WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Nov. 1st-7th 2025

TANZANIA

PRESIDENT RE-ELECTED, OPPOSITION HUNTED

On October 29–November 1, 2025, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared re-elected with allegedly 97% of the voters, as security forces violently suppressed protests across the country. Opposition party Chadema, led by spokesman John Kitoka, reported that at least 800 people were killed by police and military during demonstrations in Dar es Salaam and other cities. Father Charles Kitima, secretary of the Catholic bishops’ conference, described the crackdown as “mass killings of protesters” and confirmed a “very low voter turnout,” contradicting the official 87% participation rate. 

Authorities, including Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, denied any wrongdoing, stating, “There was no excessive use of force”. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources and Amnesty International reported that security forces were using the internet blackout to track down opposition members and protesters who may have recorded evidence of abuses. The UN and African Union called for independent investigations. Economic disruptions including the closure of Dar es Salaam’s port, food shortages, and tripling food prices left residents like Mohamed Rajab stranded and struggling.

PRESIDENT SWEARS IN, CRISIS CONTINUES

On November 3, 2025, Samia Suluhu Hassan was inaugurated in Dodoma in a closed ceremony, as the government maintained its denial of election violence.  Credible sources indicated that security forces were actively hunting opposition members and protesters, using the internet shutdown to locate and silence those with evidence of abuses. The UN, Pope Leon XIV, and human rights groups demanded accountability. Schools remained closed and public transport paralyzed. The government continued to reject allegations of repression.

OPPOSITION LEADER CHARGED WITH TERRORISM

On November 5, 2025, Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party, reported that its vice-president, John Heche, had been charged with “participation in terrorist acts” following his transfer from Dodoma prison to Kinondoni police station near Dar es Salaam. Chadema described this action as part of ongoing repression under President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Tundu Lissu, Chadema’s president, remains in custody since April on treason charges and faces the death penalty. Human rights defender Tito Magoti criticized the authorities’ reliance on force to maintain power.

OVER 100 PROTESTERS CHARGED WITH TREASON

On November 7, 2025, more than 100 Tanzanian protesters were formally charged with treason in Dar es Salaam for allegedly attempting to disrupt the elections held on October 29, 2025. The charges claim the accused intended to undermine government authority.

SUDAN

CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AFTER ATROCITIES IN DARFUR

On November 2, 2025, Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris urged international prosecutions for crimes committed in El-Fasher following its capture by the RSF. Speaking to Switzerland’s Blick, he accused the global community of inaction, calling for all UN member states to label the RSF a terrorist organization. Idris, however, opposed deploying foreign troops, saying peacekeeping missions would “violate Sudan’s sovereignty” and worsen the conflict.

ESCALATION & EXODUS

On November 3, 2025, the International Organization for Migration reported that 36,825 civilians fled five towns in North Kordofan as fighting spread eastward after the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher. The RSF and army now battle for control of El-Obeid, a strategic hub linking Darfur to Khartoum. Residents such as Souleiman Babiker of Oum Smeima described an influx of RSF vehicles and fear of clashes. UN official Martha Pobee warned of “vast atrocities” and ethnically motivated reprisals by RSF fighters in Bara, resembling patterns seen in Darfur. Awad Ali from Al-Hamadi said RSF convoys move daily from West to North Kordofan. At least 50 civilians, including five Red Crescent volunteers, have been killed recently in North Kordofan. The UN estimates tens of thousands dead and nearly 12 million displaced.

WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

On November 3, 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague expressed “deep concern” over reports of massacres, rapes, and other crimes committed in El-Fasher, warning these acts could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute. Testimonies described executions, looting, sexual violence, and attacks on aid workers in and around the city. The ICC recalled that similar crimes by Janjaweed militias, the precursors to the RSF, were prosecuted two decades ago and cited the October conviction of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman for crimes against humanity as a “warning that accountability will come for such atrocities.”

U.N. & U.S. PUSH FOR CEASEFIRE

On November 4, 2025, Sudan’s pro-army authorities met in Port Sudan to examine a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan amid warnings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres that the war risked becoming “uncontrollable.” The proposal, led by U.S. envoy Massad Boulos and supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, seeks to halt fighting between the State’s armed forces and the RSF. The UN humanitarian chief Denise Brown reported that El-Fasher remains “barricaded” and closed to aid, with RSF blocking relief deliveries. Meanwhile, the UN accused the UAE of arming the RSF, while Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran reportedly back the army, claims all parties deny.

