OVERVIEW
Week 39
During the fourth week of September 2026:
In CAR, the army and Russian paramilitaries freed hostages abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Haut-Mbomou following an attack that left one civilian dead. In DRC, Amnesty accused M23 rebels of executing 18 miners in Rubaya and Lomera, subjecting detainees to torture, and smuggling stolen coltan into Rwanda. In ETHIOPIA, intercommunal clashes in Gambella killed a dozen of people. 7 insurgent groups formed an alliance to overthrow the federal government, with Tigrayan forces declaring war, taking control of regional airports, and expanding offensives in Afar and Amhara. The State forces claimed over 700 rebels were killed, while the UN reported that air strikes hit schools and mortar fire killed civilians in Kobo, with widespread blackouts. In SUDAN, escalating warfare drove over 55,000 refugees across the border into Chad, overwhelming border transit camps amid UN funding shortages.
In LEBANON, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged the UN to maintain an international peacekeeping force in the south following UNIFIL’s scheduled December withdrawal, noting that 329,000 people remain displaced due to the Israeli operations. In SYRIA, security forces arrested former Major General Ahmed Mohammad Ismail for war crimes in Aleppo, Deraa, and Eastern Ghouta. In PALESTINE, Israeli strikes and fire in Gaza killed at least 7 civilians, including 2 children, while the UN warned that Gaza suffers the worst economic collapse in global history. Defense Minister Israël Katz threatened the forced displacement of Gaza City residents. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler was killed near Ramallah, prompting army raids in Biddu that detained 50 residents, while troops shot dead a Palestinian driver in Ganim. Israel’s election committee disqualified major Arab parties from upcoming legislative elections, and the UN blacklisted 214 corporations linked to West Bank settlements. The Committee to Protect Journalists revised its Gaza fatality list, affirming Israel’s responsibility for 191 reporter deaths.
Regarding the GULF WAR, Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks targeting Riyadh and Yanbu, while Saudi coalition airstrikes in Yemen killed 27 civilians across Mokha, Taez, and Al-Jawf. Intense ground battles between Houthis and government forces occurred as the UN warned that 230,000 newly displaced Yemenis face a severe humanitarian crisis due to critical funding shortfalls. In PAKISTAN, a suicide bombing and shootout on police headquarters in Kohat killed 31 people, including civilians. In AFGHANISTAN, Pakistani air and drone strikes targeting multiple provinces killed 7 civilians.
Human rights groups warned that Malaysia’s forced repatriation of 5,000 migrants threatens Rohingya refugees with return in MYANMAR where they may be placed in camps and persecuted again.
In EASTERN EUROPE, Russian strikes killed a total of 28 people across Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, the Kharkiv region, the Odessa region, and the Mykolaiv region, while Ukrainian strikes killed a total of 4 people in Belgorod and Kherson. Russian parliamentary elections resulted in 355 seats for Vladimir Putin’s party, a result condemned by the EU, while a famous election analyst was arrested by Russian authorities after criticizing the vote. The European Court of Human Rights examined the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia, and the Red Cross reported being denied access to POWs in Russia since 2024. Finnish and Swedish jets intercepted Russian fighters over the Gulf of Finland, and Moldova reported 44 airspace violations by drones. Danish intelligence services warned that a Russian aggression against NATO is possible but unlikely, while Belarus pardoned 13 political prisoners.
In NICARAGUA, the UN accused the government of enforced disappearances and deaths of political prisoners in custody, including an indigenous chief.
Regarding international justice and relations, an ARGENTINE judge charged eight Iranian and Hezbollah suspects in absentia for the 1994 Jewish center bombing, a courts in UNITED KINGDOM initiated its first prosecution of a 1994 Rwandan genocide suspect, and BELGIUM restored diplomatic ties with RWANDA. The ICC convicted former CAR Séléka commander for crimes against humanity, as US President Donald Trump demanded that all member states withdraw from the Court. In FRANCE, a former jihadist received a 30-year sentence for executions in Syria, while in GERMANY, prosecutors investigated a 105-year-old former Nazi camp guard. Radical right parties expanded electoral influence across European countries, and MADAGASCAR‘s military leadership deepened security ties with RUSSIA. In SENEGAL, 4 individuals were indicted for crimes against humanity over recent political violence.
Most of the information mentioned in the news review are from Franceinfo with Agence France Presse, Reuters and the British Broadcasting Corporation.
