WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Nov. 8th-14th 2025

SUDAN

HUMAN SOURCES ASSASSINATED

Last month, RSF paramilitaries seized the city of El-Facher after an 18-month siege. Four key local sources, Dr. Omar Selik, Dr. Adam Ibrahim Ismail, Sheikh Moussa, and Mohamed Issa who had risked their lives to report to AFP journalist Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali, were killed by the armed group. Adam Ibrahim Ismail, a young doctor, was arrested by the RSF on October 26 and executed the next day. Three other sources died in a September 19 drone strike on a mosque that killed at least 75 people. Sheikh Moussa, displaced 22 years ago by Janjawid militias and Mohamed Issa, who transported food and medicine to trapped families, also perished.

Their efforts to provide information despite the circumstances of war and repression allowed the situation in El Facher to be brought to light.

ETHNIC MASSACRES IN EL-FACHER: SURVIVORS SPEAK

Survivors fleeing to Tawila described October ethnic massacres, with civilians targeted based on their skin color or tribal background.

Hassan Osmane, a student, witnessed RSF fighters killing people on sight if they belonged to certain tribes, leaving streets littered with mutilated bodies.

Amna Haroun, a Zaghawa woman, saw her husband and eldest son executed in front of her. Hussein, from the Fur tribe, was detained and beaten, called “slaves” by RSF fighters.

On October 25–26, 2025, as RSF forces overran El-Facher, Mounir Abderahmane, 16, witnessed the execution of seven nurses at the Saudi hospital where his wounded father lay. Fleeing with his father, who died during the exodus, Mounir reached Chad’s Tiné camp after 11 days.

Survivors described bombardments and mass graves. Hamid Souleymane Chogar, Mahamat Ahmat Abdelkerim, and Mouna Mahamat Oumour recounted seeing bodies piled in trenches, women assaulted, and families extorted for money.

Other displaced persons from El-Facher described a 770 km travel to Al-Dabbah camp, with roads littered with corpses, no food or water, and constant fear. Among the displaced, three young teenagers spoke of women and girls raped, men tortured, families extorted and racist slurs at RSF checkpoints. Over 90,000 people fled El-Facher.

SHIFTING FRONTLINES IN NORTHERN SUDAN

On November 13, 2025, RSF drones struck Merowe, Northern Sudan, targeting the army’s headquarters, the airport, and a major dam. After the attacks in Darfur, the conflict has since shifted to the oil-rich Kordofan region, with both sides accused of blocking humanitarian access and committing atrocities.

FUEL TRAFFICKING LINKS LIBYA, UAE, AND RSF

On November 13, 2025, a report by The Sentry revealed that Khalifa Haftar’s forces in Libya, backed by the UAE, have been supplying fuel and weapons to the RSF. The illicit trade has enabled RSF deadly operations in Darfur and strengthened Haftar’s control over key Libyan assets. The UAE’s support for Haftar and the RSF has been a major factor in the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

UN ORDERS PROBE INTO EL-FACHER ATROCITIES

On November 14, 2025, the UN Human Rights Council mandated an urgent investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in El-Facher. The resolution, adopted by consensus, tasked the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan with identifying perpetrators of ethnic killings, sexual violence, and summary executions. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk warned that satellite images showed bloodstains across the city, and that those responsible would be held accountable. The UN also highlighted the risk of genocide, as RSF forces were accused of targeting Fur, Masalit, Zaghawa and other “Black-Africans” communities with the intent to “terrorize, displace, and destroy” them.

TANZANIA

OVER 240 PROTESTERS CHARGED WITH TREASON

On November 7–8, 2025, Tanzanian courts charged more than 240 people with “treason” and “conspiracy to commit treason” in connection with post-election protests. Lawyer Peter Kibatala confirmed the charges, which accuse protesters of attempting to disrupt the October 29 general elections and intimidate the executive. Opposition party Chadema reported the arrest of its deputy secretary-general, Amani Golugwa, bringing the number of detained top leaders to three. Police are seeking Chadema’s secretary-general John Mnyika, his deputy, and spokesperson Brenda Rupia. Chadema and diplomats estimate at least 800 people were murdered in the crisis, with authorities blocking internet for five days and suppressing images of the violence.

