime of aggression allegedly committed on 24 February 2022, under Articles 28(2) and 437(2) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. As commander of the 7th Air Assault Mountain Division of the Russian Southern Military District, Kornev is accused of leading the occupation of the Kherson region, supported by the Russian Dnipro Group of Forces. Following the occupation, Kherson was isolated, triggering a humanitarian crisis that left thousands of civilians killed or injured and caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. According to evidence collected by the SBU, Kornev also allegedly ordered the establishment of checkpoints in Kherson used for abducting civilians and seizing private property. The investigation was conducted by SBU officers in the Kherson region under the supervision of the regional prosecutor’s office.
Austria: Two Former Syrian Officials Charged for Detainee Abuse and Torture
On 13 November 2025, it was reported the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office had charged two former Syrian officials from Bashar al-Assad’s regime for serious crimes against civilian detainees. The accused, a former intelligence brigadier general and a former police lieutenant colonel from Raqqa, allegedly endorsed and participated in acts of torture, sexual violence, and other abuses aimed at silencing anti-regime protests between 2011 and 2013. Austrian media have identified one of the suspects as the so-called “Torture General.” At least 21 victims, some of whom continue to suffer lasting injuries, have joined the case as civil parties. Both defendants have been living in Austria since 2015, where they sought asylum. If found guilty, they could be sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charges come amid Syria’s political transformation following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Since then, mass graves have been uncovered across the country, and the new transitional government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has vowed to pursue justice for crimes committed under the previous regime.
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/68135/european-states-widen-pursuit-of-syrian-war-crimes
ECtHR: Rules Poland Violated Right to Private and Family Life in Abortion Case
On 13 November 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled in A.R. v. Poland that the applicant’s right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 had been violated, due to legal uncertainty surrounding Poland’s abortion framework in late 2020 and early 2021. Following a Constitutional Court judgment restricting access to abortion on grounds of foetal abnormality, months passed before the ruling was published, creating ambiguity as to whether termination of pregnancy remained lawful. During this period, A.R., then 15 weeks pregnant with a foetus diagnosed with a severe genetic disorder, sought medical clarity but was unable to access services in Poland, and ultimately travelled to the Netherlands for a termination. The Court found that the combination of delayed publication, unclear legal obligations, and concerns regarding the composition of the Constitutional Court meant that the interference with her rights lacked the foreseeability required under Article 8.
ECtHR: Rules North Macedonia Violated Judges’ Right of Access to a Court
On 13 November 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held in Ilievska and Zdraveva v. North Macedonia and Ribarev v. North Macedonia that the applicants’ right of access to a court under Article 6 had been violated. The cases concerned former judges who had been dismissed by the State Judicial Council. Although initial dismissal decisions were overturned by specially constituted Appeal Panels, those panels remitted the cases for reconsideration. Under domestic law, however, decisions adopted by the Council after remittal were not subject to further appeal. The ECtHR found that this structure prevented any judicial body from assessing whether the Council had properly complied with the Appeal Panels’ guidance. The absence of a mechanism to verify the adequacy of the reconsideration process amounted to a restriction that impaired the very essence of the applicants’ right of access to a court.
https://www.echr.coe.int/w/judgment-concerning-the-north-macedonia
IRMCT: Judges Rule Kabuga Unfit to Travel for Transfer Proceedings
On 14 November 2025, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) issued a decision finding Rwandan genocide suspect Félicien Kabuga medically unfit to travel to Rwanda for further proceedings. Kabuga, indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, has been subject to litigation concerning whether his case should continue in France, or be transferred. After reviewing medical assessments, the Chamber ruled that his current condition rendered travel unsafe and incompatible with international detention standards. The decision does not resolve the broader procedural questions surrounding Kabuga’s future trial arrangements but directs the Registry to ensure appropriate medical care, and to continue monitoring his condition.
