OVERVIEW
Week 10
In SUDAN, the army announced it has reclaimed the strategic town of Bara from RSF. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Ethiopia of launching drone attacks from its territory, and a separate strike on a market in Al-Mojlad killed 18 people. In SOUTH SUDAN, ethnic clashes in Abiemnom left at least 169 people dead in a mass grave, and Médecins Sans Frontières reported losing contact with 26 employees due to fighting. The UN warned of a potential generalized civil war after 189 civilians were killed in January, including a massacre in Ayod. Two officers were arrested for the murder of 21 civilians in Jonglei. In TANZANIA, thousands of Burundian refugees were forcibly returned home after authorities destroyed their camps. In NIGERIA, Boko Haram fighters killed 18 people and kidnapped 30 women and children during a raid on a military base. In ETHIOPIA, officials warned of a new war in Tigray as federal troops amass at the regional borders. In the DRC, the United States imposed sanctions on Rwandan military officers for supporting M23. A landslide at an M23-controlled mine killed over 200 people, and gunmen killed five national park staff members. In GUINEA, men in military uniforms kidnapped the elderly mother and relatives of an exiled opposition figure.
In LEBANON, the Israeli military launched a ground incursion and assassinated several senior Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Israeli air forces bombed the historic city of Tyre, damaging UNESCO monuments, while the national death toll rose to 217 with up to 300,000 people displaced. In PALESTINE, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed seven people, and the Israeli Supreme Court halted the expulsion of 37 foreign humanitarian NGOs. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers killed two Palestinian brothers, while Gaza residents expressed fear that regional escalation is diverting global attention from their worsening humanitarian crisis. In IRAK, a prominent women’s rights activist was shot dead in front of her home in Baghdad.
In IRAN, the United States and Israel launched major military operations that resulted in the death of the Supreme Leader and dozens of high-ranking officials. A strike on a school in Minab killed approximately 150 people, mostly children, and the total Iranian death toll reached 1,230 across 153 cities. The country faced a near-total internet blackout as police were ordered to shoot looters on sight. In ISRAEL, an Iranian missile strike on a public shelter killed nine people. In the GULF, an American-flagged tanker was hit by projectiles in BAHRAIN, and Iranian drones targeted data centers in the UAE. In PAKISTAN, nine people were killed during anti-US protests, and the government declared war on the Afghan Taliban after border clashes. In AFGHANISTAN, Pakistani airstrikes targeted migrant camps, killing three people. In AZERBAIJAN, the President promised reprisals after Iranian drones wounded four people in Nakhitchevan.
In EASTERN EUROPE, Russian strikes killed at least nine civilians across Ukraine, including a man killed in a drone attack on a train. A Ukrainian drone killed a woman in the Russian region of Briansk. Russia and Ukraine exchanged 400 prisoners of war as part of a larger swap coordinated in Geneva. The Russian Supreme Court designated an anti-war committee as a terrorist organization.
In MYANMAR, the junta granted amnesty to 7,300 prisoners but kept Aung San Suu Kyi in detention. The military also imposed fuel rationing for private vehicles due to maritime trade disruptions caused by the regional war.
Regarding international justice and relations, in FRANCE, the Paris Appeals Court sentenced a man to 14 years for complicity in the Tutsi genocide. In SWITZERLAND, a complaint for crimes against humanity was filed against an Iranian official visiting Geneva. In SPAIN, the government was threatened with a trade cessation by Donald Trump over its refusal to allow the use of military bases for the war against Iran. A Council of Europe report highlighted a 29% increase in threats to media freedom, with 148 journalists currently detained. In FINLAND, the government announced it will allow the presence of nuclear weapons on its soil to align with NATO. SOS Méditerranée reported that the beginning of 2026 is the deadliest period in the Mediterranean since 2014, with over 650 deaths recorded.
Most of the information mentioned in the news review are from Franceinfo with Agence France Presse, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Associated Press and the British Broadcasting Corporation.