“HARDLINE FACTION”

On November 12, 2025, Tanzanian political insiders revealed that a small “hardline faction” around President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consolidated power, instilling fear among officials and politicians. Sources described a climate of terror. The UN expressed concern over reports of security forces removing bodies from streets and hospitals to hide evidence. Witnesses told AFP of summary executions by police and unidentified gunmen.

The faction includes the president’s son Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, her private secretary Waziri Salum, intelligence chief Suleiman Abubakar Mombo, and MP Angela Kizigha. Opposition figures and critics have been abducted or killed. Chadema has called for new protests on December 9, but insiders fear further bloodshed.

PRESIDENT ORDERS PROBE INTO ELECTRORAL CRISIS

On November 14, 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced a commission to investigate the killings during October’s election protests, marking her first conciliatory gesture since the violence. More than 800 dead are alleged by the opposition, with security forces accused of mass repression. Meanwhile, the Legal and Human Rights Centre reported police harassment and seizure of equipment from its team in Dar es Salaam.

ETHIOPIA

TIGRAY-AFAR CLASHES, THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS DISPLACED

On November 5–7, 2025, Afar regional authorities reported that Tigrayan forces had entered their territory, seized six villages, and shelled civilians with mortars, displacing 18,000. A humanitarian source confirmed the attacks and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The TPLF denied the accusations, instead blaming the federal government and Getachew Reda, former Tigray interim administrator and current federal minister, for orchestrating attacks via the breakaway Tigray Peace Force (TPF).

DRONE STRIKES AND ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN TIGRAY

On November 7, 2025, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) accused the Ethiopian federal government of conducting drone strikes against Tigray, resulting in casualties among Tigrayan forces and local residents. The TPLF, once Ethiopia’s ruling party, claimed the attacks violated the Pretoria peace agreement and alleged that Addis Ababa was also arming “bandits” in the neighboring Afar region.

MALI

RUSSIAN MERCENARY KILLS A LEBANESE

On November 5–6, 2025 night, a Lebanese bar owner in Bamako’s Badalabougou district was fatally shot by a Russian mercenary from the Africa Corps group. The mercenary, who had spent the night at the bar with other Russians, fired three shots at point-blank range after being asked to leave. The victim died from his wounds on November 6. No charges have been filed against the mercenary. The Lebanese community in Mali accused Malian authorities of attempting to suppress the case and warned of further action if justice is not served. This incident follows a pattern of abuses by Russian mercenaries, who have replaced Wagner in supporting Mali’s junta against jihadist groups.

EXODUS UNDER JIHADIST THREAT

On November 10, 2025, hundreds of Malians fled the town of Léré, escaping a jihadist blockade imposed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM. Fatima, a Tuareg mother, described the desperate conditions: “We were told to leave. There was nothing left to eat.” The UN estimates 2,000–3,000 have crossed into Mauritania, marking the largest refugee influx since late 2023. JNIM’s strategy aims to punish populations loyal to Malian forces, creating a humanitarian crisis in the region.

JIHADIST BLOCKADES, FUEL SHORTAGES PERSIST

On November 11, 2025, Bamako faced easing but persistent fuel shortages after jihadist blockades disrupted supply routes for over two months. The JNIM imposed gender segregation on transport and  targeted fuel convoys, crippling the economy. While military-escorted convoys have partially restored supplies, only 110 of 700 gas stations operate reliably. Rural areas remain severely affected: Mopti and Bandiagara have been without electricity for a month, and Dioïla has no fuel. Analysts note the junta’s focus on securing Bamako, leaving vast areas under jihadist control.

