WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Nov. 14th-21st 2025

SUDAN

EXILED SUDANESE WATCH HISTORY REPEAT

Sudanese exiles worldwide described their horror as reports from El-Facher, Darfur, echoed the 2003–2004 Janjaweed massacres. The UN Human Rights Council launched an investigation into El-Facher’s atrocities, while Omar al-Bashir remains under house arrest for past genocide charges. Exiles like Amar Salah Omar, a Massalit in Paris, warn that foreign backing, notably UAE supporting RSF, has made the current war deadlier than 2003.

AID WORKERS FORCED TO CHOSE WHO TO SAVE

On November 19, 2025, Handicap International’s Jérôme Bertrand reported that humanitarian workers in Darfur must “choose who to save” due to severe resource shortages. With El-Facher under RSF control and 650,000 displaced in Tawila, aid groups prioritize children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Logistical nightmares, no functional airports, impassable roads, border delays, and banditry, force supplies to be transported “partly by donkey.” Bertrand described seeing survivors with torture wounds, malnutrition, and gunshot injuries. The suspension of USAID funding cut 70% of Darfur’s aid resources, leaving only a quarter of needs met. Meanwhile, 80,000 people remain stranded on roads, facing violence.

UN OFFICIAL WARNS OF “TOTAL IMPUNITY” FOR DARFUR ATROCITIES

On November 19, 2025, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, after visiting Darfur, warned of “total impunity” for mass executions, sexual violence, and torture in El-Facher. Survivors’ accounts were “horrible to hear,” as tens of thousands remain trapped in the city. Fletcher met with both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, pushing for safe humanitarian access and accountability. Despite a U.S.-brokered truce, fighting continues in Darfur and Kordofan, where civilians fear an imminent RSF attack on El-Obeid. The war has left Sudan de facto split: the army holds the north, east, and center; the RSF controls Darfur and parts of the south.

TANZANIA

OPPOSITION REJECTS “BIASED” INVESTIGATION COMMISSION ON POST-ELECTORAL SLAUGHTER

On November 19, 2025, Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, rejected President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s new commission to investigate the October 29 election violence, calling it neither “independent” nor “impartial.” Chadema and ACT Wazalendo parties stated all commission members are current or former government or ruling CCM officials, and the president controls whether the report is published. Opposition leader John Heche called it a “ploy to hide the truth” and shift blame to victims. The Catholic bishops also demanded an independent, international inquiry. Between 800 and 1000 were killed as security forces crushed post-election protests; authorities have not released a death toll and are accused of hiding bodies in mass graves. Chadema and ACT Wazalendo were both barred from the election, which Hassan won with, officially, 98% of the vote.

TANZANIA POLICE THREATEN OPPOSITION

On November 21, 2025, Tanzanian police warned against “hate speech” or public order disruptions ahead of planned December 9 Independence Day protests. Authorities, who blocked internet access during the violence and are suspected of concealing bodies, vowed to act against any incitement, “whether moderate or harsh.” Opposition groups plan to demonstrate despite the police threat.

NIGERIA

25 SCHOOLGIRLS ABDUCTED, 1 MAN KILLED

On November 17, 2025, armed men stormed the Maga Girls Secondary School in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria, abducting 25 students and killing the deputy principal, Hassan Makuku. One staff member, Ali Shehu, was injured. Police engaged the attackers but failed to prevent the kidnapping. A joint team of police, military, and civilian militias is searching nearby forests. In 2021, over 100 students were already kidnapped from Yauri’s Federal Government College, some forcibly married and returning with children. The region faces threats from both “bandit” gangs and the emerging jihadist group Lakurawa.

On November 18, 2025, Nigeria’s army chief, General Waidi Shaibu, ordered troops to search “day and night” for the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Maga, Kebbi State.

JIHADISTS KILL NINE

On November 18, 2025, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) jihadists killed nine people, five civilian vigilantes and four laborers, in Mayenti village, Borno State. An anonymous military officer and resident Abbaram Modu Gana confirmed the toll. The attack followed ISWAP’s Friday ambush near Wajirko, which killed four security personnel. ISWAP also claimed to have kidnapped and killed a brigade commander in Damboa. Since 2009, jihadist violence in northeast Nigeria has killed over 40,000 and displaced two million.

