Weekly News Recap (22 - 28 June 2026)
© Photo by DFID – UK Department for International Development via Flickr
International Justice Section
Kenya: High Court Finds Health Minister in Contempt for Defying Quarantine Site Orders
Libya: Criminal Court Sentences Former Prison Director to Seven Years for Abuse of Detainees
Netherlands: Prosecutors Formally Request Life Imprisonment as Rwandan Genocide Trial Closes
Syria: Criminal Court Opens Trial of Former President Assad’s Cousin for Crimes Against Humanity
ECOWAS: Court Dismisses Former Ghanaian Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s Human Rights Claims
ECOWAS: Court Holds Sierra Leone Responsible for Failing to Prevent Child Marriage
Tunisia: Court Sentences Former Truth Commission President to 25 Years in Prison
ICJ: DRC Institutes Proceedings Against Rwanda Over Armed Conflict
International Peace & Security Section
Sudan: Drone Strikes in El Obeid Shut Down Essential Services as Warnings of Escalation Intensify
UN: Warns Palestinian Children Left Increasingly Unprotected as Pressure on Aid Groups Intensifies
Colombia: Far-Right De La Espriella Wins Tight Presidential Race
OHCHR: Report Finds Foreign Indifference Deepening Civilian Suffering in Myanmar
OCHA: Urges UN Security Council to Support Recovery in Syria Amid Displacement and Funding Gaps
OCHA: Briefs UN Security Council on Shrinking Humanitarian Space in Ukraine
Jordan: HRW Reports Six Executions in First Mass Execution Since 2017
EU: Holds Talks with Taliban Delegation on Afghan Deportations
OHCHR: Warns EU Returns Law Risks Violating Principle of Non-Refoulement
North Korea: Commissions New Destroyer as Kim Advances Nuclear Naval Programme
International Justice Section
Kenya: High Court Finds Health Minister in Contempt for Defying Quarantine Site Orders
On 22 June 2026, Kenya’s High Court found Health Minister Aden Duale in contempt of court for violating judicial orders that mandated an immediate halt to the construction of a controversial United States-backed Ebola quarantine facility, which was intended for US nationals exposed to outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Lady Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande ruled that Duale had unlawfully proceeded with site preparation at the Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki despite multiple conservatory orders issued following a petition filed by the Katiba Institute. Appearing in court for a sentencing and mitigation hearing on 23 June, Duale issued a formal apology to the bench, denied deliberate defiance, and confirmed he had ordered all construction activities to stop. The judge accepted Duale’s apology and discharged him with a warning, saying that he would face sentencing if he disobeyed court orders again. The injunction to halt construction works was extended until a hearing on 23 July. The case follows local protests over the government’s silence regarding plans to establish a quarantine facility for foreign nationals evacuated from regional outbreaks.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/22/kenyan-court-finds-minister-in-contempt-over-us-ebola-site
Libya: Criminal Court Sentences Former Prison Director to Seven Years for Abuse of Detainees
On 22 June 2026, it was reported that a Tripoli criminal court sentenced the former head of Tripoli’s judicial police and former director of Mitiga prison, Osama Almasri Najim, to seven years and four months in prison for the systematic abuse of detainees. The prosecution argued that Najim oversaw acts of torture and inflicting cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment against prisoners in Mitiga prison. Najim remains the subject of an active International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant relating to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was briefly arrested in Italy last year but was flown back to Libya on a chartered flight by the Italian government. He has been detained in Libya since November 2025.
https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/160563-libya-court-sentences-ex-jail-chief-to-seven-years.html
ECOWAS: Court Awards Nigerian Journalist ₦10 Million for Assault and Unlawful Detention During Protests
On 22 June 2026, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice ruled that the Federal Republic of Nigeria violated the rights of journalist Jide Oyekunle during the nationwide “End Bad Governance” protests held in August 2024. Oyekunle, Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, was assaulted by police officers while covering the demonstrations at Eagle Square in Abuja, detained without lawful justification, and had his mobile phone confiscated. The Court found that the conduct of the security forces violated his rights to liberty, freedom of expression, and protection from unlawful interference while carrying out his professional duties as a journalist. It ordered Nigeria to pay ₦10 million in compensation for the violations suffered. The proceedings were supported by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) under its European Union-funded eRIGHTS project.