NEWS BY COUNTRY
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
8 HOSTAGES FREED BY SOLDIERS AND AFRICA CORPS
On September 21, 2026, the Central African Armed Forces supported by Russian allies liberated 8 civilians who were kidnapped during a Lord’s Resistance Army attack. The rescue operation occurred 20 kilometers northeast of Madama Zouma in Haut Mbomou prefecture following an attack on September 18, 2026, attributed to the rebel group led by Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. Defense authorities confirmed that 2 assailants were neutralized and military equipment was seized without losses among government forces. Russian forces supporting operations against armed groups, initially present through Wagner, were reorganized under Africa Corps within the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
18 MINERS EXECUTED AND TORTURED BY M23
On September 21, 2026, Amnesty International released a report accusing the Kigali backed M23 armed group of summary executions, torture, and forced labor against artisanal miners in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization documented the summary execution of 18 artisanal miners in Rubaya, North Kivu province, and at the Lomera gold mine in South Kivu province. According to witnesses, 10 miners were beaten to death, 2 were shot dead, and 6 were abducted before being found dead. More than 20 miners in Rubaya were detained in underground cells and beaten 3 times per day by M23, fighters collaborating with guards identified as Rwandans. The M23 controls the Rubaya mining site, which supplies 15 percent of global coltan production, and extracts illegal taxes while smuggling minerals into Rwanda. An investigation published in June 2026 by the NGO Global Witness previously revealed that hundreds of tons of Congolese coltan were laundered through Rwanda to supply global electronics companies.
ETHIOPIA
12 KILLED IN INTERCOMMUNAL VIOLENCE
On September 18, 2026, intercommunal violence in Itang, Gambella region, left at least 12 people dead and 76 injured. Medical teams from Médecins Sans Frontières received 88 people at their health center, where 8 victims were already deceased and 4 others succumbed to their injuries shortly after arrival. MSF Operations Chief in Ethiopia Gul Badshah urged all involved parties to exercise restraint and protect civilians from further violence in this region bordering South Sudan. Gambella hosts over 400,000 refugees, mostly South Sudanese fleeing conflict, while a 2025 report from the Rift Valley Institute highlighted resource access and refugee influxes as major drivers perpetuating regional conflicts.
ARMED GROUPS FORM ALLIANCE TO OVERTHROW GOVERNMENT
On September 20, 2026, 7 major armed groups in Ethiopia formed an alliance aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and establishing a transitional government. TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa announced that the coalition includes Tigrayan forces, Amhara nationalist Fano militias, the Oromo Liberation Army, alongside insurgent groups from the Somali, Afar, Ogaden, and Benishangul Gumuz regions. He added that the leader of Fano will head the coalition following more than 1 year of discussions. Oslo New University College analyst Kjetil Tronvoll noted that while individual groups face challenges against federal military drones, coordinated command across multiple fronts represents a challenge for the government, despite ideological differences between groups.
TIGRAYAN FORCES SEIZE AIRPORTS
On September 23, 2026, Tigrayan rebel forces seized control of 3 airports in the Tigray region and engaged federal troops in neighboring Afar region. Conflict analysis organization Acled confirmed that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front took control of airports in regional capital Mekele, Axum, and Shire, prompting national carrier Ethiopian Airlines to suspend all regional flights. Foreign security sources reported that the border town of Abala fell to Tigrayan forces, while fighting reached Erebti 100 kilometers inside Afar. The African Union called for restraint.
TIGRAY AUTHORITIES DECLARE WAR
On September 24, 2026, Tigrayan rebel authorities declared total war against the federal government of Ethiopia as heavy fighting expanded across northern regional states. TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa confirmed widespread combat, with Tigrayan troops fighting alongside allied rebel groups in Afar and Amhara. Humanitarian sources reported heavy artillery bombardment around Yalo in Afar, while clashes near Lalibela forced airport closures. Combat was also reported around Waldiya, a strategic Amhara town 330 kilometers from Addis Ababa. Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie addressed the United Nations General Assembly, claiming federal restraint despite external interference. Later on the same day, the Ethiopian federal army announced that 272 rebels were killed and 260 wounded during multi front clashes in northern Ethiopia. Security sources confirmed that fighting spread near a UNESCO World Heritage site.
ETHIOPIAN FORCES BLOCK REBELS ADVANCE ON ABALA
On September 25, 2026, the Ethiopian army blocked Tigrayan rebel fighters from entering the border town of Abala in Afar region during intense overnight combat. Humanitarian sources reported a federal drone strike on Abala, while the army claimed over 700 rebels were killed and 500 wounded since hostilities resumed on September 22. Network observatory Netblocks confirmed a local internet outage in northern Ethiopia, leaving state operator Ethio Telecom cut off in Tigray while Safaricom operated at reduced capacity. Acled warned that no levers exist to prevent further escalation.
5 SCHOOLS STRUCK BY AIR STRIKES
On September 25, 2026, intense fighting expanded across northern Ethiopia as the United Nations warned that federal air strikes hit 5 schools in Tigray. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk voiced alarm over reports that Ethiopian federal air strikes hit 5 schools in Tigray on September 22, while a mortar strike of the federal troops killed civilians in Kobo on September 23. Heavy combat pitted federal forces against Tigrayan rebels in May Gaba and Tselimo in Western Tigray, a fertile area contested between Tigray and Amhara. Netblocks observed widespread telecom disruptions, causing food panic buying in Mekele.
