WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Feb.7th – 13th 2026

SUDAN

HUMANITARIAN CONVOY ATTACKED IN KORDOFAN

On February 7, 2026, a World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian convoy was struck by a drone in North Kordofan, Sudan, killing one person and injuring several others, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The trucks, carrying vital food aid for displaced families near El-Obeid, were destroyed. The Emergency Lawyers collective and the Sudanese Doctors Network blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attack.

DEADLY ATTACKS ON MEDICAL FACILITIES

On February 8, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 30 people were killed in three separate attacks on medical facilities in South Kordofan over one week. On February 3, an attack on a health center killed eight people (five children and three women) and injured eleven. On February 4, an attack on a hospital killed one person. On February 5, another hospital attack killed twenty-two people, including four healthcare workers, and injured eight.

OVER 115,000 DISPLACED FROM KORDOFAN

On February 10, 2026, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that more than 115,000 people had fled Kordofan since October 25, 2025. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), after capturing El-Facher in Darfur, extended their offensive into Kordofan, targeting the central axis linking Darfur to Khartoum.

2 CHILDREN KILLED, 12 INJURED IN KORDOFAN SCHOOL

On February 11, 2026, a drone strike on a Quranic school in Al-Rahad, North Kordofan, killed 2 children and injured 12 others, according to a medical source. A witness attributed the attack to the RSF. Al-Rahad is near El-Obeid, a strategic city on the route from western Sudan to Khartoum. Another strike damaged a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Kadougli, according to medical and UN sources. The WFP warehouse attack caused structural damage and food losses.

NIGER

NIGERIAN MILITARY DRONE STRIKE KILLS 17 CIVILIANS

On January 6, 2026, a drone strike apparently carried out by the Nigerien military killed at least 17 civilians, including four children, and injured 13 others at a crowded market in the village of Kokoloko, Tillabéri region, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The strike also killed 3 Islamist fighters. Kokoloko is located about 120 kilometers west of Niamey and less than three kilometers from the Burkina Faso border. Witnesses reported a drone circling the village before dropping a munition around 13:30, when hundreds were present at the market. The victims included 11 women, two men, and four children (aged 5–10). Nearly all of Kokoloko’s 1,200 residents fled to neighboring villages or Mali. Satellite images from January 20 showed burned areas along the village’s main road. The Nigerien junta, in power since July 2023, has not commented.

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA

ETHIOPIA ACCUSES ERITREA OF TROOP INCURSIONS

On February 8, 2026, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos accused Eritrea of recent troop incursions into Ethiopian territory and collaboration with Ethiopian rebel groups, particularly in Amhara. In a letter to his Eritrean counterpart, Timotheos demanded the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and an end to support for rebels, calling the acts “not simple provocations, but outright aggression.” He also expressed openness to dialogue to resolve the crisis, including maritime and territorial issues. The letter follows months of rising tensions and mutual accusations, including Ethiopia’s claim that Eritrean troops committed massacres during the Tigray war. Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel dismissed Ethiopia’s accusations as “false and fabricated,” calling them a “deplorable act”.

ETHIOPIA REVOKES ACCREDITATION FOR REUTERS JOURNALISTS

On February 13, 2026, Ethiopian authorities refused to renew accreditations for three Reuters correspondents, days after the agency published an investigation alleging Ethiopia hosts a training base for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Reuters confirmed the decision but received no official explanation. The move follows a pattern of press restrictions, with five journalists currently imprisoned and recent bans on Deutsche Welle and BBC correspondents. Ethiopia ranks 145th out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index. The country’s media environment remains polarized ahead of June 1 legislative elections.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

SOUTH AFRICA TO WITHDRAW FROM UN MISSION

On February 8, 2026, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) confirmed South Africa’s announcement to withdraw its military contingent by year’s end. Pretoria cited the need to “consolidate and readjust” its forces after 27 years of engagement. MONUSCO praised South Africa’s long-standing commitment and the dedication of its peacekeepers. The decision follows the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in the 2025 battle for Goma, where the M23 rebel group seized control. About 700 South African troops currently serve in the 12,500 strong MONUSCO force.