Netherlands: Prosecutors Formally Request Life Imprisonment as Rwandan Genocide Trial Closes
On 23 June 2026, Dutch public prosecutors delivered their formal closing arguments before the District Court of The Hague, officially demanding a sentence of life imprisonment for a 66-year-old Rwandan national accused of co-perpetrating the 1994 genocide. Moving into the final judicial phase of the complex trial, the state prosecution presented detailed evidence demonstrating the defendant’s involvement in a campaign of violence and looting against Tutsis in Mbazi, southern Rwanda. Later, a mass slaughter of approximately 3,000 ethnic Tutsis occurred inside a sports stadium in Mbazi. The defence team concluded its final oral arguments by maintaining the suspect’s innocence and asserting that the allegations were politically motivated. The Dutch judicial panel will now deliberate on the charges of genocide and war crimes. The trial is set to continue until 29 June, with a verdict expected on 28 August.
https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/160643-dutch-prosecutors-urge-life-for-rwanda-genocide-suspect.html
Syria: Criminal Court Opens Trial of Former President Assad’s Cousin for Crimes Against Humanity
On 24 June 2026, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus opened the first trial session of Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of the former President Bashar al-Assad, on charges including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Presiding Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan read out an indictment alleging that the defendant was involved in establishing and financing two militia groups that executed systematic attacks against civilians in Eastern Ghouta. The prosecution accuses the suspect of utilizing his family status to orchestrate illicit drug trafficking, smuggling, and extortion during the former regime’s rule. The court said the alleged acts amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, while the defendant denied involvement with the armed groups. The trial forms part of Syria’s broader transitional justice process aimed at holding former regime figures accountable for alleged wartime atrocities committed during the country’s civil war.
https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/160666-syria-trial-opens-for-assad-cousin-accused-of-war-crimes.html
https://thearabweekly.com/syria-puts-former-assad-era-mufti-trial-alleged-incitement-war-crimes
ECOWAS: Court Dismisses Former Ghanaian Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s Human Rights Claims
On 24 June 2026, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice unanimously dismissed an application brought by former Ghanaian Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo challenging the legality of proceedings that resulted in her removal from office. Torkornoo alleged that Ghana had violated her rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and sought US$10 million in compensation. The Court rejected all seven claims, finding that the removal process complied with applicable constitutional and due process requirements and that the applicant had failed to establish violations of her protected rights. It further held that it lacked jurisdiction to reassess the factual findings and evidence considered by Ghana’s domestic investigative committee, emphasising that such matters fall within the competence of national courts.
ECOWAS: Court Holds Sierra Leone Responsible for Failing to Prevent Child Marriage
On 25 June 2026, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice delivered its judgment in ‘A Minor’ and AdvocAid Limited v. Republic of Sierra Leone, holding that Sierra Leone violated its obligations under regional and international human rights law by failing to protect an 11-year-old girl from child marriage. The applicant was forced into marriage in 2017 and subsequently experienced prolonged abuse and exploitation, circumstances that culminated in her conviction in 2021 for the murder of her co-wife’s child and her placement in detention. The Court found that Sierra Leone failed to adopt and enforce effective legal and institutional measures to prevent child marriage, recognising the practice as a form of gender-based violence that infringes the rights of children. It ordered the government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for facilitating the marriage, implement legislative and policy reforms to eliminate child marriage, and pay the applicant US$10,000 in compensation for the violations suffered.
Tunisia: Court Sentences Former Truth Commission President to 25 Years in Prison
On 26 June 2026, it was reported a court in Tunis sentenced Sihem Bensedrine, the 75-year-old former president of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD), to 25 years in prison over allegations of falsifying part of a 2020 transitional justice report that documented historical state abuses. Bensedrine’s legal counsel confirmed she will appeal the verdict. The prosecutors accused her of falsifying the commission’s report. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) categorised the prosecution as legally “groundless” and raised concerns about legal protections for commission members regarding the contents of the report.