SUDAN
SUDANESE REFUGEES FLEE TO CHAD, UNHCR WARNS OF FUNDING SHORTFALL
On September 25, 2026, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that over 55,000 Sudanese fled to Chad since the start of the year as border crossings surged. Arrival rates accelerated sharply over the preceding week to more than 400 people per day at the eastern Chadian border towns of Adré and Tiné, where the transit center holds over 4300 refugees facing acute shortages. UNHCR Regional Coordinator for the Sudan Situation Mamadou Dian Balde stated that arrival rates are 20 times higher than recent months, while women and girls report severe violence along their journey. The war between the army and Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has killed over 200,000 people and created 11.3 million displaced persons. Only 18 percent of the 1.6 billion dollar regional response plan has been received, leaving over 190,000 refugees stranded in border areas.
LEBANON
LEBANON REQUESTS CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL FORCE
On September 21, 2026, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York to urge the maintenance of an international UN force in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL departs. The requested presence aims to ensure monitoring, reporting, and stability as state authority expands, following a UN Security Council decision made in August under American pressure to terminate UNIFIL in December. UNIFIL currently deploys 7500 peacekeepers from 50 countries along the 120 kilometer demarcation Blue Line while Israel maintains troops in a self-proclaimed 10 kilometer “security zone” in southern Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun previously stated that extending UNIFIL remains optimal, though he also discussed creating a replacement European force during a Paris meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan. France and Italy plan to form a coalition for this transition. Salam also informed Guterres that 329,000 people remain displaced in Lebanon due to the Israeli invasion, requesting urgent humanitarian assistance.
SYRIA
FORMER AL-ASSAD GENERAL ARRESTED FOR WAR CRIMES
On September 19, 2026, Syrian security forces arrested former Major General Ahmed Mohammad Ismail, a high ranking commander under ousted President Bashar al Assad. Ismail is accused of war crime, while directing military offensives against Aleppo, Deraa, and Eastern Ghouta. Eastern Ghouta suffered a major 2013 sarin nerve gas attack that killed over 1000 people, attributed to the Al-Assad’s forces. Military records show Ahmed Mohammad Ismail progressed from section commander to company commander in the 2nd battalion of the 101st airborne regiment before becoming operations chief in early 2016.
PALESTINE
4 PALESTINIANS INCLUDING 10 YEAR OLD GIRL KILLED BY ISRAELI STRIKES
On September 19, 2026, Israeli strikes killed at least 4 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip including a 10 year old girl and the son of a senior health official. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the 10 year old girl succumbed to her wounds following morning gunfire north of the Nusseirat camp in central Gaza. An Israeli air strike also targeted a displaced persons camp in Jabalia, killing Baseer al Bursh, whose father Gaza Health Ministry Director General Munir al Bursh denounced continuing Israeli crimes during the funeral. Two additional Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in separate strikes near Gaza City reported by Al Shifa Hospital and the Civil Defense.
ISRAELI SETTLER KILLED AND PALESTINIAN DRIVER SHOT
On September 20, 2026, an Israeli settler was shot dead near the Nevé Tzouf colony close to Ramallah shortly before Yom Kippour. The suspect was subsequently arrested at a Ramallah hospital, prompting extreme right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to demand his execution under a death penalty law enacted in March. Chief of the Israeli Army General Eyal Zamir placed forces on maximum alert and ordered a lockdown of the Palestinian village of Biddu, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog vowed punishment. Yesha Council President Israel Gantz confirmed the victim was a settler. In a separate incident near Ganim colony, Israeli troops shot and killed 32 year old Palestinian Sami Zwaideh in his car.
HUNDREDS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS RAID BIDDU AND DETAIN 50 PALESTINIANS
On September 21, 2026, hundreds of Israeli soldiers deployed dozens of military trucks to conduct house to house raids in the West Bank town of Biddu. Mayor of Biddu Nazmi Mansour reported that troops seized buildings to establish field interrogation centers, questioning dozens of residents following the killing of a Jewish settler nearby. The Jerusalem Governorate announced the arrest of approximately 50 people as military forces completely sealed off all entry points to the town of 8000 inhabitants. Chief of the Israeli Army General Eyal Zamir ordered the crackdown to search for suspected accomplices, amidst broader escalations in the occupied territory where over 1100 Palestinians and nearly 50 Israelis have died since October 2023.
11 YEAR OLD CHILD AND 2 CIVILIANS KILLED BY ISRAELI TANK AND DRONE
On September 21, 2026, Israeli military fire killed 3 Palestinians including an 11 year old child across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip. According to medical sources and the Civil Defense emergency service, the 11 year old child died after Israeli tanks shelled displaced persons tents in the Al Mawasi area east of Khan Yunis. A 31 year old woman succumbed to her injuries from a strike at Nuseirat refugee camp, while a man died from a head wound inflicted by a drone strike in Jabalia. Rescuers confirmed 9 other people were hospitalized.