https://www.irmct.org/sites/default/files/case_documents/MRA26958R0000665433.pdf
Thailand: Suspends Peace Deal with Cambodia After Border Landmine Explosion
On 10 November 2025, Thailand suspended the implementation of its US-brokered ceasefire with Cambodia following a landmine explosion near the shared border that injured two Thai soldiers. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that all actions under the truce will be paused until Cambodia meets Thailand’s unspecified demands, citing ongoing threats to national security. Phnom Penh has not yet issued a response. Both countries had signed a ceasefire in July, following five days of border clashes that left at least 43 people dead and displaced over 300,000 civilians. Although the truce has largely held, tensions have persisted, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of obstructing mine clearance and allegedly laying new mines. Cambodia denies such claims. Under the ceasefire terms, Thailand was expected to release 18 Cambodian soldiers and begin removing heavy weapons and mines along the frontier, but Bangkok has now postponed the release. Cambodia maintains it remains committed to the agreement and urged Thailand to follow through on its obligations. The suspended truce highlights unresolved territorial disputes that have long fuelled instability along the border. Analysts warn that without a more comprehensive settlement addressing core claims, periodic violence is likely to continue despite short-term ceasefire efforts.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/10/thailand-suspends-cambodia-peace-deal-after-landmine-blast
UN: Calls for Urgent Action on Millions Displaced by Climate Change
On 10 November 2025, the 30th annual Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened in Belém, Brazil, against a stark warning from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). The UNHCR report, No Escape II: The Way Forward, highlighted how extreme weather is compounding challenges for already fragile communities, citing examples such as floods in South Sudan and Brazil, and water shortages in Chad and Ethiopia. Over the past decade, weather-related disasters have caused approximately 250 million internal displacements, the equivalent of 70,000 daily. The agency noted that three in four people already uprooted by conflict now live in countries facing “high-to-extreme” exposure to climate-related hazards. Looking ahead, the report projected that by 2050, the hottest refugee settlements in countries like Ethiopia, Senegal, and Mali could face nearly 200 days of hazardous heat stress annually, rendering many locations “uninhabitable.” Outgoing UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi urged the conference to take real action, lamenting that a “deeply inequitable climate finance system” means conflict-affected host countries receive only one-quarter of the climate finance needed to protect millions living on the edge.
Syria: Joins US-Led Anti-ISIL Coalition
On 11 November 2025, it was reported Syria officially joined the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL (ISIS), marking a major realignment less than a year after President Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew Bashar al-Assad. The announcement came during Sharaa’s landmark visit to Washington, the first ever by a Syrian president, where he met with US President Donald Trump just days after being removed from Washington’s “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list. Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said the “political cooperation declaration” signed with the coalition affirms Syria’s commitment to “combating terrorism and supporting regional stability.” The agreement, which currently includes no military components, makes Syria the coalition’s 90th member. In parallel, the US Treasury extended by 180 days its suspension of enforcement of the 2019 Caesar Sanctions Act, which had imposed sweeping restrictions on Damascus over human rights abuses under Assad. A full repeal, however, would require Congressional approval. The rapprochement follows weeks of intensified Syrian security operations targeting Islamic State cells, with more than 70 arrests and multiple assassination plots against Sharaa reportedly foiled. Analysts view the easing of sanctions and Syria’s entry into the coalition as signs of Washington’s cautious backing for Sharaa’s efforts to rebrand his regime and reintegrate Syria into the international community after years of isolation.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/11/syria-signs-up-to-us-led-coalition-against-isil
Tanzania: Key Opposition Figures Released After Deadly Election Protests
On 11 November 2025, Tanzanian authorities released several senior opposition figures who had been detained following last month’s disputed presidential election. The main opposition party, Chadema, confirmed that four officials, including Vice Chairman John Heche and Deputy Secretary-General Amani Golugwa, were freed on bail on Monday. The arrests came after a government crackdown on protests against the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was declared the winner of the disputed 29 October election with nearly 98% of the vote. While Chadema leader Tundu Lissu remains imprisoned on treason charges, prosecutors have charged at least 145 other protest suspects with treason and over 170 with other offenses. Opposition groups and human rights activists allege security forces killed more than 1,000 people during the unrest, a claim the government denies. The Catholic Church condemned the killings, saying such acts were “a disgrace before God,” while African Union observers noted the election failed to comply with democratic standards.
Pakistan: Parliament Votes to Expand Army Chief’s Role and Restrict Supreme Court
On 12 November 2025, Pakistan’s parliament approved a constitutional amendment that significantly expands the powers of the army chief and curbs the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, a move that critics argue deals a severe blow to democracy and judicial independence. The legislation, which passed with a super-majority, elevates current Army Chief Asim Munir to the new post of Chief of Defence Forces, giving him formal command over all armed services and granting him legal immunity for life upon completion of his term. The amendment also strips the Supreme Court of its authority over constitutional cases, transferring them to a new Federal Constitutional Court whose judges will be appointed by the government, a change opponents warn undermines the judiciary. While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the amendment as a step toward “institutional harmony,” opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, condemning the changes as eliminating judicial oversight and increasing military influence in politics.