HUNDREDS FLEE SOUTHERN MALI AFTER JIHADIST DRONE ATTACK

On November 12, 2025, hundreds of residents fled the area around Loulouni in southern Mali after a JNIM drone attack killed seven people from the Dozo community. The attack sparked panic, with families heading toward Sikasso and Kadiolo. JNIM claimed responsibility, continuing its campaign of violence, in particular against local defense groups. Since October, at least six villages have been attacked or burned.

UGANDA

ACTIVISTS FREED AFTER FORCED DISAPPEARANCE

On November 7, 2025, Kenyan human rights activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were released after 38 days of forced disappearance in Uganda. The two had traveled to Uganda in October to support opposition leader Bobi Wine ahead of the January 2026 elections against incumbent President Yoweri Museveni. Amnesty Kenya, VOCAL Africa, and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) announced their release in a joint statement, confirming their transfer to Nairobi. Witnesses previously reported that masked, armed men in uniform abducted Njagi and Oyoo, suggesting State involvement. Ugandan police had denied detaining them. This incident follows a pattern of cross-border abductions and collaboration among East African security forces, as seen in May 2025 when Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire were abducted, tortured, and sexually assaulted in Tanzania while attending the trial of opposition figure Tundu Lissu.

LEBANON

ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 3 IN SOUTH LEBANON

On November 8, 2025, Israeli airstrikes killed three people and wounded several others in southern Lebanon. A drone strike near Chebaa, close to the Syrian border, incinerated a SUV transporting two brothers, accused by Israel of arms smuggling for Hezbollah. Israel’s military confirmed the strikes. A second strike in Baraashit killed one person and injured four. A third attack near a hospital in Bint Jbeil wounded seven. Israel has intensified attacks despite the November 2024 ceasefire.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE ON HIGHWAY KILLS ONE

On November 10, 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit a car on the main road between Saida and Tyr, killing one person and causing massive traffic jams. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed the fatality in Baissariye, where rescuers collected human remains from the charred vehicle.

ISRAEL ACCUSED OF BLOCKING SOUTHERN RECONSTRUCTION, DISPLACING 82,000

On November 12, 2025, Lebanese officials and residents accused Israel of systematically preventing reconstruction in Southern Lebanon by targeting bulldozers, prefabricated homes, and construction sites. Tarek Mazraani, an engineer from Houla, said Israeli drones threatened him and warned locals against rebuilding. Israeli airstrikes destroyed construction vehicles in Msaileh. The UN estimates 82,000 remain displaced. Israel claims it targets Hezbollah’s reconstruction efforts, but civilians and business owners deny any links to the group. Farmers also report being blocked from their lands, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Amnesty International called for a war crimes investigation into Israel’s deliberate destruction of civilian property.

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS ACCUSE ISRAEL OF BUILDING WALL ON LEBANESE TERRITORY

On November 14, 2025, UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) accused Israel of building concrete walls inside Lebanese territory near Yaroun, violating the UN-drawn Blue Line and Lebanese sovereignty. Israel denied crossing the border, stating the wall is part of a 2022 plan to reinforce its northern barrier. UNIFIL called for Israel to withdraw from all areas north of the Blue Line. The ceasefire, based on UN Resolution 1701, remains fragile, with Israel still occupying five points in Southern Lebanon.

PALESTINE

SETTLERS TARGET JOURNALISTS IN WEST BANK ATTACKS

On November 10, 2025, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Jerusalem demanded Israeli authorities immediately stop settler attacks on journalists in the occupied West Bank. The FPA reported that journalists, both local and foreign, were deliberately targeted while documenting unprecedented violence during the olive harvest.

On November 9, two Reuters employees wearing clearly marked press vests and helmets were assaulted by masked Israeli settlers near Beita village. A female journalist was beaten while on the ground, sustaining serious injuries. A Reuters security officer and two independent Palestinian journalists were also injured.

On October 10, AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh was beaten and his car torched near Beita; he stated, “If I hadn’t escaped, they would have killed me.”