GUNMEN KILL 2 IN NIGERIAN CHURCH

On November 19, 2025, armed men attacked St. Christ Apostolic Church in Ekuru, Kwara State, killing 2 worshippers during a live-streamed evening service. Police reported Aderemi died inside the church and Tunde Asaba Ajayi was found shot in nearby bush; a third man was hospitalized. The assailants looted personal belongings before fleeing. Kwara’s governor ordered reinforced security as “bandit” attacks and kidnappings surge.

STUDENTS ABDUCTED FROM CATHOLIC SCHOOL

On November 21, 2025, students were kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Agwara, Niger State. Local government secretary Abubakar Usman confirmed the abduction but not the exact number. Police and military units are combing nearby forests. This is the second school abduction in Nigeria in a week, following the Maga girls’ kidnapping. The identity of the abductors whether “bandits” or jihadists remains unclear. President Bola Tinubu has placed security forces on high.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

DRC AND M23 SIGN PEACE ROADMAP, NO IMMEDIATE CHANGE EXPECTED

On November 15, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group signed the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Qatar. Mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and the African Union, the non-binding accord outlines eight protocols addressing root causes of conflict, prisoner releases, ceasefire monitoring, and humanitarian access. M23 representative Benjamin Mbonimpa stated the deal would not alter the ground situation, while Kinshasa pledged “real and measurable change” for local populations. U.S. advisor Massad Boulos called it a “starting point.” The M23 controls Goma and Bukavu seized earlier in 2025, and denies ties to Rwanda. Clashes continue despite a July ceasefire.

REBELS KILL AT LEAST 18 IN HEALTH CENTER

On November 15, 2025, ADF rebels, affiliated with the Islamic State, attacked the health center in Biambwe village, 40 km west of Butembo, North Kivu. Local police secretary Marcel Mumbere Kanzoka reported 16 deaths at the center and 2 in nearby areas, with houses burned and people missing. The Red Cross later reported 23 fatalities.

UN REPORTS 89 CIVILIANS KILLED BY ADF IN ONE WEEK IN EASTERN DRC

On November 21, 2025, the UN mission in DRC (Monusco) announced that ADF rebels killed 89 civilians, including women and children, in a series of attacks from November 13–19 in Lubero territory, North Kivu. The deadliest incident occurred at a Catholic health center in Byambwe where 17 civilians, including women in maternity care, were killed. Other villages (Mabiango, Tunarudi, Sambalysa, Thucha, Butsili) suffered abductions, looting and arson. The ADF, active in North Kivu and Ituri, have killed over 260 people since July.

MALI

JNIM TIGHTENS GRIP ON MALI’S ECONOMY AND POLITICS

On November 17, 2025, the JNIM organization led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, intensified its economic stranglehold and political ambitions. Affiliated with Al-Qaïda and born from the 2017 merger of several groups, including the Katiba Macina, JNIM now controls key routes, imposes taxes, and blocks fuel convoys, crippling Mali’s economy. With 2,100 deaths linked to JNIM attacks in 2025 alone, the group expanded its reach into southern and western regions, notably Kayes—a gold-rich area vital for food and fuel transit. JNIM governs villages through local agreements and propaganda, presenting itself as a protector of marginalized communities while maintaining violent repression. Analysts Bakary Sambe, Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné, and Michael Shurkin note its evolving political goals. Recently, JNIM secured a $50 million ransom for hostages, fueling concerns over its growing capacity.

MALIAN ARMY AND MILITIAS ACCUSED OF MASSACRING 31 CIVILIANS IN SÉGOU REGION

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigations, last month on October 2 and 13, 2025, Malian soldiers and Dozo militias killed at least 31 civilians and burned homes in Kamona and a nearby village, 55 km away. Witnesses and community leaders told HRW that on October 2, 21 men were killed and 10 houses torched in Kamona; on October 13, 9 men and 1 woman were killed in the second village. HRW researcher Ilaria Allegrozzi linked the massacres to recent JNIM attacks in Ségou, where the group also enforces blockades and fuel convoy attacks. The government did not respond to HRW’s requests for comment.