NEWS BY COUNTRY
SOUDAN
ACTIVISTS DOCUMENT WAR CRIMES FROM CHAD
Survivor Hassan Sabir coordinated 12 volunteers from Tiné and Adré to collect evidence of international crimes committed by RSF. Sabir, who escaped the conquest of El Fasher by hiding under corpses, now leads an organization documenting massacres in North Darfur and Zamzam. The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab estimated tens of thousands died during these offensives, which were often filmed by fighters and shared by influencers like Idriss Saadan. Human rights lawyer Moneim Adam, a collaborator with the International Criminal Court (ICC), stated that the failure to arrest Omar el-Bachir, Ahmed Haroun, and Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein fuels a sense of being untouchable among current leaders. While Ali Mohamed Ali Abdelrahman (aka Ali Kushayb) was sentenced to 20 years in prison, others like Abdallah Banda remain free despite ICC warrants for killing 12 peacekeepers in Haskanita. Jamal Nrumah, cofounder of Juzur, proposed a hybrid tribunal to address systemic violence, yet anonymous volunteers in Adré documenting thousands of victims from Al-Geneina and Ardamata face constant death threats from RSF.
ETHIOPIAN DRONE AGGRESSION ACCUSATION
On March 2, 2026, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Ethiopia of launching drone attacks from its territory against Sudanese targets in February and March. The ministry characterized these acts as manifest aggression and warned Ethiopian authorities of the consequences. This follows Reports from the Crisis Group suggest United Arab Emirates arms shipments to Ethiopia are intended for a new RSF base.
DEADLY MARKET STRIKE IN AL-MOJLAD
On March 4, 2026, a drone strike on a market in Al-Mojlad killed 18 people and wounded 25 others according to a local medical source. The RSF, who control the town in West Kordofan, accused the army of the attack. A separate strike in Dilling killed 5 people and wounded 7 others. Louise Brown, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator, described the seriousness of the local situation.
ARMY RECAPTURES STRATEGIC TOWN
On March 5, 2026, the Sudanese army announced it reclaimed the town of Bara from the RSF paramilitaries. Combat and drone strikes killed 32 people in Kordofan during the previous 24 hours. In Dilling, artillery fire and drone strikes killed 9 people and wounded 50 others, and causing significant housing destruction. An RSF drone strike also targeted a public building in El-Obeid according to a local official.
SOUTH SUDAN
WARNING OF GENERALIZED CIVIL WAR
On February 27, 2026, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for urgent action to prevent South Sudan from fragmenting into a generalized civil war. Türk reported that 189 civilians were killed in January, marking a 45% increase in human rights violations since December. He highlighted a massacre in Ayod where government soldiers allegedly killed 21 unarmed civilians. Türk also noted 350 attacks against humanitarian workers in 2025 and authenticated recordings of a high ranking military officer ordering the destruction of civilian property.
DEADLY ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN ABIEMNOM
On March 1, 2026, dozens of civilians and local officials were killed during clashes in the northern part of South Sudan. Anita Kiki Gbeho of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that unidentified armed youth attacked the headquarters of Abiemnom, wounding 20 people. Local ministers Elizabeth Achol and James Monyluak confirmed that 169 bodies were buried in a mass grave following a 3 hour attack by Nuer youth from Unity State. A diplomatic source suggested the death toll could exceed 100 people. UNMISS noted that 280,000 people have been displaced recently.
HUMANITARIAN STAFF MISSING
On March 2, 2026, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported losing contact with 26 of its employees in Lankien and Pieri. Fighting between the army of Salva Kiir and militias supporting Riek Machar forced many staff members to flee into remote areas without access to food or water. A government airstrike had previously hit an MSF center on February 3.
SOLDIERS ARRESTED FOR JONGLEI MASSACRE
On March 4, 2026, the South Sudanese army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang announced the arrest of 2 officers and several soldiers for the murder of at least 21 civilians in Jonglei. An investigation revealed the killings in Ayod County were perpetrated by elements of the Agwelek militia under General Johnson Olony Thabo, who was filmed ordering troops to spare no lives. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sudan and South Sudan demanded immediate government action to protect vulnerable populations.
TANZANIA
DEPORTATION OF BURUNDIAN REFUGEES
On March 6, 2026, thousands of Burundian refugees reported being forcibly returned to Burundi after Tanzanian authorities destroyed their refugee camps. Although the Burundian Minister of Interior Léonidas Ndaruzaniye claim the returns are voluntary, refugees described police violence and the destruction of public infrastructures. Over 40,500 people have returned since the beginning of 2026 as the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps face closure.
NIGERIA
JIHADIST RAID ON MILITARY BASE
On March 3, 2026, Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base and the village of Ngoshe in Borno State, killing 18 people, both civilians and soldiers. Local sources reported that jihadists kidnapped 30 women and children, the local imam and an army officer. Following the raid, the Nigerian army reportedly killed over 50 militant fighters in retaliatory airstrikes. The US continue their military deployment in the country in support of local State’s forces.
