Weekly News Recap (20 - 26 April 2026)
© Photo by United Nations Photo via Flickr
International Justice Section
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Court Upholds Acquittal of Wartime Security Chief Bjelosevic
ECtHR: Finds Dutch Life Sentence Review System Meets Convention Standards
ECtHR: Finds Violations in Dutch Treatment of Venezuelan Detainees in Curaçao
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Confirms All Charges Against Duterte
Guatemala: Constitutional Court Orders Redo of Attorney General Selection
International Peace & Security Section
Israel: Death Penalty Law Could Lead to Suspension from Observer Status in European Rights Assembly
Lebanon: Israeli Attacks Kill at Least Five Including Journalist Amal Khalil
Nigeria: At Least 20 Killed in Suspected Boko Haram Militant Attack
Yemen: 24 Killed in Flooding in Southwestern Province of Taiz
UN: Warns US-Israeli War on Iran Could Drive 30 Million into Poverty
Somalia: At Least 17 People Killed After Boat Capsizes off Algeria
GRFC: Warns Conflicts Remain Main Driver of Rising Hunger and Famine Risks
Myanmar: Martial Law Imposed Across Dozens of Townships Expanding Military Judicial Powers
International Justice Section
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Court Upholds Acquittal of Wartime Security Chief Bjelosevic
On 20 April 2026, the appeals chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina upheld the acquittal of Andrija Bjelosevic, who served as head of the Doboj Security Service Centre during the 1992 to 1995 conflict, on charges of the multiple rape of a Bosniak woman in the northern town of Derventa between November 1992 and April 1993. The prosecution had appealed the first-instance verdict of November 2024, arguing that the trial court had erred in its assessment of the evidence. The appeals chamber confirmed that verdict, accepting the finding that while the victim was undeniably a survivor of wartime sexual violence, the reliability of her testimony identifying the accused had been called into question; the court declined to rely on prosecution witnesses with close family ties to the victim or to another key witness. Bjelosevic had separately been acquitted by final verdict in December 2025 of crimes against humanity in the Doboj and Teslic areas before the same court. The outcome illustrates a persistent difficulty in Bosnian war crimes proceedings: charges of wartime sexual violence that rest principally on survivor testimony without independent corroboration carry a high risk of acquittal.
https://balkaninsight.com/2026/04/20/bosnian-court-clears-local-security-chief-of-wartime-rape/btj
ECtHR: Finds Dutch Life Sentence Review System Meets Convention Standards
On 21 April 2026, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered its judgment in F.B. and Others v. the Netherlands, and unanimously found no violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, in the Dutch system for reviewing life sentences. The seven applicants, all serving life sentences, argued that the mechanism introduced by the Advisory Board Life-Sentence Prisoners Decree in 2017 rendered their sentences irreducible both in law and in practice. The decree had been adopted in response to earlier Grand Chamber judgments against the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and created a two-stage process: eligibility for reintegration activities after 25 years in detention, followed by a ministerial pardon decision. The court examined the nature and scope of the system, its criteria, and its time frame. It held that executive review of ministerial decisions by civil courts, with reasoned rulings subject to appeal, provided sufficient procedural safeguards under Article 3; that review criteria addressing risk of reoffending, conduct in detention, impact on victims, and retribution were sufficiently clear and accessible; and that a review period of 25 to 28 years fell within the state’s margin of appreciation. The ruling is the first to assess the 2017 Dutch regime comprehensively and provides guidance for other Council of Europe member states on the minimum requirements that executive life sentence review mechanisms must meet to comply with the Convention.
https://www.echr.coe.int/w/judgment-concerning-the-netherlands-2
ECtHR: Finds Violations in Dutch Treatment of Venezuelan Detainees in Curaçao
On 21 April 2026, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered its judgment in Y.F.C. and Others v. the Netherlands, and found multiple violations in relation to the detention and treatment of seven Venezuelan nationals held in Curaçao. The applicants were intercepted in April 2019 in the territorial waters of Curaçao, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the southern Caribbean, arrested by the coast guard, and held pending removal to Venezuela. During a transfer between facilities on 9 June 2019, prison staff fired rubber bullets, and one applicant was kicked in the back. The court held unanimously that there had been a violation of the investigative limb of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, because the inquiry into the incident was conducted by the same prison staff whose conduct was under scrutiny, rendering it neither effective nor independent. By six votes to one, the court found a further substantive violation of Article 3 in respect of three applicants who produced evidence of injuries the government failed to justify. The court also held unanimously that Article 5§4 of the Convention, the right to have the lawfulness of detention decided speedily by a court, had been violated because all seven applicants were denied access to legal assistance during their first week in custody, making any meaningful challenge to their detention impossible. The case, in which the UN High Commissioner for Refugees intervened as a third party, carries wider significance for procedural standards applicable to the detention of migrants in overseas territories.