SOMALIA

STRUGGLES AGAINST AL-SHABAAB

On November 18, 2025, Somali forces held the strategic town of Awdheegle, 60 km from Mogadishu, after retaking it from Al-Shabaab two months prior. The front line remains precarious, with the army’s lone helicopter at risk of rebel mortar fire. Villages like Sabiid and Canole, retaken in June after intense airstrikes and drone attacks, lie in ruins; a key bridge was destroyed by retreating Shabaab fighters and only recently rebuilt with Turkish aid. The Islamist group, linked to Al-Qaeda, has regained 90% of territory lost in 2022–2023, including vital Shabelle River bridges. However, residents like 65-year-old Abdi Osman Hassan, who found his home demolished, and 56-year-old Muslimo Hassan Isaq, displaced for eight months, report no aid or security.

LEBANON

ISRAEL ACCUSED OF BUILDING WALL ON LEBANESE TERRITORY

On November 15, 2025, Lebanon announced it would file a complaint with the UN Security Council over Israel’s construction of a wall on the Lebanese soil. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed the wall crossed the Blue Line demarcation, rendering 4,000 square meters of Lebanese territory inaccessible. Israel denied the accusation.

UN PEACEKEEPERS ACCUSE ISRAEL OF OPENING FIRE

On November 16, 2025, UNIFIL reported that Israeli forces fired on its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, using heavy machine guns from a Merkava tank. The Israeli military later admitted the incident, claiming it mistook the UN troops for suspects due to poor weather conditions. UNIFIL condemned the attack as a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS SCHOOL DIRECTOR

On November 16, 2025, an Israeli drone strike killed Mohammed Shoueikh, a local school director, in Al-Mansouri, Tyre district. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed the attack.

2 MURDERED IN SOUTH LEBANON

On November 18, 2025, Israeli strikes killed 2 people in southern Lebanon: a municipal employee in Bint Jbeil and another person in Blida. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed the attacks, while the Israeli military claimed to target Hezbollah operatives.

ISRAELI STRIKE ON REFUGEE CAMP KILLS 13

On November 18, 2025, an Israeli airstrike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Saida, southern Lebanon, killed at least 13 people and left several others wounded. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the strike hit a car near the Khaled bin al-Walid mosque and a nearby community center, causing extensive damage. Emergency services transported the wounded to local hospitals, while ambulances continued to shuttle between the scene and medical facilities throughout the night.

The Israeli military stated it had targeted a Hamas training camp. Hamas denied any military presence in the camp. Local witnesses and camp residents insisted the targeted area was a community space used by youth for sports and social activities, not for military purposes.

Ain al-Hilweh, Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, is home to tens of thousands of refugees. The strike was the deadliest in southern Lebanon in nearly a year. The Lebanese Health Ministry and local media reported that many of the victims were young people, some under the age of 15, who had been gathered in the area at the time of the attack.

ISRAEL CLAIMS KILLING HEZBOLLAH MEMBERS

On November 19, 2025, the Israeli military announced it had killed 2 people in strikes on Bint Jbeil and Blida, accusing them of rebuilding Hezbollah’s military capabilities and gathering intelligence. A strike on a vehicle in Tiri also killed 1 person and injured 11, including students on a university bus.

CALLS FOR EVACUATION

On November 19, 2025, the Israeli military warned of imminent strikes on Hezbollah targets in Deir Kifa and Shahour, urging civilians to evacuate. The strikes were framed as a response to Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild its military presence.

PALESTINE

NETANYAHU REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO PALESTINIAN STATE

On November 16, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several ministers reiterated their opposition to a Palestinian state, ahead of a UN Security Council vote on a US-backed resolution for Gaza. The draft resolution, which endorses former US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state, a prospect Israel has long rejected. Netanyahu stated “Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any territory has not changed” and dismissed the need for “lessons from anyone.” Far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir also vowed to oppose any government that accepts a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it had killed 1 person in northern Gaza after he allegedly crossed a demarcation line near Israeli troops.

ISRAELI FORCES KILL PALESTINIAN IN WEST BANK

On November 16, 2025, the Israeli military reported killing a 19-year-old Palestinian, Hassan Ahmed Jamil Moussa, during a raid near Nablus in the occupied West Bank. The army stated Moussa was throwing an explosive device at soldiers. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed his death in Al-Askar refugee camp. Violence in the West Bank has surged since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with at least 1,006 Palestinians and 43 Israelis killed in the territory.