ETHIOPIA-ERITREA
FEARS OF NEW TIGRAY WAR
On March 4, 2026, Amanuel Assefa, a high ranking official of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), warned that federal authorities are preparing to launch a new war in Tigray. Large numbers of federal troops are reportedly amassing at the regional borders while flights to the region remain suspended. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has marginalized the TPLF since 2018 and federal authorities now accuse the group of aligning with Eritrea. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk has called for immediate de-escalation to prevent a repeat of the conflict that previously killed 600,000 people.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
US SANCTIONS ON RWANDAN MILITARY
On March 2, 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) and 4 senior officers for providing direct operational support to M23 rebels. The State Department announced that these sanctions include freezing assets and prohibiting US citizens from conducting business with the targeted individuals. This decision follows M23 offensives in Uvira and North Kivu which were aided by Rwandan forces. On March 6, 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington will refuse visas to several Rwandan officials. The measures target individuals responsible for undermining peace in the Great Lakes region by supporting M23.
DEADLY LANDSLIDE IN A M23 MINE AND PARK ATTACK
On March 3, 2026, gunmen killed 5 staff members of the Upemba National Park at Lusinga according to Yves Milan Ngangay, the director of the ICCN. On the dame day, a major landslide at a M23 controlled mine in Rubaya killed over 200 people, including 70 children, as reported by the Ministry of Mines. Independent verification remains difficult due to cut telecommunications and lack of access.
GUINEA
KIDNAPPING OF OPPOSITION FAMILY MEMBERS
On March 3, 2026, 84 year old Hadja Asmaou Diallo and 2 other female relatives were kidnapped from their home in Dinguiraye by men in military uniforms. Diallo is the mother of exiled opposition figure Tibou Kamara, a critic of General Mamadi Doumbouya. A local organization noted that at least 20 people have faced forced disappearance under the current military regime. Previous victims include the father of journalist Mamoudou Babila Keïta.
LEBANON
ISRAELI STRIKES IN THE SOUTH
On February 28, 2026, the Israeli army announced strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These operations occurred as the United States and Israel launched a broader military offensive against Iran and its regional allies.
ISRAELI DEADLY RAIDS & HEZBOLLAH MILITARY BAN
On March 2, 2026, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced an immediate ban on all Hezbollah military and security activities, demanding the movement surrender its weapons and transition to purely political action. This followed massive Israeli strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon that killed at least 52 people and wounded 154 others. Hezbollah leader Naïm Qassem vowed to retaliate and later claimed responsibility for a missile and drone barrage against Haifa. President Joseph Aoun criticized the use of Lebanon as a platform for external wars. Authorities recorded over 28,500 displaced persons during the day.
GROUND INCURSION
On March 3, 2026, a military source reported an Israeli ground incursion in the border areas of Kfar Kila and the plain of Khiam. Defense Minister Israël Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the military to seize strategic positions to establish a « buffer zone ». General Effie Defrin confirmed that troops took control of several heights to prevent attacks on northern Israel. In Beirut, an Israeli strike killed Reza Khazai, a senior Hezbollah official responsible for the group’s arsenal. Meanwhile, other Israeli strikes targeted the Jamaa islamiya headquarters in Saïda. UN officials Babar Baloch of the HCR and Samer Abdel Jaber of the WFP noted that 31,000 people were registered in collective shelters while many others displaced people slept in cars.
MASSIVE EVACUATIONS AND DEVASTATING RAIDS
On March 4, 2026, the Israeli army ordered residents of 13 towns and villages south of the Litani River to evacuate immediately toward the north. Strikes in Aramoun and Saadiyat killed 6 people while a raid on a building in Baalbek killed 5 others. In Hazmieh, a strike hit a hotel, causing injuries among residents like Lena. On the Beirut airport highway, 2 cars were targeted in strikes that killed 3 people. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that 3 rescuers were killed in the Tyre district. By Wednesday evening, authorities recorded a total of 72 deaths and 83,000 displaced persons since February 28.
HAMAS OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED
On March 5, 2026, an Israeli drone strike killed a senior Hamas official and his wife in a refugee camp in northern Lebanon. In Beirut, the Israeli military targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern suburbs after issuing new evacuation warnings. Attacks in the Nabatiyé region killed a village mayor and his wife along with a family of 4 in a neighboring village. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened that the Dahiyeh district in Southern Beirut would soon resemble the devastated city of Khan Younès, in Palestine.