https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/160764-tunisian-rights-activist-sentenced-to-25-years-in-prison.html
ICJ: DRC Institutes Proceedings Against Rwanda Over Armed Conflict
On 26 June 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) instituted proceedings against Rwanda before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging widespread violations of international law arising from Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the long-running armed conflict in eastern DRC. In its application, the DRC contends that Rwanda has breached multiple international conventions, including those relating to the prevention of genocide, the prohibition of torture, and racial discrimination, through alleged acts including extrajudicial killings, massacres, sexual violence, forced displacement, and support for armed groups operating within Congolese territory. The DRC requests the Court to declare Rwanda internationally responsible for these violations, order the cessation of the alleged unlawful conduct, and award reparations for damage suffered by the Congolese state and civilian victims. The ICJ confirmed receipt of the application; however, proceedings remain at a preliminary stage, with the Court yet to determine whether it has jurisdiction to hear the case. The application marks the third attempt by the DRC to bring Rwanda before the Court concerning the conflict in eastern Congo.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/202/202-20260626-pre-01-00-en.pdf
International Peace & Security Section
Sudan: Drone Strikes in El Obeid Shut Down Essential Services as Warnings of Escalation Intensify
On 22 June 2026, the UN humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) warned that escalating violence in and around El Obeid in Sudan was increasingly endangering civilians and disrupting essential services, following a series of drone strikes reported in recent days. The attacks were said to have hit multiple sites in and around the city, including a power substation, fuel station, bridges, and a major highway, causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure. According to OCHA, the strikes led to the closure of several medical facilities, including a dialysis centre, and the shutdown of water stations, severely affecting access to healthcare and basic services. Local sources also reported further drone activity across North Kordofan, including along key transport routes linking El Obeid with neighbouring areas. The warning comes amid reports of a significant build-up of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Kordofan state, raising fears of further escalation around El Obeid. The UN Security Council had expressed alarm two days earlier, warning of an “imminent risk of mass atrocities” and calling on the RSF to halt its advance on the city. The violence in Kordofan is unfolding alongside a deepening cholera outbreak in West Kordofan, where hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths have been recorded amid insecurity, displacement, and limited access to clean water and sanitation. UN agencies have again urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and infrastructure, and ensure safe humanitarian access, warning that continued fighting risks further deteriorating an already severe humanitarian crisis, with more than 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
UN: Warns Palestinian Children Left Increasingly Unprotected as Pressure on Aid Groups Intensifies
On 22 June 2026, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child warned that Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank are becoming increasingly unprotected as humanitarian organisations and child rights defenders are forced to scale back or suspend their activities amid mounting pressure and restrictions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The committee said that organisations working on child protection have been subjected to what it described as sustained harassment, including military raids, travel bans, financial sanctions, threats of arrest, destruction of records, and reputational attacks. It also criticised the practice of labelling humanitarian and rights groups as “terrorists”, arguing that such measures are contributing to the shrinking space for civil society. According to the UN body, these organisations have for decades played a key role in defending Palestinian children, including in Israeli military courts and in documenting alleged violations. Their weakening presence, it warned, is leaving children with fewer safeguards and increasing the risk that abuses will go unaddressed. The committee said the cumulative effect of these measures is making it increasingly difficult for aid groups to operate safely or continue their work, forcing some to curtail or halt operations altogether. It called for an immediate lifting of restrictions on humanitarian and child rights organisations and urged accountability for actions targeting those defending children. The statement emphasised that child rights defenders continue to operate in highly dangerous conditions but should be protected rather than obstructed, warning that without their work, violations against Palestinian children risk continuing with even less oversight or accountability.