UGANDA

UGANDA’S CITIZENS ENLISTED BY RUSSIA FACE DEADLY FATE IN UKRAINE

Uganda began acknowledging the plight of its nationals recruited by the Russian army, often ending up killed in Ukraine. Unlike Kenya and South Africa, Uganda has maintained strong ties with Russia. The Special Association of Returnees (ASR), representing 20,000 ex-soldiers and private military contractors, reported that over 10 members joined Russian forces, with three confirmed dead. Ugandan security intercepted 9 men at Entebbe Airport in August 2025, bound for Moscow as “security agents,” part of a larger group of over 100 with military backgrounds. Many now travel via Kenya to avoid detection. A viral video showed Ugandan recruits singing in a snowy forest, mocked in Russian as “disposable” soldiers. One of those African recruits told Ukrainian media he was coerced into the Russian army under gunpoint. Uganda’s government, which previously praised “limitless opportunities” in Russia, has only urged caution. Analysts note Uganda’s abstention on UN resolutions against Russia’s invasion and its close security ties with Moscow.

GUINEA

HEAVY GUNFIRE AND PRISON LOCKDOWN

On February 10, 2026, sustained automatic gunfire erupted near Conakry’s central prison in the Kaloum district, home to Guinea’s presidency and government institutions. Witnesses reported hearing automatic gunfire and seeing heavy security deployment, including armored vehicles and special forces blocking access to the prison. Three ambulances later left the facility. Residents described panic and chaos, with people fleeing the area. The incident lasted over 30 minutes, prompting a temporary lockdown of Kaloum. Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, alias “Toumba,” a key figure in Guinea’s 2009 stadium massacre, was transferred from Conakry’s central prison to Coyah prison after allegedly resisting a surprise security search and threatening guards though authorities did not explicitly link the two events. Diakité, sentenced to 10 years for crimes against humanity, was due for release in 2027. The 2009 massacre left at least 156 dead and 109 women raped.

BURKINA FASO

BURKINA FASO DISSOLVES ALL POLITICAL PARTIES

On February 10, 2026, Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly officially dissolved all political parties, formalizing a suspension in place since the military junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in September 2022. The assembly adopted a bill repealing laws governing political parties, their financing, and the status of political opposition, citing the need for “national unity” and claiming that party politics had fostered division and weakened social cohesion. The move drew criticism from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who stated it was “not a step in the right direction” and emphasized the importance of pluralistic political expression for lasting peace and social cohesion. Traoré’s regime, which openly rejects democracy and Western influence, has intensified repression of dissent since the 2022 coup.

LEBANON

4 KILLED IN YANOUH

On February 9, 2026, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed four people, including a Lebanese security officer and his three-year-old child, according to Lebanese authorities. A strike on Yanouh village killed 3, including a Hezbollah commander, Ahmad Ali Salameh, according to Israel. Another later attack in Aïta al-Chaab killed another man, allegedly a Hezbollah member. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the abduction as a violation of sovereignty and the November 2024 ceasefire. Hezbollah accused Israel of holding 20 Lebanese prisoners, 10 of whom were abducted post-ceasefire. The strikes followed the capture of Atwi, a senior figure in the armed group Jamaa Islamiya, during an overnight raid in the Hasbaya and Marjayoun region. Israel’s military confirmed the operation, stating Atwi was transferred to Israel for interrogation.

UN TO WITHDRAW MOST PEACEKEEPERS BY 2027

On February 10, 2026, the UN announced plans to withdraw most of its peacekeepers from Lebanon by mid-2027, following the expiration of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate on December 31, 2026. UN spokesperson Kandice Ardiel stated that UNIFIL will begin repatriating personnel and equipment in early 2027, retaining only limited operations to protect UN assets and staff. UNIFIL’s current force of 7,500 troops from 48 countries has already been reduced by nearly 2,000 due to UN financial constraints. Lebanon has requested a continued international presence and Italy has pledged to maintain a military footprint.

ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS 1 IN THE SOUTH

On February 12, 2026, an Israeli airstrike on Al-Tiri in southern Lebanon killed one person, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military confirmed targeting and killing an alleged Hezbollah member in the area. Israel continues regular strikes on Lebanon and maintains troops in five areas on the Lebanese territory.

PALESTINE

ISRAELI CABINET APPROVES WEST BANK CONTROL MEASURES

On February 8, 2026, the Israeli security cabinet approved a series of rules to strengthen control over the occupied West Bank, including areas administered by the Palestinian Authority. The new regulations remove Jordanian-era restrictions that prohibited Jews from purchasing land in the West Bank. They also allow Israeli authorities to administer religious sites such as the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, even in areas under Palestinian control. In Hebron, building permits for Israeli settlers will no longer require Palestinian municipal approval. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler and far-right figure, stated: “We are deepening our roots in all parts of the land of Israel and burying the idea of a Palestinian state.” Defense Minister Israel Katz called the West Bank “the heart of the country.” Political analyst Ali Jarbawi said the goal is to “push Palestinians into small pockets of land. The UN reported a record expansion of settlements.

HAMAS LEADER REJECTS DISARMAMENT & FOREIGN DOMINATION

On February 8, 2026, Hamas leader Khaled Mechaal declared in Doha that the movement would not surrender its weapons or accept foreign domination over Gaza. “Criminalizing resistance and its arms is something we should not accept,” he said, calling armed struggle a legitimate right under occupation. Mechaal rejected the U.S.-backed “Trump plan,” which entered its second phase in mid-January. He insisted Palestinians must govern themselves and warned against foreign intervention. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, still has 20,000 fighters and tens of thousands of weapons, according to Israeli officials. Mechaal, a former political bureau chief, is seen as a frontrunner to retake the position in upcoming internal elections.

ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 10 PALESTINIANS

On February 9, 2026, the Israeli military killed four alleged Palestinian fighters who attacked soldiers after emerging from a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza. Six other Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks across Gaza the same day, with four of them who died in a strike on an apartment in Gaza city.

ISRAEL EXILES 2 PALESTINIANS

On February 10, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an order revoking the citizenship and residency of two Palestinians convicted of terrorism, marking the first use of a 2023 law targeting attackers who received payments from the Palestinian Authority. Mohammad Hammad Al-Salhi, an Israeli citizen, and Mohammad Halasah, a Jerusalem residency holder, were named by Israeli media. Al-Salhi, released in 2024 after 23 years in prison, faces imminent exile, while Halasah’s expulsion will follow his sentence. The Israeli NGO Adalah, condemned the law as racist, targeting only Palestinians.

UN : ISRAEL’S WEST BANK PLAN WILL ACCELERATE PALESTINIAN DISPOSSESSION

On February 11, 2026, the UN condemned Israel’s new measures to expand control over the occupied West Bank, warning they would accelerate the dispossession of Palestinians and force their transfer. The plans, announced over the weekend, ease land purchases for Israeli settlers by repealing decades-old laws that barred Jews from directly buying land in the West Bank. The UN stated the moves would make a viable Palestinian State impossible and violate the right to self-determination.

SETTLERS DESTROY 15 PALESTINIAN HOMES NEAR JERICHO

On February 11, 2026, about 50 armed Israeli settlers demolished 15 Palestinian homes and a livestock pen in Al-Douyouk Al-Tahta village near Jericho, according to residents. Witnesses said settlers, some masked and accompanied by an Israeli military vehicle and bulldozer, evicted families and seized personal belongings. The army did not immediately comment. The village lies in Area C, under full Israeli control.

FORMER HRW DIRECTOR DENOUNCES BLOCKING OF REPORT ON RIGHT OF RETURN

On February 12, 2026, Omar Shakir, former HRW director for Israel and Palestine, revealed the organization blocked a report classifying Israel’s denial of the Palestinian right of return as a crime against humanity. Shakir, who resigned in protest, said HRW’s leadership feared backlash and concerns over being perceived as challenging Israel’s Jewish character. The report argued that Israel’s long-standing policy has caused generational trauma and constitutes a crime against humanity under international law. HRW stated the report required further review. The right of return for Palestinian refugees, displaced during the 1948 Nakba, remains a core demand and a major obstacle to peace.