UNESCO SITES DAMAGED AND RESISTANCE IN THE SOUTH
On March 6, 2026, Israeli aviation bombed the historic city of Tyre, hitting the ruins district near the ancient hippodrome and a Palestinian refugee camp in Bass. The Ministry of Health announced that the death toll since February 28 rose to 217 people and 798 wounded. Some reports indicate up to 300,000 people were displaced in the country. Israeli spokesperson Nadav Shoshani stated that Iran and Hezbollah coordinated simultaneous missile strikes on Thursday to overwhelm defences. In Alma Al-Chaab, Mayor Chadi Sayah and residents reported that 96 villagers refused to evacuate despite the proximity of combat.
IRAK
ASSASSINATION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVIST
On March 2, 2026, prominent activist Yanar Mohammed was shot dead by 2 gunmen on a motorcycle in front of her Bagdad home. Yanar Mohammed, who cofounded the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) in 2003, had received the Rafto Prize in 2016 for her work protecting victims of sexual violence.
PALESTINE
GAZA AIRSTRIKES
On February 26, 2026, Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed 7 people after the army reported a ceasefire violation by armed terrorists near Rafah. Casualties occurred in Khan Younès, Beit Lahia and Al-Bureij. A witness described unannounced attacks.
SUPREME COURT HALTS NGO EXPULSIONS
On February 27, 2026, the Israeli Supreme Court granted a stay to 37 foreign humanitarian NGOs, including MSF and Oxfam, facing expulsion for refusing to provide lists of Palestinian employees. Attorney Yotam Ben-Hillel and AIDA director Athena Rayburn welcomed the decision as vital for aid delivery. MSF coordinator Craig Kenzie noted that foreign staff have left while 1,200 local employees continue essential work despite depleted stocks of humanitarian aid.
SETTLERS KILL 2 IN WEST BANK
On March 2, 2026, 2 Palestinian brothers, Mohammed and Fahim Mouammar, were killed by Israeli settlers in the village of Qaryut. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the victims were 48 and 52 years old. The Palestinian Red Cross also treated 3 people for gunshot wounds. Since the start of the Gaza war, at least 1,040 Palestinians and 44 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank.
ABANDONMENT FEARS IN GAZA
On March 4, 2026, Palestinians in Gaza expressed fear that the regional war with Iran is diverting global attention from their desperate situation. Analysts noted a decrease in airstrikes but highlighted worsening shortages due to border closures. Safia Hamouda and Abdallah Al-Astal reported that prices for food and fuel have surged by at least 200%. UNICEF and Adnan Abou Hasna of UNRWA emphasized the dire humanitarian situation and feared the world would forget Gaza because of the global geopolitical situation.
IRAN-GULF-ISRAEL-US
IT’S WAR
On February 28, 2026, Donald Trump initiated military operation “Epic Fury” while Israel launched operation “Roaring lion” operation against the Iranian regime. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a coordinated strike on his residence in Tehran. The Israeli military reported that 7 high ranking officials were eliminated too, including Revolutionary Guard leader Mohammad Pakpour, advisor Ali Shamkhani and army chief Abdolrahim Moussavi. In Iraq, a strike on the Jurf al-Sakher base killed 2 members of Kataëb Hezbollah. Naïm Qassem, the head of Hezbollah, retaliated with drones and missiles, wounding 21 people in Tel Aviv. 1 woman aged 40 was reportedly killed in the Tel Aviv area. An Iranian school in Minab was hit, with the Croissant-Rouge initially reporting at least 51 deaths, including many children. Antonio Guterres of the United Nations expressed grave concern over the uncontrollable regional escalation. The Iranian government sent SMS to people urging residents to evacuate Tehran.
SHELTER MASSACRE IN ISRAEL, US LOSSES & DEADLY VIOLENCE SPREAD IN PAKISTAN
On March 1, 2026, the Pentagon confirmed the first 3 United States military fatalities in the conflict. An Iranian missile strike on a public shelter in Bet Shemesh killed 9 people and left 11 missing, destroying a building. Donald Trump announced that 48 Iranian leaders were eliminated and 9 ships were sunk by forces using B-2 stealth bombers. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the United States to use UK bases in Cyprus for defensive strikes despite a drone attack on the Akrotiri base. In Pakistan, 9 people were killed during anti-US protests at the Karachi consulate.