GAZA RESIDENTS SENT TO SOUTH AFRICA

On November 15, 2025, Israel stated that 153 Gazans who arrived under mysterious circumstances in South Africa were intended for a “third country” without specifying which. The group, including men, women, and children, was held on their plane for over 12 hours due to missing Israeli exit stamps. South African authorities eventually allowed their entry after an NGO guaranteed their care. A similar flight with 176 Palestinians had landed in Johannesburg on October 28. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the arrivals “mysterious” and pledged an investigation, suggesting the flights were part of a broader effort to deport Palestinians.

ISRAEL DEMOLISHES WEST BANK OUTPOST

On November 17, 2025, Israeli security forces evacuated and demolished the illegal Tzour Misgavi outpost in the Gush Etzion bloc, south of Jerusalem, following violent incidents. The civil administration stated the evacuation was due to criminal activity and security threats. The move sparked backlash from far-right ministers and settlers, with some extremists later attacking the Palestinian village of Jabaa in retaliation. The UN reported a record surge in settler violence in October, with over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank amid ongoing tensions.

ISRAELI SETTLER VIOLENCE IN WEST BANK

On November 17, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned a “handful of extremist” settlers for violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, following an assault on the village of Jabaa after the demolition of the Tzour Misgavi outpost.

ISRAELI MINISTER CALLS FOR ARREST OF ABBAS IF U.N. BACKS STATEHOOD

On November 17, 2025, Israeli far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the arrest of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the assassination of senior Palestinian officials if the UN Security Council votes in favor of Palestinian statehood. Ben Gvir, addressing Prime Minister Netanyahu, stated “You must order targeted killings of senior Palestinian Authority officials, who are terrorists in every way, and order the arrest of Abu Mazen [Abbas].” The Palestinian Authority condemned the remarks as “incendiary” and reflective of Israel’s “official policy of substitution of force for the rule of law.”

U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS TRUMP’S GAZA PEACE PLAN & INTERNATIONAL FORCE

On November 17, 2025, the UN Security Council voted 13-0 (with Russia and China abstaining) to endorse Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which includes deploying an international stabilization force and establishing a “Peace Committee” led by the US to govern Gaza until Palestinian Authority reforms. The resolution also mentions the potential for Palestinian statehood, which Israel opposes. Hamas rejected the plan as imposing “international tutelage” on Gaza.

JOURNALIST SHOT BY ISRAELI FORCES

On November 18, 2025, Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Yassin was shot in the leg by Israeli forces while covering a protest in Tulkarem, West Bank. Yassin was evacuated by ambulance after being hit by a bullet that entered his right leg and exited through his left thigh. The protest, involving about 150 Palestinians, demanded the right to return to the Nour Shams refugee camp, which was evacuated by the Israeli military in early 2025. Israeli soldiers briefly detained a Roya TV cameraman and two protesters and dispersed the crowd.

ISRAELI ATTACK IN WEST BANK KILLS ONE, INJURES THREE

On November 18, 2025, a car-ramming and stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank killed one Israeli and injured three others. The Israeli military reported that soldiers killed two Palestinian assailants, identified as Imran al-Atrache and Walid Sabbarna, both 18 from Hebron. The victims included a 71-year-old man from the Kyriat Arba settlement.

STRIKES IN GAZA KILL 27

On November 19, 2025, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed 27 people, marking one of the deadliest days since the October 10 ceasefire. The Gaza Civil Defense reported 14 deaths in Gaza City and 13 in Khan Younis. Israel claimed it was targeting Hamas militants in response to rocket fire though no Israeli casualties were reported. Hamas denied responsibility for any rocket fire, labeling Israel’s claims as “pretexts for aggression.” Residents described chaos and fear.

ISRAELI STRIKES ON GAZA KILL 5, INCLUDING INFANT

On November 20, 2025, Israeli airstrikes on southern Gaza killed 5 people, including a one-year-old girl, according to local authorities and hospitals. The strikes followed a night of heavy bombardment. The Israeli military stated it was targeting “terrorist infrastructure”. The US was notified before the strikes, according to an anonymous American official.

WEST BANK REFUGEES FEAR PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT

On November 20, 2025, Palestinians displaced from Tulkarem’s refugee camps by an Israeli military operation that began in January 2025 expressed fear of permanent displacement. Hakam Irhil, 41, described living in a school classroom with five others after his home was demolished. The operation, which Israel says targets armed groups, has displaced 32,000 Palestinians and destroyed over 850 structures. Human Rights Watch called the forced displacement a war crime and ethnic cleansing. Residents, like Oum Mohamed al-Jammal, demand the right to return, but Israeli authorities have not set a clear timeline for the operation’s end.