UAE ACCUSED OF FUELING CONFLICT THROUGH GOLD TRAFFICKING

On November 4, 2025, Swiss NGO Swissaid reported that Sudanese gold exports to the United Arab Emirates rose 70% in 2024, from 17 to 29 tonnes, accusing the Gulf State of being a “hub for conflict gold.” Swissaid cited UN Comtrade data showing that the UAE also imported 18 tonnes of gold from Chad and 9 from Libya, countries allegedly serving as “exit routes” for RSF gold. The RSF would be able to finance the war, and therefore to continue committing atrocities, because of the revenue generated from these clandestine exports. The NGO said this pattern confirms the Emirates’ role as a major destination for smuggled Sudanese gold, despite their 2023 adoption of OECD-based due diligence regulations. The UAE, which denies any role in Sudan’s war, imported a total of 748 tonnes of African gold in 2024.

40 KILLED IN EL-OBEID

On November 4, 2025, at least 40 civilians were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on a funeral in El-Obeid, North Kordofan, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The city, besieged by RSF forces, has seen intensified fighting as both sides battle for the strategic corridor between Darfur and Khartoum. The UN also reported air and drone strikes in North Darfur. 

SURVIVORS DENOUNCE SYSTEMATIC RAPES

Following the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher, survivors described widespread sexual violence in and around the city. Amira, a mother of four now in Tawila, recounted witnessing public gang rapes during the assault. Médecins Sans Frontières reported over 300 survivors seeking help after attacks on the nearby Zamzam camp. Sudanese State Minister Sulimah Ishaq stated that 500 women were killed in two days, many after being raped. Amnesty International documented similar abuses and called for war crimes investigations. Witnesses also described RSF checkpoints where fighters extorted payments, detained civilians, and “took girls” in lieu of money. UN spokesman Seif Magango confirmed that 25 women were raped in a shelter near El-Fasher University.

PRISONERS DESCRIBE RSF DETENTION IN EL-FASHER

Survivors of the El-Fasher attack later described to AFP being detained, beaten, and insulted by RSF fighters in makeshift prisons. Hussein, arrested with about 200 others in Garni, 25 km northwest of El-Fasher, said detainees were confined in a school, fed once daily, and “treated like slaves“. Abbas al-Sadek, a university professor, was reportedly freed only after paying a $900 ransom. Médecins Sans Frontières’ emergency head Michel-Olivier Lacharité warned that many missing civilians may have been “killed, detained, or hunted while fleeing.” RSF forces allegedly executed prisoners, looted property, and targeted civilians along ethnic lines, according to survivors like Zahra, whose 20-year-old son Mohammed disappeared, and Adam, who said RSF fighters killed his two sons before his eyes. Over 65,000 civilians fled El-Fasher toward Tawila, but thousands remain missing. MSF coordinator Sylvain Pénicaud reported that “everyone is searching for a loved one.”

SATELLITE IMAGES REVEAL MASS KILLINGS

On November 6, 2025, the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab released satellite data showing what it identified as “body disposal activity” and mass graves in El-Fasher, near a mosque and a former children’s hospital used by the RSF as a detention site. Images indicated trenches, removed bodies, and new burial areas. HRL detected at least 34 clusters of human-sized objects and evidence of corpses being moved from the Saudi Hospital, where the WHO earlier reported 460 killings. The lab described visible efforts by RSF units to “clean up” massacre sites. The lab, which had tracked the siege for 18 months, alerted the UN and U.S. authorities, and cross-verified satellite data with social media footage posted by RSF fighters themselves.

RSF ACCEPTS MEDIATORS’ PROPOSAL FOR THREE-MONTH CEASEFIRE

On November 6, 2025, the RSF announced its acceptance of a three-month humanitarian truce proposed by the “Quad” mediators, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Egypt, and the UAE. The Sudanese army did not comment but reaffirmed its intent to keep fighting.