The FPA also condemned growing hostility from Israeli authorities, including harassment, detention, and expulsion threats against journalists.

ISRAELI PARLIAMENT ADVANCES DEATH PENALTY

On November 10, 2025, the Israeli Knesset passed a first reading of a bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis. The bill, backed by far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, passed 39-16. The Palestinian Authority condemned the proposal as a violation of international law and another step toward genocide. The bill requires two more readings to become law.

ISRAELI FORCES ARREST SETTLERS AFTER WEST BANK VIOLENCE

On November 11, 2025, Israeli police and military announced the arrest of several settlers after violent clashes near Tulkarem, West Bank. About 200 masked settlers attacked Palestinians, burned property, and injured four in Beit Lid and Deir Charaf villages. Hussein Hammadi, Beit Lid’s mayor, said settlers torched vehicles, homes and a dairy factory, and attempted to steal livestock. Ten Palestinians were wounded. The army stated it dispersed the clashes and detained suspects, but Hammadi expressed skepticism, claiming settlers act with impunity and military protection.

ISRAEL’S GAZA NEGOTIATOR RESIGNS

On November 12, 2025, Israeli minister Ron Dermer, chief negotiator for the Gaza truce, resigned from his ministerial post. Dermer, a close Netanyahu advisor, helped secure the October 10 ceasefire and the release of the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas. In his resignation letter, he praised Netanyahu’s war leadership and called the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack the “darkest day” for Jews since 1948. Netanyahu thanked Dermer for his “exceptional contribution.” The government continues to resist calls for an inquiry into the October 7 security failures.

ISRAEL OPENS AID ROUTE TO NORTHERN GAZA

On November 12, 2025, Israel announced the opening of the Zikim crossing for humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, where the UN had warned of famine. The Cogat defense body stated aid would be inspected before entry. The UN welcomed the move, noting aid distribution remains hindered by destruction and looting. Israel previously opened Zikim only sporadically, and the UN had been unable to deliver aid to the north since September 12.

U.N. ACCUSES ISRAEL OF SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF PALESTINIAN DETAINEES

On November 12, 2025, the UN Committee against Torture cited reports of widespread, systematic torture of Palestinian detainees by Israel, including severe beatings, electric shocks, stress positions, and sexual threats. Rapporteur Peter Vedel Kessing said torture had escalated since October 7, 2023, with “unprecedented” impunity. Israel’s UN ambassador Daniel Meron dismissed the allegations as “disinformation”.

ISRAELI ARMY KILLS 3 MEN IN GAZA

On November 12, 2025, the Israeli military reported killing three armed men near Rafah, in the Israeli-controlled zone of southern Gaza. Soldiers identified four armed individuals; three were “eliminated.” Since the October 10 ceasefire, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 245 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire, while Israel lost 3 soldiers.

ISRAELI ARMY KILLS 2 PALESTINIANS, MOSQUE BURNED IN WEST BANK

On November 13, 2025, the Israeli army killed two suspected militants near Karmei Tzur settlement, south of Hebron. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials accused Israeli settlers of setting fire to the Hajja Hamida mosque in Dayr Istiya, Northern West Bank. An AFP photographer saw charred walls and burnt Qurans. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as a violation of sacred sites and evidence of settler racism. Army chief Eyal Zamir had vowed to end settler violence, but witnesses say soldiers often fail to intervene.

PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HELD IN LEGAL BLACK HOLE

Photojournalist Chadi Abou Sidou, 35, was arrested in Gaza and held for months under Israel’s “unlawful combatant” law, without charge or regular access to a lawyer. He described 100 days of torture at Sdé Teiman military base, hands bound, blindfolded and forbidden to speak, before transfer to Ofer prison in the West Bank, where conditions were “unimaginable.” Released on October 13, 2025, in a prisoner swap, Abou Sidou said no charges were ever filed. Israel’s Prison Service claimed all detainees are held according to legal procedures. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Physicians for Human Rights, denounced the law as enabling detention without supervision by a magistrate and secretive conditions. Naji Abbas of Physicians for Human Rights cited cases of Gaza doctors and health workers imprisoned for months without trial or family contact.