ISRAEL THREATENS FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF GAZA CITY RESIDENTS
On September 22, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israël Katz threatened to forcibly expel all 1 million residents from Gaza City if Hamas abducts any Israeli. Speaking during a ceremony commemorating the 1973 war, Katz asserted that Israel would evacuate populations, destroy infrastructure, and seize territory. More than 73,900 Palestinians have died during the war, with a large majority of civilians among the casualties.
ISRAELI ELECTION COMMITTEE DISQUALIFIES MAIN ARAB PARTIES
On September 23, 2026, the Israeli Central Election Committee voted to disqualify the primary Arab political parties from competing in the October 27 legislative elections. The decision targets the United Arab List led by Mansour Abbas and the Unified List. The committee also invalidated individual candidacies for left wing Deputy Ofer Cassif and Balad Party Leader Sami Abou Chehadeh over alleged support for “the enemy”. Mansour Abbas had previously included former Police Official Yoav Segalovitz on his slate to promote co-existence. Human rights organization Adalah expressed severe concern over widespread anti Palestinian incitement, noting that Arab citizens comprise 20 percent of Israel’s population. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition faces a tight contest against centrist Opposition Leader Gadi Eisenkot.
MEDIA WATCHDOG REVISES GAZA CASUALTY LIST
On September 24, 2026, the Committee to Protect Journalists announced the removal of 22 individuals from its official record of media workers killed during the war in Gaza. CPJ Executive Director Jodie Ginsberg stated that internal reviews and external audits were conducted, resulting in the revision. Despite the adjustments, the New York based media watchdog affirmed that Israeli forces remain responsible for 191 journalist deaths in Israel and the Palestinian territories since 2023, far exceeding any other nation. The organization also reinstated 4 previously excluded media workers and added 2 Israeli journalists killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
GAZA SUFFERS WORST ECONOMIC COLLAPSE IN GLOBAL HISTORY
On September 24, 2026, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development issued a report warning that the Gaza Strip faces the most severe economic collapse recorded globally. Interim UNCTAD Secretary General Pedro Manuel Moreno announced that per capita GDP in Gaza dropped to 58 cents per day while consumer prices skyrocketed 274 percent compared to 2022 levels. UNCTAD Palestinian Assistance Coordinator Mutasim Elagraa stated that housing destruction reached 19 billion dollars, alongside a 94 percent collapse in agricultural and industrial activity that leaves only 1.5 percent of farmland usable. With over 90 percent unemployment and 92 percent of economic establishments destroyed, reconstruction costs are estimated at 71.5 billion dollars, as increased Israeli revenue withholdings threaten the Palestinian banking system with complete collapse.
UN EXPANDS ISRAELI SETTLEMENT BLACKLIST TO 214 COMPANIES
On September 25, 2026, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published an updated database listing 214 corporations tied to illegal Israeli settlements. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed that companies must exercise due diligence to avoid contributing to human rights violations in the occupied West Bank, where 500,000 Israeli settlers reside among 3 million Palestinians. The list includes 61 newly added firms alongside international corporations such as Airbnb, Booking, Expedia, Motorola, Trip Advisor, and Egis.
GULF WAR
HOUTHIS STRIKE SAUDI CAPITAL, COMBATS IN YEMEN KILL 48
On September 19, 2026, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks targeting sensitive locations in Riyadh and Aramco energy facilities in Yanbu. The strikes triggered explosions in the Saudi capital, causing a fire at an Aramco fuel tank near the airport and disrupting flights. On the ground in Yemen, clashes between Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed government forces killed at least 48 people within 24 hours. Houthi forces were reportedly installing radars and digging tunnels along the Red Sea.
17 CIVILIANS KILLED IN SAUDI AIRSTRIKES
On September 22, 2026, Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of conducting deadly airstrikes in Mokha that killed 6 civilians including 2 children. Further bombardments in northwestern Yemen killed 1 woman, her child, and 9 prisoners in a detention facility, while clashes across western Yemen killed 154 combatants within 48 hours. The G7 expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government. Yemeni Presidential Council President Rashad al Alimi requested support from Donald Trump, as Houthi leader Abdel Malek al Houthi warned foreign powers against intervention.
10 CIVILIANS KILLED IN SAUDI COALITION AIRSTRIKES
On September 23, 2026, Houthi television channel al Massirah reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed 10 civilians and wounded 14 others across Yemen over a 24 hour period. Citing the Houthi Ministry of Health, the network stated that 8 civilians died and 11 were injured in Taez province, while 2 civilians were killed and 3 wounded in Al Jawf province. The strikes followed a swift offensive in which Houthi insurgents seized the Red Sea coastline and consolidated control over the Bab el Mandeb strait.