EXPLOSIONS NEAR KHARTOUM

On November 7, 2025, explosions were heard near Khartoum and Omdurman, hours after the RSF’s truce announcement. Witnesses reported blasts near a military base in Wadi Sayidna and a power plant, causing blackouts. In Atbara, 300 km north, residents saw anti-aircraft fire targeting drones. No casualties were reported.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

M23 RECRUITS JUDGES

On November 3, 2025, the M23 rebel group announced the recruitment of 378 judges to serve in territories under its control in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement, made by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, follows what the group called a “judicial revival commission” that screened 475 candidates. Délion Kimbulungu, head of the commission, confirmed that the selected candidates will soon be integrated into the group’s “judicial system.” The M23 has imposed a parallel administration in areas it controls. The move comes despite peace efforts, including a ceasefire declaration signed in July in Doha and a DRC–Rwanda peace accord in June in Washington. President Félix Tshisekedi said on Sunday that new talks are expected this week in Doha ahead of a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington, under U.S. mediation.

ONLINE FRAUD SPREADS IN M23 HELD AREAS

On November 6, 2025, reports from Bukavu and Goma described a surge in online scams amid severe cash shortages in M23-controlled zones of eastern DRC. With banks shuttered by Kinshasa to prevent financing of the armed group, residents increasingly turn to fraudulent cryptocurrency “investment” platforms. Promising quick profits, these schemes resemble pyramid or Ponzi systems where returns depend on recruiting new members. In Bukavu, locals boast of earnings from such platforms, though many later lose their savings. Cybersecurity trainer Justin Murhula warned that widespread poverty and conflict have made the region “fertile ground” for digital scams. Despite peace agreements signed earlier this year, M23 kept local banks closed, imposed new taxes, and urged mobile payments to fund their parallel administration. Legal expert Pascal Mupenda said that victims are losing hundreds of dollars to nonexistent companies.

ETHIOPIA

TIGRAY FORCES ACCUSED OF ATTACKING AFAR REGION

On November 5-6, 2025, the Afar region of Ethiopia reported that Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had entered its territory, seized six villages, and shelled civilians with mortars, particularly in the Megale district. The TPLF authorities denied the accusations, calling them baseless and alleging a deliberate campaign to harm the Tigrayan people. A humanitarian source reported that fighting ended overnight but many people were displaced. Afar authorities warned that continued TPLF attacks would trigger defensive action, citing violations of the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement. Analysts Kjetil Tronvoll (Oslo New University College) and Abel Abate Demissie (Chatham House) noted Ethiopia’s growing argument for potential military action, while Alex Vines (European Council on Foreign Relations) highlighted troop build-ups along the border.

ETHIOPIAN DRONE STRIKES REPORTED IN TIGRAY

On November 7, 2025, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) reported drone attacks in northern Tigray, Ethiopia, allegedly carried out by the Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa. According to the TPLF, the strikes caused casualties among both Tigrayan forces and local residents.

MALI

14 CIVILIANS KILLED BY JIHADISTS

Between October 30 and November 4, 2025, 14 civilians were killed by jihadists in Léré, central Mali. Mali has faced a deepening security crisis fueled by attacks from the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM, affiliated with Al-Qaeda), the Islamic State (IS), and local criminal militias.

On November 3, JNIM carried out an assault in which 12 people were abducted and subsequently killed, according to an anonymous local official. Two shepherds who had been kidnapped on October 30 were found dead a few kilometers from the town. The jihadists accused the victims of being “collaborators with the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA).” A man who fled to Mauritania on November 4 told AFP that JNIM had issued a 24-hour ultimatum for residents to leave the town, and those who could not escape were killed. Another resident, also in Mauritania, confirmed that those who refused to leave were either murdered or taken hostage.

JNIM has imposed a blockade on Léré since around October 22. Security sources in Timbuktu and a military officer visiting Léré on November 5 confirmed the killings. Elsewhere in Mali, JNIM has intensified pressure on the ruling junta since September, imposing blockades on towns and fuel tankers, a strategy that now affects Bamako. Recent attack mapping suggests the group is seeking to isolate Bamako by targeting surrounding roads.

LEBANON

ISRAELI KILLS MOTORCYCLIST

On October 31, 2025, an Israeli drone strike killed a man riding a motorcycle in the village of Kounine, southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and the National News Agency. One other person was wounded. This attack followed an Israeli incursion into the border village of Blida the previous day, where soldiers killed a municipal employee. Lebanese President ordered the army to “face” any new Israeli incursions. The strike brought the October death toll from Israeli raids to at least 25, including one Syrian. 