Colombia: Far-Right De La Espriella Wins Tight Presidential Race
On 22 June 2026, far-right lawyer and businessman Abelardo De La Espriella won Colombia’s presidential run-off by a margin of less than one percentage point, defeating left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, according to preliminary results. The vote confirms a sharp political shift following four years of Gustavo Petro’s left-wing government, in a country marked by deep polarisation and ongoing security challenges linked to armed groups, drug trafficking, and extortion. De La Espriella, who received backing from US President Donald Trump, campaigned on a hardline security agenda, including the suspension of peace talks with armed groups and a 90-day US-backed military offensive against them, alongside pledges to expand oil and gas production, cut taxes, shrink the state, and build mega-prisons inspired by El Salvador’s anti-gang model. The closeness of the result, with around 26 million voters participating out of 41.4 million eligible voters nationwide, underscores the absence of a clear mandate for sweeping change, despite the candidate’s claims of a national shift. Foreign policy is also set for a major reversal. Under Petro, Colombia severed diplomatic ties with Israel over the genocidal war on Gaza, stopped coal exports to Israel, and joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. De La Espriella has pledged to restore relations with Israel and relocate the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem, signalling a break with the outgoing government’s positions. His election follows a campaign strongly shaped by Trump’s endorsement and messaging, with De La Espriella presenting himself as aligned with Washington on security cooperation and migration policy. The result places Colombia within a wider regional trend towards right-wing leadership, while also highlighting the country’s internal divisions, as opposition forces contest parts of the count and warn against the implications of an aggressive security turn.
OHCHR: Report Finds Foreign Indifference Deepening Civilian Suffering in Myanmar
On 22 June 2026, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a situation report on Myanmar covering the period from August 2025 to the end of January 2026, a span encompassing the military junta’s announcement of elections through to the conclusion of the voting period. The report documented at least 702 verified civilian deaths, concentrated primarily in the central regions and Rakhine State, and found that the intense scale and systematic nature of military attacks against the civilian population has continued unabated. Of particular concern to OHCHR was the parallel deterioration in international support: foreign actors continue to transfer arms, ammunition, jet fuel, and other dual-use items to the Myanmar military; conduct the report warns risks facilitating violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Simultaneously, significant reductions and suspensions in international funding are threatening the locally driven protection mechanisms, including early warning systems, emergency healthcare, and humanitarian coordination, that community-based groups and civil society organisations have built to fill the gap left by the state. Türk renewed his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to facilitate full humanitarian access.
OCHA: Urges UN Security Council to Support Recovery in Syria Amid Displacement and Funding Gaps
On 22 June 2026, Indrika Ratwatte, Acting UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the humanitarian situation in Syria. The briefing acknowledged genuine signs of progress following the political transition in Syria, including the return of approximately 1.6 million refugees and nearly two million internally displaced persons since December 2024, and noted that the government’s Statement of National Recovery Priorities and the agreed “No Camps, No Tents” vision provide a national framework for sustainable reintegration. However, Ratwatte cautioned that humanitarian needs remain acute, displacement persists, and access to basic services, protection, and livelihoods remains uneven across the country. Humanitarian operations, including food, nutrition, and other assistance that reached close to 3,000 communities in the first quarter of 2026, are under-resourced, with funding well short of what is required to consolidate recovery gains. The briefing also highlighted a recent flooding emergency along the Euphrates River that affected more than 17,600 people and called on UNSC members to provide sustained political will and development financing to accompany humanitarian action as Syria moves beyond emergency assistance.
OCHA: Briefs UN Security Council on Shrinking Humanitarian Space in Ukraine
On 22 June 2026, Edem Wosornu, Director of the Crisis Response Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), briefed the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Wosornu reported that since the UNSC was last briefed two weeks prior, civilian harm and suffering had deepened, with strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv on 15 June damaging homes and critical infrastructure and leaving over 100,000 households without power. She stated that the cumulative human toll since February 2022 had reached nearly 16,000 civilians killed and more than 44,000 injured, acknowledging that real figures are likely considerably higher. Of particular concern, Wosornu documented a systematic narrowing of humanitarian access: evacuation teams attempting to reach front-line communities are being tracked and followed by first-person-view drones, and attacks on ambulances and aid convoys are becoming more frequent and severe. She characterised this pattern as one that defies international humanitarian law. The briefing concluded with two key asks: that the UNSC ensure respect for international humanitarian law and accountability for violations, including protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and that it supports unimpeded access for aid operations.