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-8516359-12086527
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press#{%22itemid%22:[%22003-8516359-12086527%22]}
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Confirms All Charges Against Duterte
On 22 April 2026, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejected a defence challenge to the court’s jurisdiction over former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and on 23 April 2026 Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously confirmed all three counts of crimes against humanity, committing him to trial. The jurisdiction appeal centred on the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which took effect in March 2019: the defence contended that because the Philippines was no longer a state party when the investigation was formally authorised in 2021, the court lacked authority to proceed. The Appeals Chamber held by majority that the preliminary examination opened in February 2018, before withdrawal was notified, had constituted a matter already under the court’s consideration within the meaning of article 127(2) of the Rome Statute, the provision governing the legal consequences of state withdrawal. Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze dissented in part, maintaining that a preliminary examination does not satisfy that threshold. The following day, Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed three counts of murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity committed between November 2011 and March 2019 in the context of the war on drugs campaign, finding substantial grounds to believe Duterte bore individual criminal responsibility as indirect co-perpetrator for a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population. Duterte, aged 81, has been in ICC custody since March 2025 and is the first former Southeast Asian head of state to face trial before the court.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-appeals-chamber-confirms-jurisdiction-duterte-case
Guatemala: Constitutional Court Orders Redo of Attorney General Selection
On 23 April 2026, the Constitutional Court of Guatemala ordered the annulment of the shortlist for the attorney general candidates and directed the selection committee to restart the evaluation process. The court determined that the criteria used to rank the candidates were not transparent and did not adhere to constitutional standards governing public appointments. The decision directly impacts several candidates, including those involved in ongoing anti-corruption initiatives and others who have faced criticism from international observers. The ruling highlights the judiciary’s role in protecting the independence of prosecutorial institutions in a nation where corruption cases often have international repercussions.
Nigeria: Six Former Security Officials Accused of Coup Plot Against President Bola Tinubu Plead Not Guilty
On 22 April 2026, six former security officials accused of planning a violent coup against President Bola Tinubu pleaded not guilty during their arraignment at a federal court in Abuja. Judge Joyce Abdulmalik postponed the trial until 27 April. The defendants face 13 charges, including treason, terrorism, and financing terrorism. Meanwhile, a seventh suspect, a former state governor, remains at large. Attorney-General and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi called for an expedited trial due to the significance of the case. Defence lawyers requested oral bail applications, however, the judge rejected this request, directing them to submit formal written motions. The judge also ordered that the suspects be held in custody until the trial commences. The trial represents the most significant treason case since Tinubu assumed power in 2023, underscoring attempts to enhance internal security amid economic challenges, increased Islamist militant attacks, and political tensions.
Netherlands: Prosecutors Request 30-Year Sentence for Former Syrian Paramilitary Leader Accused of Torture
On 23 April 2026, prosecutors in the Netherlands called for a 30-year prison term for a man accused of committing torture in Syria. The suspect, identified as Rafik A., was a former member of the pro-Assad National Defence Forces (NDF) who allegedly committed acts of torture and sexual violence against civilians between 2013 and 2014. The charges include 25 offenses, including ill-treatment, torture, and sexual assault. The prosecution alleges that victims were blindfolded, stripped naked, beaten, and exposed to electric shocks, with incidents of sexual violence and rape also reported. The case involves nine victims, among them two women. The suspect escaped to the Netherlands in 2021, prompting authorities to open an investigation. The evidence includes testimonies from victims and Syrian security documents confirming his role as an NDF member. The court is anticipated to announce its ruling on 9 June.