AIRSTRIKE KILLS FOUR IN NABATIYEH

On November 1, 2025, an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon’s Nabatiyeh district killed four people and injured three others, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. The strike, using a guided missile, targeted a car around 22:30 local time. The attack came amid ongoing Israeli raids on Hezbollah strongholds, despite a ceasefire agreed in November 2024. Israel maintains five positions in southern Lebanon and regularly conducts raids, claiming to target Hezbollah.

ISRAEL THREATENS ESCALATION AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN SOUTH LEBANON

On November 2, 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of intensified attacks in southern Lebanon, following a strike the previous day that killed four people. Katz accused the Lebanese government of failing to disarm Hezbollah and said the group was “playing with fire.” He vowed to enforce strict measures to protect northern Israel, stating, “We will not tolerate any threat.”

TWO DEAD, SEVEN INJURED IN THE SOUTH

On November 3, 2025, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed two people and wounded seven others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. A drone targeted a car in Doueir, Nabatiyeh, causing a fire that spread to nearby vehicles and damaged shops. Another strike in Bint Jbeil killed one person. The attacks followed Israeli threats to escalate its actions.

ISRAELI STRIKE NEAR A SCHOOL, ONE KILLED

On November 5, 2025, an Israeli strike killed a man in a car near a school in the Tyr region, southern Lebanon, causing panic among children, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and the National News Agency. One other person was wounded. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his offer for negotiations with Israel, claiming Israel had not responded and continued its attacks.

HEZBOLLAH CLAIMS “RIGHT” TO DEFENSE ITSELF

On November 6, 2025, Hezbollah issued an open letter affirming its “legitimate right” to defend against Israeli aggression and rejecting any political negotiations with Israel. The armed group stated it would not engage in talks with a country still at war with Lebanon. The letter came as Israel intensified strikes, claiming Hezbollah was rearming. Lebanese President reiterated his call for negotiations, but Israel continued its attacks.

LEBANESE ARMY SAYS ISRAEL BLOCKS ITS SOUTHERN DEPLOYMENT

On November 6, 2025, the Lebanese army accused Israel of launching a “vast attack” on southern Lebanon to “prevent the completion” of its deployment as per the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. The army condemned the strikes as attempts to “undermine Lebanon’s stability” and “maintain the threat” against civilians.

PALESTINE

ISRAELI MILITARY PROSECUTOR ARRESTED OVER ABUSES VIDEO LEAK

On July 5, 2024, a leaked surveillance video revealed severe abuse, including sexual violence, of a blindfolded, shackled Palestinian detainee by Israeli reservists at the high-security Sde Teiman detention center near Gaza. Five reservists were later indicted for stabbing the detainee near the rectum, fracturing his ribs, perforating his lung, and causing internal rectal tears. On November 3, 2025, former military prosecutor general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, a general, was arrested for allegedly leaking the video to media in August 2024. She faces charges of fraud, obstruction of justice and unauthorized disclosure. Her detention was extended until November 5. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confirmed her arrest.

ISRAEL BANS RED CROSS ACCESS TO DETAINEES

On October 29, 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz signed a decree barring the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting Palestinian detainees held under Israel’s “illegal combatants” law, which allows indefinite detention without charge. The ban formalized a status quo in place since October 7, 2023, citing “national security” risks. The ICRC confirmed it had been denied access since that date. Human rights NGOs had already reported delays and restrictions on legal visits. During a Supreme Court hearing, the State agreed to share only names and detention locations for non-Gaza/Hamas-affiliated prisoners. As of early October, 2,673 “illegal combatants” were held; hundreds were released in October 13 ceasefire deal.

MUSLIM STATES PUSH FOR PALESTINIAN SELF-RULE

On November 3, 2025, foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia met in Istanbul and rejected any “new system of tutelage” for Gaza, insisting “Palestinians must govern Palestinians.” Turkish FM Hakan Fidan called for rapid Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to strengthen international representation.

ISRAELI LAWMAKERS SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY

On November 3, 2025, Israel’s Knesset Security Committee approved a bill mandating the death penalty for “terrorists” convicted of racially or ideologically motivated murder. The amendment, backed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, aims to “cut terrorism at its root” and create “strong deterrence.” Ben Gvir threatened to withdraw coalition support if the bill is not voted on by November 9. The proposal, introduced by his Otzma Yehudit party, would make the death penalty non-negotiable for such convictions. Ben Gvir had previously posted a video of himself in front of detained Palestinians, calling for their execution.