SAUDI ARABIA INTERCEPTS HOUTHI MISSILES, YEMEN BATTLES KILL HUNDREDS
On September 25, 2026, Saudi air defense forces intercepted 6 Houthi missiles targeting the Red Sea regions of Taif and Yanbu amid escalating regional hostilities. Saudi coalition spokesman Turki al Maliki promised a firm response after Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at command centers, military depots, and Aramco oil facilities in Yanbu and Riyadh. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in an interview that Houthis operate independently without receiving directives from Tehran. Intense fighting between government troops and Houthi rebels killed at least 98 government soldiers and 52 Houthi fighters within 24 hours. 130,000 people have been displaced, as the Taez region forms the epicenter of the IDP crisis, accounting for over 60 percent of all population movements.
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
31 KILLED AND OVER 100 WOUNDED IN PAKISTANI POLICE STATION
On September 18, 2026, a suicide bombing and gun attack targeted the police headquarters in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least 31 people including civilians, 16 police officers and injuring over 100. The explosion occurred inside the historic complex housing district police headquarters, the Counter Terrorism Department, and Special Branch offices. While no group immediately claimed responsibility, the attack was attributed to the militant group Tehreek i Taliban Pakistan, with a faction named Ittehad ul Mujahideen Pakistan claiming involvement. Armed assailants remained entrenched in the Special Branch section overnight as gun battles continued. Pakistan blamed the surge in regional violence on militants based in neighboring Afghanistan.
3 CIVILIANS KILLED BY PAKISTANI AIRSTRIKES IN AFGHANISTAN
On September 21, 2026, Pakistani fighter jets conducted an early morning aerial bombardment in Nurgal district, Kunar province, killing 3 civilians and wounding 4 others. According to Kunar Police Spokesman Farid Dehqan and Taliban Deputy Government Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, the attack completely destroyed a civilian residence, killing 2 men and one woman from the same family. Taliban Government Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid strongly condemned the aggression and confirmed additional Pakistani bombardments in Paktika province that caused no casualties. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of hosting militant groups, an allegation denied by Taliban authorities as border tensions escalate.
4 CIVILIANS KILLED AS PAKISTANI STRIKES HIT AFGHANISTAN
On September 24, 2026, Pakistani aircraft and drones struck multiple Afghan provinces including Kandahar, killing 4 civilians. Taliban Government Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reported aerial bombardments in Kandahar, second largest city and residence of Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, alongside eastern provinces Paktia and Khost. The Pakistani Information Ministry stated the strikes targeted 10 sites used to store or launch 23 Afghan drones that violated Pakistani sovereignty. In Paktia, Governor Spokesman Mohammad Rasool Ahmadi confirmed strikes on the 203rd Mansouri Corps of the Afghan army. In Khost, 66 year old homeowner Salamat Khan reported his home destroyed despite housing no militants. United Nations records document 499 civilian deaths between October 2025 and June 2026.
MYANMAR
MALAYSIA FORCES REPATRIATION OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES
On September 24, 2026, reports revealed that Malaysian authorities initiated the forced repatriation of 5000 migrants from Myanmar, threatening Rohingya refugees. An initial wave of 1500 migrants is scheduled for return, affecting a population where Rohingyas represent two thirds of 190,000 refugees in Malaysia. Fortify Rights activist Yap Lay Sheng and an anonymous United Nations official warned that the policy sets an alarming precedent across the region. Rohingyas fear returnees would be forced into displacement camps in Rakhine State and persecuted again. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim invited Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit to accelerate logistics.
EASTERN EUROPE
2 KILLED IN UKRAINIAN DRONE ATTACK
On September 20, 2026, Ukraine launched a massive attack involving over 1000 drones against Russian territory on the final day of Russian parliamentary elections. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that air defenses shot down over 1600 drones, including 450 heading toward Moscow, though a major oil refinery was damaged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that strikes impacted the Moscow region. In southern Ukraine, a drone hit a bus in Russian controlled Kherson region, killing 2 people including an electoral commission worker, while 20 people were injured in other strikes. The Russian Electoral Commission reported a severe cyberattack and disruption of communication lines in the Far East.
PUTIN’S PARTY CLAIMS RECORD 355 SEATS IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
On September 21, 2026, preliminary results from the Russian Election Commission showed that United Russia party won at least 355 seats in the 450 seat Duma. Electoral Commission Head Ella Pamfilova celebrated a record official turnout exceeding 59 percent, marking the highest participation rate for legislative elections. The election was restricted to pro government formations supporting the war in Ukraine, while the sole antiwar party Yabloko was excluded. The election marked the first legislative vote held since the 2022 full scale invasion of Ukraine and included voting in occupied Ukrainian territories.