TWO PALESTINIAN TEENAGERS MURDERED

On November 21, 2025, two Palestinian teenagers, Amr Khaled Ahmed Al-Marbou (18) and Sami Ibrahim Sami Machayekh (16), were killed by Israeli gunfire during overnight clashes in Kufr Aqab, near Ramallah. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported transporting two people with gunshot wounds to a hospital. A friend of Marbou stated the teens were not involved in the confrontation. The area suffers from chronic under-provision of municipal services.

SYRIA

SYRIA HAND OVER 400 UYGHUR TO CHINA

On November 17, 2025, Syrian authorities agreed to transfer 400 Uyghur jihadists to China, according to government and diplomatic sources. The move follows China’s refusal to integrate these fighters, mostly from the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) in Idlib into Syria’s new army. Foreign Minister Assaad al-Chaibani discussed the issue with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, who pledged support for Syria’s peace efforts. Syria’s new leadership, which took power in December 2024, has been dissolving armed groups and integrating some former rebels, including at least one Uyghur, into the military. The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights estimates 3,200–4,000 Uyghur fighters remain in Syria. The Uyghurs are at risk of persecution in China.

SYRIA OPENS TRIAL OVER MARCH MASSACRES

On November 18, 2025, a Syrian court in Aleppo began the first trial for the March massacres on the coastal region, which left at least 1,426 civilians dead, mostly Alawite, according to a national inquiry. Fourteen defendants appeared: seven former pro-Assad fighters charged with sedition, incitement, murder, and pillage; and seven members of the new Islamist security forces charged with premeditated murder. The trial will resume on December 18 and 25 for the respective groups.

ISRAEL REAFFIRMS MILITARY PRESENCE IN SYRIAN BUFFER ZONE

On November 19, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Golan Heights buffer zone, declaring its “immense importance” for Israel’s defense and protection of Druze allies. Syria condemned the visit as a “grave violation” of its sovereignty, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to respect the 1974 disengagement agreement. Netanyahu, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and military chiefs, reaffirmed Israel’s refusal to return Golan, annexed in 1981. The visit followed Syrian President Ahmad al-Chareh’s U.S. trip, where he called Israeli occupation a barrier to normalization. Israel has previously conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria amid rising intercommunal tensions with Druzes.

EASTERN EUROPE

RUSSIA CLAIMS CAPTURE OF TWO SOUTHERN UKRAINIAN VILLAGES

On November 16, 2025, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the capture of Rivnopillia and Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia region. Rivnopillia is located 70 km southeast of Zaporizhzhia city and 13 km from Orikhiv. Aerial footage showed Russian soldiers raising flags over damaged houses.

RUSSIAN STRIKES KILL FIVE

On November 17, 2025, Russian strikes killed at least 5 people in eastern Ukraine, according to local authorities. In Balakliya, 3 died and 15 were injured, including 4 children, after nighttime missile attacks damaged a kindergarten, residential buildings and vehicles. In Nikopol, a 76-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man were killed by Russian artillery. The port of Izmail near Romania was also hit, causing a fire on a Turkish-flagged civilian ship.

UKRAINIAN FAMILIES DEMAND RETURN OF DEPORTED CHILDREN

On November 17, 2025, families of Ukrainian children deported to Russia appealed for international help at a Paris press conference. Darina Repina, legal guardian of two children taken from Kherson in 2022, said Russian authorities ignore return requests.

Several cases were given in example. Margarita Prokopenko, 10 months old at the time, was reportedly adopted by Sergei Mironov, a Putin ally. Her brother Maksim remains in a Russian orphanage. Liubov Burina’s grandchildren, Angelina and Yevhen, were taken to Russian-annexed Crimea. Ukraine says nearly 20,000 children have been forcibly deported. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over these allegations.

RUSSIAN MISSILE KILLS TEENAGER

On November 18, 2025, a Russian missile strike killed a 17-year-old girl and injured 9 others in Berestyn, Kharkiv region. Governor Oleg Synegoubov reported 19 drones targeted Kharkiv, damaging a nine-story apartment building. In Dnipropetrovsk, drone attacks caused fires. These strikes follow a pattern of daily Russian bombardments on Ukrainian energy and rail infrastructure.