RISING DEATH TOLL IN IRAN & ESCALATION IN THE GULF
On March 2, 2026, the Iranian Red Cross reported that 555 people had been killed across 131 cities since the start of the war. Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of Ali Khamenei, died from her injuries after being in coma. In Bahrain, the American flagged tanker Stena Imperative was hit by projectiles at Salman port, killing 1 Asian worker and wounding 2 others. The United States military announced that 3 planes were shot down by mistake by Kuwaiti air defense. Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 52 people and displaced over 28,500. Lebanese Minister Nawaf Salam issued a ban on all Hezbollah military activities. In Gaza, 7 people were killed in Beit Lahia, Khan Younès and Al-Bureij. UNESCO expressed concern over damage to the Golestan Palace in Tehran.
+1000 ATTACKS IN 4 DAYS
On March 3, 2026, the Iranian death toll reached 787 as 153 cities were hit by more than 1,000 attacks. Israeli forces struck the “Assembly of Experts” building in Qom and the IRIB radio-TV headquarters in Tehran. A transition government composed of Massoud Pezeshkian, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeï and Alireza Arafi assumed temporary leadership. The United States closed its embassies in Riyadh and Kuwait. Pentagon official Elbridge Colby attributed the death of Khamenei to Israeli operations. Iranian drones targeted Amazon data centers in UAE and Bahrain, disrupting regional services. In Israel, 12 people were wounded by missiles in Ramat Gan and Petah Tikva. Israeli forces initiated a ground incursion in Kfar Kila and Khiam, in South Lebanon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed exchanging Patriot missiles for Ukrainian drone interceptors during calls with Mohamed ben Zayed and Tamim ben Hamad Al Thani. Rafael Grossi of the IAEA confirmed damage to the Natanz enrichment plant despite no detected radioactive leaks.
VICTIMS NUMBER KEEP RISING IN THE WHOLE REGION
On March 4, 2026, official Iranian sources reported 1,230 deaths since the beginning of the war. In Kuwait, an 11 year old girl was killed by falling debris in a residential area of the capital. The United States Navy used a submarine to sink an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean, killing 87 sailors and leaving dozens missing. Israeli Defense Minister Israël Katz revealed that the offensive against Iran had been originally planned for mid-2026. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares categorically refused any military cooperation with the United States regarding the use of its military bases.
INTERNET BLACKOUT IN IRAN & AZERBAIJAN TARGETED
On March 5, 2026, Iran faced a new internet blackout with connectivity at 1% of normal levels according to Netblocks. Police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan ordered forces to shoot looters on sight. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev promised reprisals after 2 Iranian drones hit Nakhitchevan, wounding 4 people. The World Health Organization suspended its Dubai hub operations due to insecurity. Expert Peter Asaro of the Stop Killer Robots campaign pointed IA use in US-Israeli targeting systems, following the Minab school strike. New reports stated that 150 persons died in Minab, most of victims being children.
HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IN LEBANON
On March 6, 2026, Lebanese health authorities reported that 217 people had been killed and 798 wounded since the beginning of the week. Over 300,000 people were displaced internally and Israeli strikes targeted the UNESCO protected city of Tyre. In South Lebanon, Mayor Chadi Sayah, resident Fadi Haddad and other villagers explained 96 people chose to stay in their home in Alma Al-Chaab despite evacuation orders. Israeli spokesperson Nadav Shoshani claimed that Iran and Hezbollah had coordinated simultaneous missile strikes to overwhelm defences.
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
PAKISTAN DECLARES OPEN WAR ON TALIBAN
On February 26, 2026,
BORDER CLASHES AND CIVILIAN CASUALTIES
On February 27, 2026, cross border fighting near Torkham resulted in civilian casualties, including 1 woman who died in the hospital. Witnesses confirmed that women and children were wounded by mortar fire in the Omari camp. The HCR suspended operations in the camp due to the violence. Residents described the panic as families fled the artillery fire. The Pakistani government previously declared open war against Afghan Taliban authorities. Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif and Minister of Interior Mohsin Naqvi announced that “patience had reached its limit” following an Afghan offensive at the border. The United States supported Pakistan’s right to self-defence. Afghan army spokesperson reported 8 soldiers died in the ground offensive.