ECHR EXAMINES FORCED DISAPPEARANCE OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN
On September 22, 2026, the European Court of Human Rights examined the disappearance of 10 Ukrainian children forcibly transferred from occupied Crimea to Russia. According to Helsinki Human Rights Union representative Serghiy Zayets and lawyer Camilla Alonzo, Russian authorities seized control of Crimean childcare institutions after the 2014 annexation, imposed Russian citizenship, and listed children aged 1 to 5 on adoption databases. Zayets denounced the forced transfers as illegal and arbitrary, noting that thousands of children were affected.
5 PEOPLE INCLUDING 3 YEAR OLD CHILD KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKES
On September 22, 2026, Russian missile and drone bombardments killed 4 workers at a steel factory in Dnipro and a 3 year old child in Mykolaiv region. Steel tube manufacturer Interpipe confirmed that a Russian ballistic missile struck its production facility in Dnipro, killing 4 employees, injuring 7, and halting manufacturing operations. Dnipro Regional Military Administration Chief Oleksandre Ganja reported strikes across 4 districts targeting industrial warehouses in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Pavlograd. In Mykolaiv region, Acting Governor Georgii Rechetilov announced that a long range Russian drone killed a 3 year old child and injured 4 more civilians.
UKRAINIAN SHIP CREW KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKES
On September 23, 2026, Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian civil transport infrastructure killed a cargo ship captain in Odessa region and a civilian in Kyiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that a Russian drone strike on a gas station killed a 42 year old man and injured 7 people, while Ukrainian Railways Director Oleksandr Pertsovsky warned that Kyiv rail networks were under direct attack. In Odessa region, Governor Oleg Kiper and the Ukrainian Port Authority confirmed that a Russian missile struck an Antigua and Barbuda flagged cargo ship, killing its Ukrainian captain and damaging medical storage warehouses. Turkish Maritime Chamber Imeak reported that 226 civil vessels have been hit in the Black Sea since February 2022, with 163 attacks occurring in 2026.
ICRC DENIED ACCESS TO PRISONERS OF WAR IN RUSSIA
On September 23, 2026, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that it has been denied access to prisoners of war held in Russia since 2024. Between February 2022 and August 2026, Red Cross delegates visited over 9800 prisoners of war, primarily in Ukraine. However, the organization lacks access to all Russian detention facilities, violating Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. The Red Cross emphasized that visits are essential to monitor detention conditions and allow families to maintain contact with captured relatives.
FINNISH AND SWEDISH JETS INTERCEPT RUSSIAN FIGHTERS OVER FINLAND, MOLDAVIA CLOSES ITS AIRSPACE
On September 24, 2026, Finnish and Swedish fighter jets executed a joint quick reaction interception of Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland. The Finnish Air Force reported that Nordic fighter jets identified a Russian detachment comprising a Tu 134 transport aircraft, MiG 31 fighters, and Su 30 fighters in international airspace. The operation marked the first operational identification mission conducted jointly by Sweden and Finland since joining NATO. Finland signed a defense agreement with Ukraine in New York to enhance drone cooperation and joined French nuclear umbrella. Meanwhile, the Moldovan Ministry of Defense reported 44 airspace violations this year involving Russian and Iranian made drones. Defense authorities stated that intrusions forced civil airspace closures on more than 10 occasions, including an incident where 2 drones exploded without causing injuries.
BELARUS PRESIDENT PARDONS 13 POLITICAL PRISONERS
On September 24, 2026, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree pardoning 13 political prisoners convicted of “extremist offenses”. The presidential press service specified that 10 of the pardoned individuals were women. The release follows recent diplomatic engagement with Washington after US President Donald Trump assumed office, including the release of 25 political prisoners the previous week in exchange for lifting sanctions on two Belarusian companies. Viasna NGO reported that 886 political prisoners remain detained following the 2020 anti government protests.
DANISH INTELLIGENCE SAYS RUSSIAN ATTACK AGAINST NATO POSSIBLE BUT UNLIKELY
On September 24, 2026, Danish Military Intelligence services Chief Thomas Ahrenkiel stated that a Russian invasion of a neighboring NATO country remains improbable but warned of a growing risk of limited military actions. Ahrenkiel explained that Russia could execute limited attacks against infrastructure supporting Ukraine or conduct false flag operations using Ukrainian made drones to disrupt European commitments. He emphasized that conventional military attacks against Denmark remain unlikely. The Danish Security and Intelligence service added that Russian influence, espionage, and sabotage attempts targeting defense industries aiding Ukraine are expected to increase.
8 CIVILIANS KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKES
On September 24, 2026, Russian strikes across Ukraine killed 8 civilians, including 6 agricultural workers sorting vegetables in Kharkiv region. Emergency services in Kharkiv reported that a Russian drone strike hit a farm hangar, killing 6 workers, while night missile attacks in Kyiv killed 2 civilians. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared at the United Nations Security Council that Moscow will not pause its special military operation, accusing European powers of arming Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes targeted Russian oil refineries and warehouses.