SABOTEURS ARRESTED IN POLAND

On November 18, 2025, Polish authorities announced two Ukrainian citizens, working for Moscow, were suspected of sabotaging a railway line in Poland used to supply Ukraine. At date, their identities not disclosed. The sabotage occurred between November 16–18, targeting a key route for military and humanitarian aid.

36 INJURED IN KHARKIV ATTACK

On November 19, 2025, a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv injured 36 people, including children, and damaged over ten residential buildings. Governor Oleg Synegoubov reported drones targeted the city. The entire country was under air raid alert, with western regions also hit.

31 KILLED IN WESTERN UKRAINE

On November 19, 2025, at least 31 people were killed, including 3 children, and 73 others were injured in Ternopil after a massive Russian drone and missile attack. The strike, involving 476 drones and 48 missiles, also damaged residential buildings and industrial sites, causing large fires. President Zelensky, in Turkey for peace talks, criticized insufficient pressure on Russia.

RUSSIA CLAIMS CAPTURE OF KEY CITY

On November 20, 2025, Russia announced the capture of Kupiansk, a strategic city in northeastern Ukraine. Commander Sergei Kuzovlev said that Kupiansk was a “key node” in Ukrainian defenses. Putin, visiting a command post, was briefed by Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov on advances in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and near Pokrovsk and Siversk. Putin reiterated Russia’s goal of “unconditionally” achieving its military objectives.

U.S. PLAN WOULD CEDE UKRAINIAN TERRITORY TO RUSSIA

On November 20, 2025, a 28-point US-backed peace plan proposed recognizing Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk as de facto Russian, and splitting Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along current front lines. The plan also limits Ukraine’s army to 600,000 troops, bans NATO troops in Ukraine, but allows European fighter jets in Poland.

5 KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKE ON ZAPORIZHZHIA

On November 20, 2025, a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia killed at least 5 people and injured three others, according to emergency services. The attack set fire to market stalls and a car.

NEPAL

CURFEW IMPOSED AFTER CLASHES

On November 19–20, 2025, authorities in Simara, southern Nepal, reimposed a curfew for a second consecutive day following clashes between Gen Z activists and supporters of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s CPN-UML party. The violence erupted near Simara airport on November 19, prompting the curfew, according to Bara district chief Dharmendra Kumar Mishra. Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed several arrests but no serious injuries. Protesters returned to the streets on November 20, demanding action against their attackers. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who took office after September’s unrest that killed 76, urged all parties to avoid political provocations and trust the democratic process ahead of the March 5, 2026, elections. Karki, a former chief justice, met with over 110 party representatives, emphasizing the need for a “new generation with vision” to lead the country.

COLOMBIA

COLOMBIAN AIRSTRIKE KILLS CHILD SOLDIERS

On November 15, 2025, 6 minors, victims of forced recruitment, were killed in an army airstrike targeting a dissident ex-FARC guerrilla faction in the southern Amazon region of Guaviare. The strike, part of a week-long offensive that left 28 dead, hit the State Major Central (EMC) group led by Iván Mordisco, Colombia’s most-wanted man. President Gustavo Petro defended the operation, stating it prevented an ambush on 20 soldiers nearby. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez asserted that anyone involved in hostilities loses protection. The strike occurred as U.S. pressure mounts for stronger action against drug trafficking.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

FINLAND DEPORTS SUSPECTED WAGNER MERCENARY

On November 17, 2025, Finland expelled a Russian national who illegally crossed the border in June, according to border guards. Media identified him as “Yevgeny”, allegedly a former Wagner Group PMC. He sought asylum but was denied and deported on November 14. Finnish authorities confirmed his military background but did not comment on Wagner links.

BANGLADESH: EX-PM SENTENCED TO DEATH

On November 17, 2025, a Dhaka court sentenced in absentia Bangladesh’s exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for ordering the deadly crackdown on protests that led to her downfall in summer 2024. Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder stated “all elements constituting crimes against humanity are present” and imposed the death penalty. Hasina, in exile in India since fleeing by helicopter, was convicted of inciting and ordering murders during the unrest. The 2024 anti-government protests resulted in at least 1,400 deaths, mostly civilians, according to the UN. Hasina has consistently denied the charges.