5 ISRAELI ARAB CITIZENS SHOT DEAD IN 24 HOURS

On February 12, 2026, five Arab citizens of Israel were fatally shot in separate incidents across the country, bringing the 2026 toll to 44. The victims included a 20-year-old in Segev Shalom, a 60-year-old in Lod, a 22-year-old in Rahat, a 42-year-old religious leader in Yarka, and a 47-year-old in Al-Fureidis. Police launched operations to apprehend the perpetrators. Arab community leaders and tens of thousands of protesters have denounced State inaction and violence surge.

SYRIA

SYRIAN SECURITY OFFICER ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF CIVILIANS

On February 8, 2026, a Syrian security officer suspected of killing four civilians in the Druze-majority province of Suweida was arrested. The incident occurred in the village of al-Matana, where four people were shot dead and a fifth seriously injured while harvesting olives. The suspect, an agent of the local Internal Security Directorate, was immediately detained. The Druze region of Suweida remains the last area outside the control of the Islamist authorities in Damascus, following recent government troop deployments in Kurdish areas.

OVER 4,580 ISIS DETAINEES TRANSFERRED FROM SYRIA TO IRAQ

On February 10, 2026, Iraqi authorities reported that 4,583 suspected ISIS members had been transferred from Syria to Iraq, as part of a US-led operation. The operation was launched after Kurdish forces withdrew from northern Syria under pressure from Damascus. The detainees are now in Iraqi detention centers. Iraqi courts have opened legal proceedings, but past trials have been criticized for being expedited and relying on torture-extracted confessions. Among the transferred detainees, 3,245 are Syrians, 900 are from Europe, Asia, or Australia, and 271 are Iraqis. German, Dutch, British, and French nationals are among the Europeans.

US FORCES WITHDRAW FROM AL-TANF BASE

On February 11, 2026, two Syrian military sources reported that US forces had fully withdrawn from the al-Tanf base near the Jordanian border. The withdrawal began 15 days earlier and US forces are now coordinating with Syrian authorities from Jordan. On February 12, 2026, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that the Syrian army had taken control of the al-Tanf base, following the withdrawal of US forces. The handover was coordinated between Syrian and US authorities. Syrian troops have begun deploying in the border triangle between Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. The US-led coalition remains active in northeastern Syria.

THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN JIHADIST FAMILIES LEAVE AL-HOL

On February 12, 2026, humanitarian sources and witnesses reported that thousands of foreign women and children linked to ISIS have left the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. The camp, previously controlled by Kurdish forces, housed about 24,000 people, including 6,300 foreigners in a high-security section. Since the Syrian army took control in January, the camp’s population has sharply declined. Some families have been clandestinely transferred to Idleb and other Syrian provinces, while others have left for Lebanon.

IRAN

IRAN ARRESTS 11 MEMBERS OF « TERRORIST GROUP » BEFORE SABOTAGE ATTEMPTS

On February 7, 2026, Iranian state television reported the arrest of 11 individuals linked to the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), a group Iran considers « terrorist ». The arrests occurred in western Iran, where the suspects were allegedly planning sabotage and security disruptions. The PJAK, a dissident branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has been involved in operations against Iranian armed forces since 2004.

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE NARGES MOHAMMADI SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON

On February 8, 2026, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to six years in prison for « assembly and collusion to commit crimes » and « propaganda activities ». Her health deteriorated due to a six-day hunger strike and she was briefly hospitalized. Mohammadi, 53, has been repeatedly imprisoned for her activism against the death penalty and women’s rights restrictions. She was arrested in December 2025 and has not seen her children since 2015.

IRAN INTENSIFIES REPRESSION AGAIN

On February 9, 2026, Iran continued its crackdown on dissent, arresting five reformist figures. The government also expressed readiness to « dilute » its highly enriched uranium stock if all international sanctions are lifted. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained a hard line, stating Iran would not yield on uranium enrichment « even if war is imposed ». Iran and the US are to set a date for further nuclear talks after indirect discussions in Oman. The US, meanwhile, keeps military pressure with a naval force in the Gulf.