EASTERN EUROPE

RUSSIAN STRIKES PROVOKES BLACKOUT IN UKRAIN, 4 DEAD

On November 9, 2025, Russia launched drones and missiles at Ukraine, damaging energy infrastructure and causing widespread blackouts, including in Kyiv. In Dnipro, a drone struck a residential building, killing 3; 1 person also died in Kharkiv. The strikes also disrupted rail networks and left cities like Kremenchuk without electricity, water, or heating. Russia claimed it targeted military and energy sites.

RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACK KILLS ONE AND DAMAGES SCHOOL

On November 10, 2025, seven Russian drones struck Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, killing a 62-year-old man and damaging an educational institution and homes. In Kharkiv region, another drone hit a vehicle, wounding three, including a 16-year-old. Moscow reported intercepting 37 Ukrainian drones overnight.

13,500 KM² CONTAMINATED WITH MINES

On November 12, 2025, the UN Development Program (UNDP) reported that 13,500 km² of Ukraine’s waterways, including the Dnieper River and Black Sea coast, are contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. Ukrainian divers have cleared only 190 km² (1.4%) and removed over 2,800 explosives. Sergueï Reva, head of demining operations, said underwater robots help locate munitions up to 300 meters deep. Ukraine has become the world’s most mine-contaminated country.

FINLAND ACCUSES CHINA OF FUELING RUSSIA’S WAR

On November 12, 2025, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen stated that China is “massively” supporting Russia’s war effort by supplying military components, cooperating on defense industry projects and conducting joint exercises. Nordic countries are boosting military cooperation with Ukraine, including plans to unify 250 fighter jets and triple munitions production.

RUSSIAN MISSILES KILL SIX IN KYIV

On November 14, 2025, a Russian missile and drones struck residential areas across Kyiv, killing 6 in an apartment block and injuring over 30. Witness Maria Kaltchenko described flames and explosions. Twenty sites, including a hospital and shops, were hit. Azerbaijan summoned Russia’s ambassador after its Kyiv embassy was damaged. In Odessa, two died in a market attack. Russia also reported intercepting 216 Ukrainian drones, with some hitting a Novorossiisk oil terminal and a nuclear plant in Novovoronezh.

NORTH KOREAN DEMINERS DEPLOYED IN KURSK

On November 14, 2025, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that North Korean deminers are operating in Kursk region, previously occupied by Ukrainian forces. Trained in Russian military centers, they use robots to clear “hundreds” of explosives. South Korea’s intelligence estimated 5,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia since September. Pyongyang and Moscow signed a mutual defense pact in 2024.

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN

TALIBAN BLAME PAKISTAN FOR FAILED TALKS

On November 7, 2025, Afghanistan’s Taliban government declared the collapse of peace talks with Pakistan in Istanbul, blaming Islamabad for the failure. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of “shifting all security responsibilities onto Afghanistan” and showing “no willingness to take responsibility for its own security or Afghanistan’s.” Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, without directly acknowledging the breakdown, insisted Afghanistan must honor its “long-standing international and bilateral commitments on counterterrorism.” The talks aimed to solidify a ceasefire agreed in Qatar on October 19, following a week of deadly clashes that killed over 70, including 50 Afghan civilians. Both sides warned of renewed hostilities if negotiations failed.

KABUL VOWS TO HONOR CEASEFIRE DESPITE TALKS COLLAPSE

On November 8, 2025, Afghanistan’s Taliban government reiterated its commitment to the fragile ceasefire with Pakistan, despite the failure of Istanbul talks. Zabihullah Mujahid again blamed Pakistan for the impasse, but stated the truce would hold. The Afghan Taliban deny harboring Pakistani Taliban militants (TTP), while Islamabad accuses Kabul of supporting them, with India’s alleged backing.