ICC PROSECUTORS DEMAND LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR SUDANESE MILITIA LEADER

On November 17, 2025, International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors sought a life sentence for Ali Mohamed Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (aka Ali Kosheib), a Janjaweed militia leader convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur (2003–2004). Prosecutor Julian Nicholls described him as a “hatchet killer” who ordered mass executions, including hacking civilians with an axe. Kosheib denied the charges claiming “I am not Ali Kosheib.” His defense requested a 7-year sentence.

ISRAEL’S CONTROVERSIAL PRESENCE AT MILIPOL SECURITY FAIR IN FRANCE

On November 17, 2025, France’s Milipol security expo opened in Paris, with 39 Israeli companies among 1,200 exhibitors, despite that Israeli forces are accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Palestine. The French government, citing the October 10 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, authorized all Israeli firms wishing to participate. Organizer Yann Jounot stated he was implementing the State’s decision. Israeli exhibitors had faced restrictions at previous French defense events.

NGO FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST TOTAL ENERGIES FOR COMPLICITY IN WAR CRIMES IN MOZAMBIQUE

On November 18, 2025, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) filed a complaint in Paris against TotalEnergies, accusing the company of complicity in war crimes in Mozambique. The NGO alleges TotalEnergies financed and supported the Mozambican Joint Task Force (JTF), which allegedly detained, tortured, and killed dozens of civilians near the Mozambique LNG site in Cabo Delgado between July and September 2021. The complaint follows reports by Le Monde, which TotalEnergies disputes.

LAFARGE TRIAL RESUMES FOR FINANCING ARMED GROUPS

On November 18, 2025, the trial of Lafarge and eight former executives resumed in Paris, accused of paying millions to jihadist groups, including ISIS and Jabhat al-Nosra, in 2013–2014 to keep a Syrian cement plant operational. The case, which began on November 4, was briefly adjourned due to a procedural issue. Former CEO Bruno Lafont and other defendants face charges of financing terrorism. The trial is expected to conclude on December 19.

 “HUMAN SAFARI” IN BOSNIA

On November 18, 2025, Italian prosecutors opened an investigation into allegations that wealthy Italians and other Europeans citizens associated with far-right groups, paid to shoot at civilians during the 1992–1996 Siege of Sarajevo. The claims, first reported in 1995 by Bosnian newspaper Oslobodjenje, resurfaced after a 2022 Al-Jazeera documentary. Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Karic, who was a child during the war, filed a complaint in Bosnia and Italy. Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, who also filed a complaint in Milan, gathered testimonies from both sides. The Bosnian war, which left over 100,000 dead, saw Sarajevo under siege for nearly four years, with snipers killing thousands civilians.

ICC CONFIRMS ISRAEL’S REQUEST TO DISQUALIFY PROSECUTOR

On November 19, 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed receiving Israel’s request to disqualify Prosecutor Karim Khan, who issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel claims Khan acted to “divert attention” from sexual misconduct allegations against him. The ICC previously rejected Israel’s challenges to its jurisdiction and the warrants. The Gaza conflict has left at least 69,500 Palestinians dead.

FRENCH COURT CONFIRMS JURISDICTION IN LANDMARK CONGO WAR CRIMES TRIAL

On November 21, 2025, a Paris court confirmed its jurisdiction to try former Congolese rebel Roger Lumbala for complicity in crimes against humanity (2002–2003) in Ituri and Haut-Uélé, DRC. Lumbala, 67, boycotted the trial, arguing France lacks jurisdiction. The court rejected his claims, noting the ICC did not assert competence and Congolese warrants did not cover the same charges. This is France’s first trial for crimes committed in DRC. Lumbala led the RCD-N militia, accused of systematic violence. Survivors are now expected to testify.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC SIGNS PEACE DEAL WITH MPC REBEL GROUP

On November 21, 2025, the Central African Republic (CAR) government signed a peace agreement with the Patriotic Movement for Central Africa (MPC) in N’Djamena, Chad. The MPC, led by Mahamat Al Khatim, pledged to cease hostilities, disarm, and reintegrate into the 2019 Khartoum peace accords. The group had joined the CPC rebel coalition in 2020 but split in 2023. CAR’s government, backed by Russian Wagner mercenaries and Rwandan troops, has dissolved two other major rebel groups (3R and UPC) and begun disarmament. Over 800 fighters have been disarmed so far. Presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal elections are scheduled for December 28. Security has improved, but instability persists near the Sudanese border.