5 KILLED AS RUSSIAN MISSILES FORCE ARCELORMITTAL TO SHUT UKRAINIAN SITE
On September 25, 2026, steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal announced the complete shutdown of its Kryvyi Rih steel plant in Ukraine after 4 missile strikes killed 5 employees. The company reported that recent missile strikes injured 17 workers and caused severe damage to production infrastructure at Ukraine’s largest steel facility.
RUSSIAN ELECTION ANALYST ARRESTED FOLLOWING ELECTION CRITICISM
On September 25, 2026, a Moscow court placed political analyst Alexander Kynev in pretrial detention on large scale drug trafficking charges carrying up to 20 years in prison. The 51 year old electoral specialist was arrested days after publishing detailed analyses criticizing United Russia parliamentary election performances in several districts.
14 YEAR OLD ISRAELI BOY AND 6 CIVILIANS KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKE
On September 25, 2026, Russian jet powered drone strikes on an office building in Kyiv killed 7 civilians, including a 14 year old Israeli boy, and injured 46 people. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that strikes damaged an office complex, a McDonald’s warehouse, a postal facility in Odessa where 1 person died, and a hospital in Zaporizhzhia where 7 patients were evacuated. Zelensky announced that US President Donald Trump confirmed a final decision granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot PAC-3 air defense missiles. Ukrainian retaliatory strikes hit 2 Russian oil refineries and a military factory, while a Ukrainian drone strike killed a couple in Belgorod, Russia.
NICARAGUA
UN ACCUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES
On September 22, 2026, a report published by United Nations mandated human rights experts accused the Nicaraguan government of enforced disappearances and political prisoner deaths in custody. The Independent Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, established in 2022 by the UN Human Rights Council, held the administration of Co Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo responsible for the deaths of at least 8 political prisoners since 2018, including Ortega’s brother. Group President Jan Michael Simon and member Ariela Peralta verified 161 cases of forced disappearances used to suppress dissent and demanded information on 29 currently missing individuals. The report detailed the case of 73 year old Miskito ethnic chief and former Congress member Brooklyn Rivera, who died in May 2026 following nearly 3 years of arbitrary detention, without investigation, autopsy, or family consent for his burial. Experts urged foreign prosecutors to exercise universal jurisdiction against perpetrators, as Ortega declared in a July 19 speech they would not allow the opposition to seize power.
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & RELATIONS
ARGENTINE JUDGE CHARGES IRANIAN AND LEBANESE SUSPECTS IN ABSENTIA FOR 1994 JEWISH CENTER BOMBING
On September 21, 2026, Argentine Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas issued an indictment against 7 former Iranian officials and 1 Lebanese Hezbollah member for their alleged role in the 1994 AMIA Jewish association bombing. The judge concluded that the August 1993 decision to execute the attack was made by top Iranian leadership and entrusted to Hezbollah, resulting in 85 deaths and 300 injuries in Buenos Aires. Accused figures include former Iranian Minister of Interior Ahmad Vahidi, former Intelligence Chief Ali Fallahian, former Ambassador to Argentina Hadi Soleimanpour, and former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati. Iran has consistently denied responsibility.
FAR RIGHT PARTIES CONSOLIDATE ELECTORAL GAINS ACROSS EUROPE
On September 21, 2026, political analyses highlighted significant electoral advancements by radical and far right formations across multiple European countries. In Germany, Alternative for Germany achieved gains in regional contests, while Chega President André Ventura in Portugal reached 20 percent before losing the presidential runoff to moderate socialist Antonio José Seguro. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk faces cohabitation with nationalist President Karol Nawrocki, whereas Romanian candidate George Simion finished second behind centrist Nicusor Dan. In the United Kingdom, Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage was reelected after securing 5 parliamentary seats, while Spanish Vox co-governs several regions alongside the Popular Party. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni continues her coalition with League Leader Matteo Salvini and Forza Italia despite a March 2026 judicial referendum failure. Czech SPD Leader Tomio Okamura presides over parliament in coalition with Andrej Babis. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico governs with SNS, and Finnish Party of the Finns remains in coalition with Petteri Orpo. All of them took questionable positions with regard to human rights or international law.
BELGIUM AND RWANDA AGREE TO RESTORE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
On September 22, 2026, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe announced the restoration of bilateral diplomatic ties and the reopening of embassies. The joint statement issued during the United Nations General Assembly in New York followed informal meetings facilitated by Qatari mediation to resolve standing disputes. Rwanda had severed diplomatic relations in March 2025, accusing Belgium of supporting Kinshasa during the M23 rebel offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that captured Goma and Bukavu in December 2024.