PAKISTAN OPEN TO DIALOGUE BUT DEMANDS AFGHAN ACTION ON TERRORISM

On November 9, 2025, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated it remains open to dialogue with Afghanistan, but only if Kabul addresses Islamabad’s “core concern”: cross-border terrorism. The ministry accused the Taliban of avoiding “concrete and verifiable action” to stop attacks from Afghan soil, seeking only to extend the temporary ceasefire.

SUICIDE BOMBING IN ISLAMABAD KILLS 12, PAKISTAN BLAMES AFGHANS

On November 11, 2025, a suicide bomber struck outside a courthouse in Islamabad, killing 12 and wounding 27. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility, vowing more attacks until sharia law is imposed nationwide. The bombing followed a school attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 3 died because of an Afghan assailant. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called the attack a “wake-up call,” casting doubt on further talks with Kabul. Afghanistan’s Taliban government condemned both attacks.

On November 13, 2025, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Afghan citizens of carrying attacks, without providing evidence, and warned of potential retaliation.

PAKISTAN GRANTS LIFETIME IMMUNITY TO PRESIDENT AND ARMY CHIEF

On November 13, 2025, Pakistan’s parliament passed a controversial constitutional amendment granting lifetime immunity from prosecution to the president and army chief, Asim Munir. The 27th amendment also expands the army chief’s powers, creates a new “Chief of Defense Staff” role, and curtails the Supreme Court’s independence. Critics, including opposition PTI, called it a “death blow to democracy” and judicial autonomy. The amendment allows the government to transfer judges and centralizes military authority, raising fears of increased authoritarianism.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

13 ROHINGYA MIGRANTS DROWNED

Malaysian and Thai authorities recovered at least 13 bodies after a migrant boat capsized earlier near Tarutao Island, Thailand, north of Malaysia’s Langkawi. The vessel, carrying undocumented migrants, mostly Rohingya from Myanmar and some Bangladeshis, was part of a group of boats transporting at least 300 people. Malaysian maritime security official Romli Mustafa confirmed seven Rohingya bodies were retrieved by Malaysian rescuers, including six women and a girl, while Thai authorities found six more. Thirteen survivors, identified as Rohingya and Bangladeshi, were rescued. Search operations continue with 12 boats involved, as more bodies are expected. The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar, often risk dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. Khairul Azhar Nuruddin, Langkawi’s police chief, confirmed the identities of the victims.

CAMBODIA AND THAILAND TRADE ACCUSATIONS AFTER DEADLY CLASH

On November 12, 2025, Cambodia and Thailand accused each other of provoking deadly border clashes near the village of Prey Chan in Banteay Meanchey province. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned Thai soldiers for allegedly shooting and killing one Cambodian civilian and wounding three others in the late afternoon. Information Minister Neth Pheaktra and local authorities reported at least five civilians injured by Thai gunfire.

A villager, Hul Malis, told AFP she and others were shot at without provocation, prompting her to flee, while her husband, Thong Kimleang, described 15 minutes of sustained Thai gunfire. Thailand’s army spokesperson, Winthai Suvaree, countered that Cambodian troops had fired first into Thai territory, prompting Thai forces to return warning shots. Cambodia released images and video showing wounded civilians, including a man with a bloodied leg in an ambulance, though their origin could not be verified.

NEPAL

NEPAL’S CIVIL WAR VICTIMS FEAR BEING FORGOTTEN AGAIN

On November 12, 2025, families of Nepal’s civil war victims (1996–2006) expressed both hope and fear as the new interim government, led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, prepares for March 2026 elections. Sunamati Chaudhari, 62, still seeks answers about her husband, an English teacher arrested by the army 22 years ago. “Prime ministers have come and gone, but none addressed our issue,” she said. Gita Rasaili, head of the National Network of Conflict Victims, shares this concern. Despite 65,000 complaints filed with two truth commissions since 2015, no case has been resolved. Lila Devi Gadtaula, head of the Commission on Disappeared Persons, aims to complete investigations in four years. The war left over 16,000 dead and 1,400 missing.