Palestine: Settlers Set Fire to Mosque in West Bank
On 13 November 2025, Israeli settlers set fire to the Hajja Hamida Mosque in the Palestinian village of Deir Istiya, damaging the building, burning Qurans, and leaving anti-Palestinian graffiti. The attack comes amid a record number of settler and military attacks across the occupied West Bank, particularly during this year’s olive harvest season. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 160 settler attacks have been recorded since October, injuring over 150 Palestinians and damaging more than 5,700 olive trees. The same day, two Palestinian children were killed when Israeli forces opened fire during a raid in Beit Ummar, near Hebron. The arson prompted international condemnation. The UN described the assault as “completely unacceptable,” stressing Israel’s obligations as the occupying power to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. Rights groups have repeatedly noted that settler attacks are occurring in the context of Israel’s de facto annexation of the West Bank and with the acquiescence or, in some cases, involvement of Israeli security forces. Palestinian officials continue to urge world powers to take concrete measures, including halting arms transfers to Israel, as violence intensifies across both the West Bank and Gaza.
Ethiopia: Tensions with Tigray Raise Fears of Wider Horn of Africa War
On 13 November 2025, it was reported that Ethiopia’s fragile peace with Tigray is rapidly collapsing and could ignite a broader regional conflict. The 2022 peace deal that ended the devastating Tigray war has effectively unravelled, with Tigrayan leaders accusing Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of breaching the accord through recent drone strikes and by cutting federal funding. Both sides are again mobilising, echoing the run-up to the 2020 conflict. Other factors are adding to the instability. Tigray’s leadership is now divided, with splinter factions fighting each other and some defecting to form militias reportedly backed by Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s relations with Eritrea have also broken down amid Abiy’s growing push for Red Sea access, prompting quiet coordination between former enemies Eritrea and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Meanwhile, shifting alliances across the Horn, including Amhara Fano militias turning against Abiy and cooperation among Eritrean, Tigrayan and Sudanese forces, risk drawing multiple actors into the conflict. A covert proxy war is already under way, and the possibility of direct Ethiopia-Eritrea clashes cannot be ruled out.
Ukraine: Russian Attack on Kyiv Leaves 6 Dead and 35 Injured
On 14 November 2025, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile strike on Kyiv, leaving six people dead and at least 35 injured as projectiles hit residential districts, triggering fires and damaging several high-rise buildings, Ukrainian authorities reported. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that more than 430 drones and 18 missiles were launched nationwide, describing the assault as intentionally designed to inflict maximum civilian harm. The attack also caused damage in Odesa and Kharkiv, and debris reportedly struck the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv. The strike was the most intense on the capital in nearly three weeks and comes as Russia escalates efforts to degrade Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Kyiv authorities warned of possible power and water cuts as emergency crews worked to extinguish fires and clear debris across eight of the city’s ten districts. In the wider Kyiv region, critical infrastructure and private homes were damaged, with additional injuries reported. Ukraine, meanwhile, continued its own long-range drone campaign targeting Russian infrastructure. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 216 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions and occupied Crimea. In Krasnodar, falling debris damaged an oil depot and coastal facilities at the Sheskharis complex, while additional strikes reportedly hit civilian infrastructure in the Saratov region, where local media suggested an oil refinery was among the targets.
https://apnews.com/article/war-russia-ukraine-energy-strikes-bombs-e0016ce1cec36f650e384a255250bf18
US: Launches ‘Southern Spear’ Mission in South America as Attacks on Vessels Reach New High
On 14 November 2025, Washington announced Operation Southern Spear, a new mission targeting alleged “narco-terrorists,” as the US continues to expand its military presence across Latin America. The move follows the 20th US strike on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific this week, killing four people and pushing the death toll since September to roughly 80. The US maintains that the boats were carrying narcotics but has provided no evidence or legal basis for the lethal attacks, drawing criticism from G7 partners and human rights groups. The operation comes with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, now heading towards Venezuela. Analysts describe the manoeuvre as the region’s largest US military buildup in generations and argue that it is intended more to pressure Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro than to combat drug trafficking. Maduro denounced the escalation as a fabricated pretext for aggression, while Venezuela mobilised nearly 200,000 troops in response and warned that further US actions could destabilise the region.
Sudan: RSF Advance on el-Obeid Amid Fear of Humanitarian Catastrophe
On 14 November 2025, it was reported that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are increasingly threatening el-Obeid, a strategic hub in North Kordofan under Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) control, raising fears that the city could suffer a fate similar to el-Fasher. RSF fighters are advancing from nearby Bara, increasing pressure on el-Obeid and its large civilian population which now includes thousands of displaced people. There are several reports that residents are living in fear after the el-Fasher massacre in late October, when the RSF overran the city after a prolonged siege and committed mass atrocities. El-Obeid serves as a vital logistics and air base for the SAF. Losing it would deal a strategic blow to the Sudanese army, severing its connection to Khartoum and limiting its ability to project power westward. Analysts warn that an RSF takeover of el-Obeid could lead to devastating civilian suffering, including potential siege conditions, replicating the tragic cycle of starvation, violence, and rape witnessed in el-Fasher.
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:
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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