U.N. : ONE MILLION GAZANS RECEIVED FOOD AID

On November 4, 2025, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that about one million Gazans had received food aid since the October 10 ceasefire, but warned that only two border crossings were operational. WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa called for more access to northern Gaza to stabilize markets and meet needs. Diets remain limited to grains and dried vegetables; meat, eggs, and fresh produce are rare. WFP operates 44 food distribution points (target was 145) and supports 17 industrial bakeries. Some 200,000 Gazans now receive digital vouchers for local purchases. Before the ceasefire, the UN had warned of famine.

ISRAEL CLOSES EGYPT BORDER ZONE

On November 6, 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared the Egypt-Israel border a closed military zone to counter drone-smuggled arms. Katz stated the move was necessary to “end the threat of drones”, as part of the ongoing Gaza conflict.

TRUMP: INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO DEPLOY “SOON” IN GAZA

On November 6, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that an international stabilization force would deploy “soon” to Gaza, following a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution supporting his peace plan. Trump said several countries had volunteered to participate, mainly Arab and Muslim States, to oversee security as Israeli troops withdraw, per the October 10 ceasefire agreement.

WEST BANK: ISRAELIS SHOT TWO PALESTINIAN TEENS

On November 6, 2025, Israeli forces shot dead two 16-year-old Palestinians, Mohammad Abdullah Mohammad Atim and Mohamad Rashad Fadl Qassem, near the separation barrier north of Jerusalem, in the West Bank town of Judeira. The Israeli army claimed the teens were throwing Molotov cocktails at a road. The killings followed a similar incident the previous day. Since October 7, 2023, over 1,001 Palestinians and 43 Israelis have died in West Bank violence, which has surged despite the Gaza ceasefire.

GENOCIDE: TURKEY ISSUES ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST ISRAELI OFFICIALS  

On November 7, 2025, an Istanbul court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, among 37 other officials, for “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” in Gaza. The warrants cited systematic attacks, including the strike on the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in March. Turkey, a vocal critic of Israel’s Gaza offensive, had previously joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.

EASTERN EUROPE

RUSSIAN WAR CRIMINAL EXTRADITED TO LITHUANIA

On October 31, 2025, Ukraine extradited a high-ranking Russian naval officer to Lithuania to stand trial for war crimes, marking the first such transfer since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Rouslan Kravtchenko announced the move, calling it “historic for justice.” The officer is accused of “illegal detention, torture, and inhumane treatment of civilians and prisoners of war,” including a Lithuanian citizen, in a camp set up in Melitopol, occupied by Russia since early 2022. Methods included beatings, electric shocks, suffocation, and confinement in metal boxes. Captured in August 2023 near Robotyne, Zaporijjia region, the suspect was transferred to Lithuania on October 29 and placed in pre-trial detention. Lithuanian prosecutors charged him with war crimes, torture, illegal detention, and violations of the Geneva Conventions.

NORTH KOREAN POWs SEEK DEFECTION

On November 2, 2025, two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine expressed their wish to defect to South Korea, according to an NGO working with North Korean defectors. South Korean and Western intelligence estimate over 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia in 2024, mainly to the Kursk region. Both prisoners, captured in January, had previously stated their desire for a “normal life” in the South. Jang Se-yul, director of Gyeore-eol Nation United, confirmed both asked to be taken to South Korea during a documentary interview. South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon warned that returning them to North Korea would be “a death sentence,” as Pyongyang orders captured soldiers to commit suicide. North Korea acknowledged sending troops to Russia in April, admitting some had died. South Korean intelligence reports about 2,000 North Korean troops killed.

RUSSIAN STRIKE KILLS SIX

On November 2, 2025, Russian missile and drone strikes killed six people, including two young boys aged 11 and 14, in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions. Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office and human rights ombudsman Dmytro Loubinets confirmed the casualties. A separate attack on Zaporijjia left 58,000 households without power. Russia launched 270 missiles at Ukraine in October, 46% more than in September, targeting energy infrastructure. In retaliation, Ukraine struck the Russian port of Tuapse, damaging two ships and a fuel terminal.