https://www.unocha.org/news/aid-space-shrinking-attacks-mount-ukraine-ocha-tells-security-council
Jordan: HRW Reports Six Executions in First Mass Execution Since 2017
On 23 June 2026, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Jordanian authorities executed six men by hanging at dawn on 21 June 2026, marking the country’s first mass execution since 2017 and its return to active use of capital punishment. All six men had been convicted following trials before Jordan’s State Security Court, a military institution. Two were convicted in connection with the 2018 Salt terrorist cell attack, which resulted in the deaths of multiple security personnel; a third was convicted of the 2022 assassination of a senior military officer; and the remaining three were drug traffickers found guilty of killing security officers during law enforcement operations between 2014 and 2018. Government Communications Minister Mohammad Al-Momani confirmed that the sentences had received final judicial confirmation through the Court of Cassation, Cabinet endorsement, and royal decree before being carried out. HRW criticised the use of the State Security Court, noting that such courts frequently restrict defendants’ rights beyond what is permissible under international human rights law. The European Union External Action Service (EEAS) separately expressed regret over the executions, reiterating the EU’s unequivocal opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances, and describing the executions as a significant setback given Jordan’s prior de facto moratorium.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/06/23/6-executed-as-jordan-resumes-death-penalty
EU: Holds Talks with Taliban Delegation on Afghan Deportations
On 23 June 2026, EU officials and representatives from 15 member states held a discreet meeting in Brussels with a Taliban delegation to discuss the deportation of Afghan nationals from Europe. Although the European Commission stated that the talks focused on deporting individuals who had committed serious crimes or were considered security threats, reports indicated that the invitation sent to the Taliban referred more broadly to the return of “Afghan nationals with no right to stay in the EU”, raising concerns that the scope of the discussions could extend beyond those categories. The meeting, held despite the EU’s continued non-recognition of the Taliban government, has drawn strong criticism from human rights organisations, MEPs and refugee advocacy groups. Critics argue that engaging directly with a regime accused of severe human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls, risks contributing to its political normalisation. They also question the legality and ethics of increasing deportations to a country facing a deep humanitarian crisis and widespread restrictions on fundamental rights. Concerns have also been raised about the possibility that future return agreements could involve financial incentives or compensation from the EU in exchange for the Taliban accepting deported Afghan nationals. While the European Commission has insisted that the current discussions remain technical in nature and do not entail political commitments, critics warn that such cooperation could gradually deepen ties with the Taliban authorities. The talks reflect growing pressure within the EU to increase deportation rates, which remain low for Afghan nationals despite a rise in restrictive migration policies across Europe. Human rights groups warn that Afghanistan cannot currently be considered a safe country for return, citing ongoing persecution, the absence of legal protections, and deteriorating living conditions under Taliban rule.
OHCHR: Warns EU Returns Law Risks Violating Principle of Non-Refoulement
On 24 June 2026, a statement was published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in which High Commissioner Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the newly adopted European Union Regulation on Returns, which the European Parliament approved days earlier, on 17 June. The regulation expands the use of pre-removal detention and permits EU member states to establish so-called return hubs in third countries, enabling the accelerated deportation of migrants and asylum-seekers. Türk cautioned that EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states, and stressed that the detention and removal of vulnerable persons, including children, carries a high risk of serious human rights violations. He called on the EU and its member states to ensure that the regulation’s implementation remains fully consistent with international human rights law and international refugee law, and in particular with the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of any person to a place where they would face a real risk of irreparable harm.
North Korea: Commissions New Destroyer as Kim Advances Nuclear Naval Programme
On 24 June 2026, North Korea announced the commissioning of the Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton destroyer that Kim Jong Un described as a symbol of the country’s expanding naval and nuclear capabilities. According to state media, the vessel has officially entered service and will be deployed along North Korea’s western coast. Kim stated that the warship demonstrates the progress of North Korea’s programme to equip its navy with nuclear weapons. The vessel is reportedly equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-ship systems, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. It has undergone a series of weapons tests in recent months ahead of its deployment. Kim also described the destroyer as part of North Korea’s transition towards a navy equipped with “strategic means”, arguing that the country’s naval forces should no longer be limited to coastal defence. The commissioning of the Choe Hyon forms part of a broader military modernisation programme that increasingly focuses on naval capabilities, including the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and additional destroyers. South Korean officials and some analysts have suggested that the vessel may have been built with Russian assistance, although questions remain regarding its operational readiness. The announcement comes as North Korea continues to expand its military capabilities following the collapse of nuclear negotiations with the United States in 2019 and amid ongoing tensions with South Korea.