YOUNG PROTESTER FACES EXECUTION

On February 12, 2026, Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported that 18-year-old Saleh Mohammadi was sentenced to death for allegedly killing a police officer during January protests in Qom. The trial relied on a confession obtained under duress, which Mohammadi later retracted. The court ordered a public hanging at the crime scene. IHR warned that Iran is using executions to terrorize society after the unprecedented crackdown on protests.

PAKISTAN

DAESH SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 31 IN SHIA MOSQUE IN ISLAMABAD

On February 6, 2026, a suicide bomber affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group attacked a Shia mosque in the Tarlai neighborhood of Islamabad, killing at least 31 people and wounding nearly 170. The attack occurred during Friday prayers, when the mosque was crowded with worshippers. The bomber was blocked at the entrance by security guards before detonating his explosive vest inside the congregation. Witnesses described powerful explosions, collapsing roofs, shattered windows, and bodies scattered around the mosque. The UN Secretary-General and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident comes amid rising insurgencies in Pakistan’s southern and northern provinces, as well as recent separatist attacks in Balochistan.

BANGLADESH

DISINFORMATION SURGE AHEAD OF BANGLADESH ELECTIONS

On February 9, 2026, Bangladesh faced a wave of disinformation, much of it AI-generated and originating from India, ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, expressed concern over the impact of false information, including videos and posts alleging a “Hindu genocide.” Police data showed only 12% of 645 violent incidents in 2025 were religiously motivated and a US-based hate speech center tracked over 700,000 messages on the topic, 90% from India. The electoral commission set up a special unit to monitor and debunk harmful content, but critics warned many voters lack the skills to verify information, risking misinformation-driven choices.

ELECTIONS: MINORITIES FEAR VIOLENCE

On February 12, 2026, Bangladesh held parliamentary elections amid heightened fears of communal violence, especially among the Hindu minority. The country, 90% Muslim, has seen a surge in attacks on minorities since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. The Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian Unity Council recorded hundreds of murders, extortion, and arson since 2025. Major parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have fielded Hindu candidates in Hindu-majority areas, a move critics call tactical. Local Hindu residents remain skeptical, fearing for their safety.

EASTERN EUROPE

3 CIVILIANS KILLED IN RUSSIAN ATTACKS

On February 9, 2026, Russian airstrikes killed at least 3 civilians in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Odessa regions. In Bogodukhiv, Kharkiv, a woman and a 10-year-old child died when a drone strike destroyed a residential building, injuring 3 others. In Odessa, a 35-year-old man was killed and 2 wounded by Iranian-made Shahed drones, damaging 21 apartments.

AFRICANS FORCED INTO RUSSIAN ARMY

Kenyan nationals revealed how they were deceived into joining the Russian army, promised jobs but forced into combat in Ukraine. Recruited by Global Face Human Resources, they were taken to Russia, coerced into signing contracts in Cyrillic, and sent to the front. Many were injured or killed; some escaped with Kenyan embassy help. Over 1,000 Kenyans may have been recruited, with at least 23 confirmed dead. Russian recruiters exploit economic desperation, using social media and local agents. The organization All Eyes on Wagner reported Russia recruited Africans from 35 countries since 2023, with 316 confirmed dead in Ukraine. Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana provided the most recruits.

8 CIVILIANS KILLED IN UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN STRIKES

On February 10, 2026, Russian shelling killed a woman and her 11-year-old daughter in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, injuring 16 others. The attack destroyed residential buildings. In Russian-occupied Zaporijjia, Ukrainian strikes killed 5 and injured 9, including a priest, Sergiï Kliakhine, during a funeral gathering in Skelky village. A Russian driver was also killed in Belgorod by a Ukrainian drone.