FIRST RWANDAN GENOCIDE SUSPECT APPEARS BEFORE BRITISH COURT
On September 22, 2026, 65 year old dual Rwandan British national Vincent Brown appeared before a London court charged with complicity in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, the former medical doctor is accused by Prosecutor Jane Stansfield of instigating physical violence and complicity in crimes against humanity, specifically the murders of a family of 3, a local taxi driver, and a young woman with her baby in Kigali in April 1994. Brown arrived in the United Kingdom in 2000 and obtained citizenship in 2005. Following a 2017 British court refusal to extradite him to Rwanda, Rwandan authorities requested a UK investigation, marking the first prosecution of a 1994 genocide suspect in British history.
DONALD TRUMP DEMANDS ALL MEMBER STATES WITHDRAW FROM ICC
On September 22, 2026, United States President Donald Trump urged all member nations to immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. Trump characterized the tribunal as an out of control institution threatening national sovereignty. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to dismantle the court, which angered Washington by issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Acting ICC Prosecutor General Mame Mandiaye Niang responded that American attacks stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of judicial actions, as Washington imposed sanctions against court officials.
FRENCH JIHADIST SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR EXECUTIONS IN SYRIA
On September 22, 2026, the Special Criminal Court of Paris sentenced 32 year old French jihadist Othman Garrido to 30 years in prison. The court acquitted Garrido of murder regarding a photograph showing a decapitated head but convicted him of organized murder for participating in the September 2015 public execution of 2 Iranians in al Qaryatayn, Syria, alongside deceased jihadists Oumar Diaw and Yacine Rettoun.
MADAGASCAR MILITARY LEADER STRENGTHENS TIES WITH RUSSIA
On September 23, 2026, reports documented a year of diplomatic shift by Madagascar military leader Colonel Michaël Randrianirina toward close security and political alignment with Russia. Randrianirina, who assumed power following the October overthrow of President Andry Rajoelina, received Russian weapons delivered by Russian GRU, represented by General Andrei Averyanov. Randrianirina visited Moscow in February 2026 to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian state entity Rossotroudnitchestvo and media outlet African Initiative, headed by FSB agent Artem Kureev, organized Moscow trips for 13 Madagascar influencers, while Russian entity Alabuga Start recruited local labor for drone production facilities.
ICC CONVICTS CAR REBEL COMMANDER OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
On September 23, 2026, the International Criminal Court found 56 year old former Central African Séléka rebel commander Mahamat Saïd Abdel Kani guilty of crimes against humanity. Presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba detailed how Saïd supervised torture, beatings, and unlawful imprisonment while directing the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry in Bangui in 2013, following the overthrow of President François Bozizé. He was acquitted of 3 war crimes charges. Anti Balaka leaders Patrice-Édouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom were previously sentenced to 12 and 15 years in prison by the court for their roles in the civil war.
GERMAN PROSECUTORS INVESTIGATE 105-YEAR-OLD FORMER NAZI CAMP GUARD
On September 24, 2026, German prosecutors in Dortmund announced a criminal investigation into a 105 year old man accused of contributing to the Third Reich atrocities, as a Nazi prison guard. The suspect served at the Stalag 326 VI K prisoner of war camp in the Senne region, where between 180,000 and 200,000 Soviet prisoners of war were held between 1941 and April 1945, resulting in numerous deaths due to starvation, forced labor, and inhuman conditions of detention. German courts have pursued aging camp personnel, including former guard Josef Schütz who died at 102 years old shortly after his 2022 conviction.
DJIBOUTI AND ETHIOPIA AGREE TO BUILD AN OIL PIPELINE
On September 24, 2026, Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid the foundation stone for a 660 million dollar cross border oil pipeline alongside Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote. The 120 kilometer pipeline will connect Damerjog on the Red Sea in Djibouti to Dewele in Ethiopia, complete with oil storage terminals at both ends. The investment unites the Dangote Group, Ethiopian Investment Holdings, and Djibouti public entity Great Horn Investment Holdings. EIH CEO Brook Taye stated that the project will improve supply efficiency and regional integration within 3 years. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed praised the infrastructure while Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote noted that his conglomerate is also constructing a 4 billion dollar fertilizer plant in Gode.
4 INDIVIDUALS INDICTED IN SENEGAL FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
On September 24, 2026, legal counsel confirmed the landmark indictment of 4 individuals in Senegal for crimes against humanity or complicity regarding political violence between 2021 and 2024. Investigating judges charged Ameth Tidiane Cissé and Djibril Gaye with crimes against humanity and torture following a complaint by Pape Abdoulaye Touré regarding his June 2023 abduction and torture, as confirmed by defense lawyer Taha Cissé. Defense lawyer Yaya Dia confirmed that Amadou Guindo Traoré and Djibril Diaw were charged with complicity. Complainant attorney Juan Branco noted that utilizing crimes against humanity charges allows prosecution to bypass an amnesty law enacted under former President Macky Sall, while Amnesty International Senegal Director Seydi Gassama pledged continued monitoring on behalf of over victims killed during clashes between Sall and current Prime Minister Sonko.