PAKISTANI STRIKES ON MIGRANT CAMPS
On February 28, 2026, Pakistani airstrikes targeted a camps in Takhta Pul, Kandahar. Site manager Bahawaldin Nazim reported 3 deaths and 7 injuries. Local workers described hiding in the mountains as planes bombed the shelters. Pakistani spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stated that 29 sites were targeted and 297 militants were killed while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
EASTERN EUROPE
RUSSIANS AND UKRAINIANS RAIDS KILL CIVILIANS
On March 1, 2026, a Russian strike killed 1 man and wounded 4 others in the Synelnykove district. Local administrator Oleksandr Ganja reported that drones and artillery hit the Slavgorod and Mezhivska communities. Additional attacks were reported in Odessa and Kharkiv. In the Russian region of Briansk, Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz stated a Ukrainian drone killed 1 woman in Chernookovo.
WIDESPREAD STRIKES ACROSS UKRAINE & ANTI-WAR COMMITTEE DESIGNATED AS TERRORIST
On March 2, 2026, Russian attacks killed at least 8 people. Governor Vadym Filachkine reported 3 deaths in Kramatorsk and 2 in Droujkivka. Other victims included an elderly woman in Tcherniguiv and a man in Dnipropetrovsk. A drone strike on a suburban train caused 1 death and 9 injuries according to national police. Simultaneously, the Russian Supreme Court designated Mikhaïl Khodorkovski’s Anti-War Committee of Russia (CAR) as a terrorist organization.
PRISONER EXCHANGE
On March 5, 2026, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 200 prisoners of war each as the first part of a 1,000 person swap coordinated in Geneva. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinski and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of soldiers, including defenders of Azovstal. Dmytro Loubinets noted the difficult psychological state of those released. The mediation involved the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
MYANMAR
JUNTA AMNESTY FOR PRISONERS
On March 2, 2026, the Myanmar junta announced the amnesty of 7,300 detainees, many of whom were convicted of supporting pro-democracy groups. Despite this, Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned.
FUEL RATIONING DUE TO GLOBAL WAR
On March 3, 2026, the Burmese junta announced that only half of private vehicles would be allowed to circulate to conserve fuel. Vehicles with even numbered plates will drive on even days and odd numbered plates on odd days. The military cited maritime trade disruptions in West Asia as the reason for the shortage. Violators face legal prosecution while essential services remain exempt.
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & RELATIONS
GENOCIDE CONVICTION IN PARIS
On February 27, 2026, the Paris Appeals Court sentenced Claude Muhayimana to 14 years in prison for complicity in the Tutsi genocide. Muhayimana was found guilty of transporting genocidal Hutu militia to massacre sites in Kibuye in 1994.
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COMPLAINT IN SWITZERLAND
On March 2, 2026, lawyers William Bourdon and Philippine Vaganay criticized Swiss authorities for failing to arrest Iranian Vice Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Geneva. A complaint for crimes against humanity was filed by a refugee regarding Gharibabadi’s role in the 2022 repression following Mahsa Amini’s death. The Swiss public prosecutor confirmed receiving the complaint but took no immediate action.
TRUMP THREATENS SPAIN OVER COOPERATION IN THE WAR
On March 3, 2026, Donald Trump threatened to cease all trade with Spain due to its refusal to allow US planes to use bases in Rota and Moron for the war against Iran. Trump also criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the Spanish defence spending, that he judged too low. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares denied receiving any formal requests or complaints from Washington.
COUNCIL OF EUROPE PRESS FREEDOM REPORT
On March 3, 2026, the Plateforme for the safety of journalists reported a 29% increase in serious threats to media freedom in 2025. The report highlighted Russia, Turkey and Georgia as the most dangerous countries for journalists. Currently, 148 journalists are detained in Europe.
NUCLEAR POLICY SHIFTS IN FINLAND
On March 5, 2026, Finnish Minister Antti Hakkanen announced that Finland will allow the presence of nuclear weapons on its soil to align with NATO deterrence. In Vienna, the IAEA adopted a resolution expressing concern over Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The United States, represented by Howard Solomon, voted against the resolution for the first time, joined by China and Russia.
SOS MÉDITERRANÉE TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY
On March 6, 2026, SOS Méditerranée cofounder Sophie Beau reported that the NGO has saved 43,078 people since 2016. The organization warned that early 2026 is the deadliest period in the Mediterranean since 2014, with over 650 deaths. The NGO denounced European policies and the delegation of rescue responsibilities to Libya and Tunisia.