International Peace & Security Section
Chad: Announces Deployment of 1,500 Troops to UN-Backed Security Force in Haiti to Combat Gang Violence
On 21 April 2026, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby announced that the country will send 1,500 troops to Haiti as part of the UN-backed security force. The deployment will consist of two battalions made up of 750 personnel each. Deby highlighted Chad’s commitment to international peacekeeping, including operations against the Boko Haram militant group. The Gang Suppression Force, launched three years ago, is a multinational security force in Haiti aimed at assisting the police force in tackling gang violence. It replaces a previous multinational mission led by Kenya and aims to expand its personnel to 5,500. For several years, gang violence has been rampant in Haiti, with gangs controlling almost all of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and extending their influence into surrounding areas. The civilian population has faced widespread violence, including killings, rapes, and kidnappings, which has further deteriorated humanitarian conditions in the country.
Israel: Death Penalty Law Could Lead to Suspension from Observer Status in European Rights Assembly
On 22 April 2026, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) condemned Israel’s recently enacted law expanding military courts’ authority to impose the death penalty in specific cases involving Palestinians. PACE president Petra Bayr stated that Israel’s observer status at the assembly could be suspended over the new law. Since 1957, Israel has been an observer at PACE. The assembly, which comprises of 46 member states, works to promote democracy and human rights throughout Europe and beyond, and serves as the parent body of the European Court of Human Rights. Legal challenges have been filed in the Israeli judicial system contesting the law. Human rights organisations and PACE contend that this legislation infringes upon domestic constitutional protections and international humanitarian law, particularly regarding fair trial guarantees and the prohibition against discriminatory enforcement of capital punishment. These legal challenges may escalate to the Israeli Supreme Court, where petitioners could seek to block or restrict the implementation of the law.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/israel-death-penalty-law-rights-body-council-of-europe
Lebanon: Israeli Attacks Kill at Least Five Including Journalist Amal Khalil
On 22 April 2026, Israeli attacks killed at least five people in southern Lebanon, including journalist Amal Khalil, highlighting the effective collapse of a so-called ceasefire. An initial strike targeted a car in the village of at-Tiri, killing two civilians, followed by a second air strike on a nearby building where two journalists had taken shelter while covering the aftermath. Amal Khalil, who worked for the Al Akhbar newspaper, was killed after being trapped under rubble, while another journalist, Zeinab Faraj, was seriously wounded and required surgery. Lebanese authorities accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting journalists and obstructing rescue efforts, including by striking access roads to prevent ambulances from reaching the scene. Information Minister Paul Morcos condemned the attack and called for the protection of media workers. In a separate incident the same day, two more people were killed in an Israeli strike on the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif. The incidents highlight the continued pattern of Israeli attacks despite the ceasefire, and come amid Israel’s ongoing invasion of southern Lebanon, where it has seized a strip of territory along the border and maintains a military presence. Since the start of the Israeli offensive on Lebanon in March, more than 2,400 people have been killed, while over 1.2 million have been displaced.
Nigeria: At Least 20 Killed in Suspected Boko Haram Militant Attack
On 22 April 2026, it was reported that at least 20 people were killed in Borno and Adamawa states in northeast Nigeria, in suspected attacks by Boko Haram militants. The chairman of Askira-Uba district, Mada Saidu, reported that the gunmen stormed the villages of Pubagu and Mayo-Ladde on motorbikes, overpowering local vigilantes. The militants torched homes and shops, and also looted food supplies. At least 11 people were killed in Pubagu and nine in Mayo-Ladde. The violence is the latest in a surge of attacks by Boko Haram and its Islamic State splinter group ISWAP, targeting both military bases and civilians in northeastern Nigeria. Islamist militants have pursued a 17-year insurgency aimed at establishing an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria. The violence has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of at least two million people.
Yemen: 24 Killed in Flooding in Southwestern Province of Taiz
On 23 April 2026, it was reported flooding in Yemen’s southwestern province of Taiz had killed 24 people and affected 31,260 families. Deputy Governor Moheeb al-Hakimi stated that the floods hit several districts, causing widespread damage to key sectors, with estimated costs of over US$15 million. Hakimi said the disasters are part of chronic vulnerability associated with climate change, failing infrastructure, increasing food insecurity, and inadequate early warning and response. On 14 April, the Yemeni government reported 22 fatalities and more than 12,000 families displaced due to previous floods in Taiz, while a further 21 people were reported missing or injured. Since late March, heavy rainfall has resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, as well as significant destruction across several provinces. Yemen’s fragile infrastructure has exacerbated the humanitarian impact for civilians amid over 11 years of conflict between government forces and the Houthi group.