NEPAL BARS FORMER POLICE CHIEF FROM TRAVEL AMID PROBE

On November 13, 2025, Nepal’s inquiry commission barred former police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung from leaving the country pending investigation into the September 8–9 protests that toppled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Khapung led the police during the crackdown on demonstrations against social media bans and corruption, which left 76 dead and hundreds injured. The commission, probing the violence, also restricted travel ex-Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak and former police official Hutaraj Thapa.

SALVADOR

VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS FROM U.S. TORTURED IN PRISON

On November 13, 2025, Human Rights Watch and Cristosal released a report, “You Arrived in Hell,” documenting systematic abuse of 252 Venezuelan migrants transferred by the U.S. to El Salvador’s high-security Cecot prison in March and April. The migrants, accused without evidence of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, were sent under a deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, involving millions in U.S. funding.

Based on interviews with 40 detainees and 150 others, HRW found widespread torture, sexual violence, solitary confinement, starvation, and daily beatings. Three Venezuelans reported sexual abuse by guards. About half had no U.S. criminal convictions, and only 3% were convicted of violent crimes. At least 62 were deported while their U.S. asylum claims were pending. Both governments ignored HRW’s inquiries, constituting “enforced disappearance” under international law. The migrants were repatriated in July as part of a U.S.-Venezuela prisoner swap. Cristosal closed its Salvadoran offices in July, citing Bukele’s repression.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

CROATIAN WAR CRIMINAL GRANTED EARLY RELEASE

On November 10, 2025, a UN tribunal in The Hague granted early release to Bruno Stojic, a 70-year-old former Bosnian Croat defense minister convicted of war crimes, including the murder and deportation of Muslims in Bosnia in the early 1990s. Stojic, detained in Austria, will return to Croatia. Judge Graciela Gatti Santana noted his good behavior, acknowledgment of his crimes, and low risk of reoffending. Stojic was sentenced to 20 years in 2013 for his role in ethnic cleansing to reunify Bosnia with Croatia through mass arrests, killings, and forced displacement of Bosnian Muslims.

SYRIAN JIHADISTS CONVICTED IN GERMANY FOR WAR CRIMES

On November 11, 2025, a German court sentenced three Syrians Basel O., Sohail A., and Amer Tarak A. to respectively, 4 and half, 7, and 9 and half years in prison for war crimes and membership in an ISIS-affiliated rebel group. Amer Tarak A., founder of Liwa Jound al-Haramaïn, ordered attacks on Shia civilians. The men fled to Germany after ISIS’s defeat. Germany has used universal jurisdiction to prosecute foreign war criminals, including Syrians and Iraqis.

GERMAN FAR-RIGHT EMBARRASSED BY ALLEGED PRO-RUSSIA ESPIONAGE TRIP

On November 11, 2025, the far-right party AfD showed embarrassment, due to the party member Steffen Kotré trip in Russia. The AfD is accused of using parliamentary questions to gather sensitive information for Russia, which both deny. The controversy follows reports of Russia’s widespread espionage and sabotage campaigns in Germany, a major military supporter of Ukraine.

TRIAL OPENS IN PARIS FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN DRC

On November 12, 2025, the trial of former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala began in Paris, facing charges of complicity in crimes against humanity committed in 2002–2003 in northeastern DRC. Lumbala, 67, led the RCD-N rebel group, which, alongside Jean-Pierre Bemba’s MLC, launched “Effacer le tableau” (erase the board) to seize natural resources and eliminate pro-government factions. The operation resulted in mass rapes, executions, torture, and forced labor, targeting Nande and Bambuti Pygmy women. Lumbala, who denies command responsibility, was arrested in France in 2020 after his refugee status was revoked. This is the first trial in France for atrocities in DR Congo under universal jurisdiction. After one day of trial, he expressed his refusal to attend, denying France’s competence.