UKRAINIAN FAMILY KILLED IN RUSSIAN STRIKE

On February 11, 2026, a Russian drone strike on a residential house in Bogodoukhiv, Kharkiv region, killed a 34-year-old father and his three young children, two 1-year-old boys and a 2-year-old girl. Their 8-months-pregnant mother survived with a skull trauma and burns. The house was completely destroyed, trapping the family under rubble. The Kharkiv region has seen intensified Russian attacks on transport and energy infrastructure. Prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation for war crimes. Nearly 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 40,600 injured since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

2 CIVILIANS KILLED IN RUSSIAN ATTACKS

On February 12, 2026, Russian strikes killed two civilians in Lozova and left 2,600 Kiev apartment blocks without heat. 6 others were injured. Nationwide, 100,000 homes lost power, and 300,000 in Odessa lost water. Russia launched missiles and drones, targeting Kiev, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odessa. Since October, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid, causing widespread blackouts and heating shortages amid freezing temperatures.

RUSSIAN STRIKES KILL 6

On February 13, 2026, Russian strikes killed six civilians in eastern and southern Ukraine: three young brothers in Kramatorsk, and a 48-year-old man in Zaporijjia. Attacks also hit Odessa’s port, injuring 6 and damaging logistics infrastructure.

THAILAND-CAMBODIA

THAI BULLDOZERS DESTROY CAMBODIAN HOMES ALONG BORDER

Thai bulldozers demolished Cambodian homes in the contested border villages of Chouk Chey and Prey Chan, displacing 1,200 families. Thai soldiers now patrol the new boundary, marked by barbed wire and warning signs, while displaced Cambodians shelter in tents near a southern temple. Phnom Penh demands Thai withdrawal, but Bangkok claims it is historically Thai land. Residents accused Thai forces of “stealing everything” after destroying homes with bulldozers.

VENEZUELA

OPPOSITION LEADER KIDNAPPED HOURS AFTER PRISON RELEASE

On February 9, 2026, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa was abducted in Caracas by about ten heavily armed men in four vehicles, just hours after his release from prison. Opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado and Guanipa’s son Ramon confirmed the kidnapping, blaming state security forces. Guanipa, 61, a former parliamentary vice-president, had been detained since May 2025 on charges of electoral conspiracy, terrorism, and incitement to violence. Opposition parties denounced the abduction as an act of repression by Maduro’s government.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

NIGERIA: LONDON ORDERED TO PAY £420 MILLION FOR COLONIAL MASSACRE

On February 6, 2026, a Nigerian court ordered the British government to pay £420 million to the families of 21 coal miners killed by colonial police in Enugu on November 18, 1949. The miners, protesting unpaid wages and poor working conditions, were shot dead during a demonstration. The ruling, described as “historic” by the victims’ lawyer Yemi Akinseye-George, requires each family to receive £20 million. The British government, which did not attend the proceedings, previously settled similar colonial-era abuse claims in Kenya in 2013. Diplomatic steps will be taken to enforce the judgment.

WARRANTS AGAINST FRANCO-ISRAELIS OVER GAZA AID BLOCKADE

On February 8, 2026, two Franco-Israeli activists, Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou, face French arrest warrants issued against them for complicity in genocide. The warrants, stemming from their involvement in blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza between January 1, 2024, and May 2025, target their roles in the organizations Israel Is Forever and Tsav 9. Kupfer-Naouri called the charges baseless. Touitou claimed she protested peacefully, citing Hamas’s diversion of aid and the plight of Israeli hostages. Both women said they expect Israeli government support.

TRIAL FOR FORMER KOSOVO PRESIDENT’S WAR CRIMES

On February 9, 2026, the trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three ex-Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders entered its final phase at The Hague. Accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and illegal detention of civilians during the 1998-1999 conflict, Thaçi and his co-defendants deny all charges. The trial has divided Kosovo, where many still revere KLA fighters as independence heroes. Critics argue the court, relying partly on Serbian evidence, undermines Kosovo’s narrative.