UN: Warns US-Israeli War on Iran Could Drive 30 Million into Poverty
On 23 April 2026, the UN warned that the US-Israeli war on Iran could push more than 30 million people back into poverty, as its global economic and food security impacts intensify. According to UN Development Programme chief Alexander De Croo, disruptions to fuel and fertiliser supplies, driven by the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, have already reduced agricultural productivity and are expected to significantly lower crop yields in the coming months. The strait, a critical route through which a large share of global fertiliser supplies passes, has become a key point of tension, raising concerns about cascading effects on global food systems. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that a prolonged disruption could trigger a global food “catastrophe,” with countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya and Egypt identified as particularly at risk. The crisis is also severely straining humanitarian operations, as key aid routes have been disrupted and funding continues to decline. Relief agencies warn that life-saving assistance is being delayed or blocked, leaving vulnerable populations in some of the world’s worst-affected regions at risk of going without essential support. Officials caution that, in some cases, aid organisations may no longer be able to reach those in need, pushing already fragile communities into deeper vulnerability.
Somalia: At Least 17 People Killed After Boat Capsizes off Algeria
On 23 April 2026, at least 17 migrants from Somalia died after a boat capsized between Algeria and Spain. Somalia’s ambassador to Algeria Yusuf Hassan confirmed the news and outlined the victims including 12 men and five women, who drowned while attempting the treacherous journey to Europe. Hassan also stated that concerned parents had reached out seeking information about the whereabouts of missing children and relatives. He contacted the Algerian Foreign Ministry, who confirmed the tragedy. Shipwrecks occur regularly along these routes as migrants attempt to flee conflict, poverty, and climate difficulties, with boats frequently overcrowded and unsafe at sea. Migrants from Somalia often attempt these journeys as they face drought and limited economic opportunities. Authorities have yet to release full details on the number of passengers on board or how the boat got into difficulty in the water.
https://apnews.com/article/somalia-algeria-migrants-capsized-boat-bc1978f36e98f84ec34b551553d3eda4
GRFC: Warns Conflicts Remain Main Driver of Rising Hunger and Famine Risks
On 24 April 2026, the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026 warned that conflict and violence remained the primary drivers of acute hunger worldwide, affecting nearly 150 million people across 19 countries in 2025, more than half of those facing severe food insecurity globally. Against this backdrop, the report estimates that around 266 million people experienced acute food insecurity across 47 countries, nearly double the figure recorded in 2016, with levels remaining persistently above 20% of affected populations since 2020. Famine was confirmed in parts of the Gaza Strip and Sudan, the first time two regions have simultaneously reached this extreme classification since monitoring began. The risk of famine is expected to persist in these areas, as well as in South Sudan, into 2026. The report also highlights worsening severity, with 1.4 million people facing catastrophic levels of hunger and more than 39 million in emergency conditions. The Gaza Strip recorded the highest share globally, with nearly one-third of its population experiencing famine-level conditions. Children remain among the most affected, with 35.5 million suffering acute malnutrition, including nearly 10 million in life-threatening conditions. Despite escalating needs, humanitarian funding has declined to levels last seen in 2016-2017. The report warns that ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions risk further destabilising global food systems, potentially worsening hunger crises in 2026.
Myanmar: Martial Law Imposed Across Dozens of Townships Expanding Military Judicial Powers
On 24 April 2026, the military-backed authorities in Myanmar implemented martial law across approximately 60 townships including Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Shan, Rakhine States, Saging, Magway, and Mandalay, amidst an ongoing conflict with opposition forces. This move transferred judicial authority from civilian courts to military commanders for a 90-day period. Under this order, civilians accused of specific offences may now be tried before military tribunals, raising significant concerns regarding due process, fair trial guarantees, and the independence of the judiciary. This action broadens the military’s control over governance and judicial matters, effectively sidelining civilian judicial institutions in the affected areas.