U.N. WARNS OF LOOMING FAMINE IN 16 CRITICAL ZONES

On November 12, 2025, the UN’s FAO and WFP warned that 16 global hotspots, including Haiti, Mali, Sudan, Yemen, and Gaza, face catastrophic famine due to conflict, economic shocks, extreme weather, and funding shortfalls. The agencies reported only $10.5 billion of the $29 billion needed for humanitarian aid has been received, forcing cuts to food assistance and school meal programs. Cindy McCain (WFP) and Qu Dongyu (FAO) urged immediate action to prevent widespread starvation and long-term instability.

FRANCE ALLOWS ISRAELI FIRMS AT MILIPOL SECURITY FAIR

On November 13, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron authorized all Israeli companies to participate in the Milipol security fair in Paris, reversing a 2024 ban on firms involved in the Gaza war. The decision, following a ceasefire, aims to foster dialogue with Israel. Critics condemned the move as complicity with technologies tested on Palestinians. The fair, running November 18–21, had previously excluded Israeli firms from defense exhibitions.

ITALY PROBES SNIPERS WHO TARGETED SARAJEVO CIVILIANS

On November 13, 2025, Milan prosecutors opened an investigation into Italian and foreign “weekend snipers” who allegedly shoot at Sarajevo civilians during the 1992–1996 siege. The probe, sparked by a documentary and complaints from former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic, targets wealthy far-right gun enthusiasts who paid up to €100,000 per day to participate in the killings. Over 11,000 civilians died during the siege.

EUROPE WATERS DOWN CORPORATE DUE DILIGENCE LAW

On November 13, 2025, the European Parliament weakened the corporate due diligence law, raising the threshold to companies with over 5,000 employees and €1.5 billion in revenue, and removing EU-wide civil liability and climate transition plans. The vote, backed by a right-wing and far-right alliance, was criticized as a setback for human rights action.

BELGIUM CONVICTS JIHADIST FOR YAZIDI GENOCIDE

On November 13–14, 2025, a Belgian court sentenced Sammy Djedou, a Belgian jihadist presumed dead in Syria, to life imprisonment for genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidi women. Djedou, an ISIS operative, was found guilty of enslaving, raping, and torturing three Yazidi women between 2014–2016. The trial, held in absentia, marked Belgium’s first conviction for Yazidi genocide. The court relied on testimonies collected by NGOs and journalists after ISIS’s fall. Djedou was also linked to ISIS’s external operations and the 2015 Paris attacks. The UN estimates thousands of Yazidi women and girls suffered sexual violence and enslavement during ISIS’s campaign.

FRENCH COURT TO TRY RWANDAN EX-PREFECT FOR GENOCIDE

On November 14, 2025, French prosecutors requested a genocide trial for Pierre Kayondo, a former Rwandan prefect accused of organizing the 1994 Tutsi extermination in Kibuye and Gitarama. Kayondo, charged with genocide, complicity in crimes against humanity, and arming Interahamwe militias, denies the allegations. The case, brought under universal jurisdiction, follows a 2021 complaint by the Collective of Rwandan Civil Parties. France has previously convicted several Rwandans for genocide, as part of ongoing efforts to address the 800,000 deaths during the 100-day slaughter.

KAZAKHSTAN ARRESTS PROTESTERS OVER ANTI-CHINA DEMONSTRATION

On November 14, 2025, Kazakh authorities detained 12 people and fined six others for burning a portrait of Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a rare protest against China’s expansion and repression of Muslims in Xinjiang. The demonstration, held in the Uighur district of Almaty, also denounced the disappearance of a Kazakh citizen in Xinjiang. Protesters accused China of land grabs and cultural erasure, as Beijing faces international criticism for its treatment of Uighurs and Kazakhs in internment camps.