HONG KONG MEDIA TYCOON JIMMY LAI SENTENCED TO PRISON

On February 9, 2026, Hong Kong’s courts sentenced pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison for collusion with foreign forces and sedition. The 78-year-old founder of Apple Daily, already jailed since 2020, was convicted in December 2025 of plotting to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party and inciting foreign sanctions. His son called the sentence “devastating” and a death threat given Lai’s declining health. The UK and US condemned the ruling, with Amnesty International warning it marks “a new dark day” for Hong Kong’s freedoms. Beijing defended the verdict, insisting it was lawful and unrelated to press freedom.

ITALIAN INVESTIGATION PROBES “WEEKEND SNIPERS” IN SARAJEVO

On February 9, 2026, Italian prosecutors in Milan questioned an 80-year-old man suspected of being a “weekend sniper” during the 1992-1996 Sarajevo siege. The octogenarian, a former truck driver and alleged fascist sympathizer, is accused of paying up to €100,000 per day to Bosnian Serb forces to shoot civilians. Witnesses claim he bragged about “hunting humans” in Sarajevo. The investigation, sparked by a documentary and a complaint from Sarajevo’s former mayor, is part of a broader probe into Italian extremists who traveled to Bosnia as “war tourists.” Over 11,500 civilians died in the siege, many killed by snipers.

CAMEROONIAN SEPARATIST LEADER FACES NEW WAR CRIMES CHARGES IN NORWAY

On February 9, 2026, Norwegian police announced new war crimes charges against Lucas Cho Ayaba, leader of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, already jailed since September 2024 for inciting crimes against humanity. Ayaba, a key figure in Cameroon’s Anglophone separatist conflict, is now accused of attempted murder and illegal detention. His lawyer denied all charges. Norway’s Kripos police stressed the country’s duty to prevent its territory from becoming a haven for war criminals.

TRUMP HOSTS NETANYAHU

On February 11, 2026, US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, as Netanyahu pushed for “maximum pressure” on Iran to halt its nuclear and ballistic programs. Trump sent mixed signals, alternating between threats and hopes for a deal. Netanyahu, facing early elections, insisted military action may be necessary.

CENTRAL AFRICAN WAR CRIMES COURT FACES CLOSURE DUE TO FUNDING CRISIS

On February 11, 2026, Amnesty International warned that the Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court (SCC) risks closure in 2026 due to severe funding shortages. The SCC, operational since 2018, investigates war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed since 2003. Amnesty reported the court has already laid off a quarter of its staff and may run out of money by June. The US, previously the second-largest donor, withdrew funding, and the UN faces its own liquidity crisis. Over 30 individuals, including former President François Bozizé, are currently wanted by the SCC.

ITALIAN NGOS CONDEMN PLANNED NAVAL BLOCKADE AGAINST MIGRANTS

On February 12, 2026, nine humanitarian NGOs condemned Italy’s new draft law authorizing a “naval blockade” to temporarily ban migrant ships from Italian waters. The measure, proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, is intended to address “exceptional migratory pressure” but risks violating international law and increasing deaths at sea, the NGOs warned. The law, which must still be approved by Parliament, would allow Italy to block ships in cases of “grave threat to public order or national security.” Legal experts noted the vague criteria could lead to arbitrary refusals and collective expulsions, both prohibited under EU and international law.

NORWAY BUYS FRENCH BOMBS FOR UKRAINE

On February 12, 2026, Norway announced a €371 million deal to purchase a “large volume” of French-made AASM Hammer glide bombs for Ukraine. The bilateral agreement with France also includes surveillance and analysis capabilities. Norway will contribute 4.2 billion kroner, with France guaranteeing a loan of 3 billion kroner. The weapons, already used by Ukrainian forces, are part of ongoing Western military support against Russia’s invasion.

GERMAN COURT REJECTS PALESTINIAN BID TO HALT ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL

On February 12, 2026, Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court rejected a Palestinian resident’s lawsuit seeking to block German arms exports to Israel. The plaintiff, supported by the ECCHR, argued that German-made tank parts used in Gaza violated his rights. The court ruled the complaint inadmissible. The ECCHR called the decision a “serious setback” for human rights protection. The plaintiff’s family members were killed in Israeli airstrikes in 2024.