IRAQI MERCENARIES KIA FOR RUSSIA

On May 12, 2025, Mohammed Imad, a 24-year-old Iraqi, was killed by a Ukrainian drone strike near Bakhmut, Ukraine, after joining the Russian army. His mother, Zeinab Jabbar, and sister Faten learned of his death from Abbas Hamadullah (aka Abbas al-Munaser), a recruiter and fellow Iraqi fighter. Mohammed, lured by promises of $20,000 signing bonus and $2,800 monthly salaries, had posted TikTok videos from Russia and Ukraine. Another Iraqi, Alawi, also disappeared after joining with Mohammed. Recruiters like al-Munaser, who now holds a Russian passport, use social media to attract young Iraqis, offering financial incentives and Russian citizenship. Iraqi authorities have warned against such recruitment, and a court sentenced a trafficker to life imprisonment for sending Iraqis to fight abroad.

SOUTH AFRICAN MERCENARIES TRAPPED IN UKRAINE

On November 6, 2025, South Africa’s authorities reported receiving distress calls from 17 South African mercenaries, aged 20–39, trapped in Ukraine’s Donbass region and seeking repatriation. The men, lured by lucrative contracts, are stranded in the war-torn area. President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an investigation into the recruitment of South Africans for mercenary activities, which is illegal without government authorization.

UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKE KILLS ONE IN RUSSIA

On November 6, 2025, a Ukrainian drone attack killed a 48-year-old civilian and damaged an industrial zone in Volgograd, Russia. Governor Andrei Botcharov reported broken windows and balcony damage in a residential building. Ukraine’s military claimed responsibility for striking a major Lukoil oil refinery in Volgograd, sharing images of explosions. Russia’s Defense Ministry said 75 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight.

UKRAINIAN CHILDREN BRAINWASHED BY RUSSIA

Ukrainian NGOs and officials revealed the scale and methods of Russia’s forced transfer, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children. To date, 1,762 children have been repatriated out of 19,546 identified as forcibly deported or transferred within occupied territories since February 2022. Oksana Lebedeva, founder of Gen. Ukrainian, described repatriated children as traumatized, docile, and behaving like “little soldiers,” some writing “Top secret” when asked to recount their experiences. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in March 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for illegal deportation. Ukrainian officials warn that 1.6 million children remain under Russian control. Maksym Maksymov, head of the Bring Kids Back Ukraine program, stressed that Russia no longer needs physical deportation, because of indoctrination programs in occupied areas. Yulia Sidorenko of Save Ukraine and Olena Rozvadovska of Voices of Children confirmed that children in both Russia and occupied territories undergo identical brainwashing, with some forgetting their Ukrainian identity. Survivors like Oleksandr, tortured by the FSB at 16 in Zaporizhzhia, and Ksenia Koldin, who recovered her brother after Russian adoption, attest to the trauma and propaganda’s power. Psychologists report that children are isolated, told they are unwanted, and rewarded for embracing Russian narratives. Some repatriated children exhibit deep psychological scars. Authorities fear time is running out, as prolonged exposure risks permanent alienation.

AFGHANISTAN

5 KILLED IN CROSS-BORDER SHOOTING

On November 6, 2025, five Afghan civilians were killed in brief cross-border gunfire at Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, despite an ongoing truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Taliban government accused Pakistani forces of opening fire on civilian areas, while Islamabad denied this, claiming Afghan forces initiated the shots and that its troops responded “measuredly.” The incident occurred on the day a third round of negotiations began in Istanbul to formalize a ceasefire agreed on October 19 in Qatar, aiming to prevent further violence and establish a verification mechanism. Local witnesses reported the exchange lasted 10–15 minutes before calm returned. The border area has seen recurring tensions, with both sides accusing each other of supporting armed groups, including Pakistan’s Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP), and previous October clashes killed at least 50 Afghan civilians and 23 Pakistani soldiers, according to UN and Pakistani sources. Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, said Kabul did not retaliate to protect negotiators and civilians.

BANGLADESH

281 KILLED IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE SINCE 2024

On November 2, 2025, Bangladeshi human rights group Odhikar reported that 281 people had been killed in political violence from August 2024 to September 2025, following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The toll includes 40 extrajudicial executions and 153 lynching victims. Hasina, who ruled since 2009, fled to India after deadly student-led protests in summer 2024. A Bangladeshi court is now trying her in absentia, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. Nasiruddin Elan, Odhikar’s director, noted some improvement in human rights but warned that police abuses, custodial deaths, corruption, and harassment continue, especially targeting those suspected of ties to Hasina’s now-banned Awami League party.

COLOMBIA

COLOMBIAN SOLDIERS ARRESTED FOR TORTURING & KILLING CIVILIAN

On November 6, 2025, nine Colombian military personnel, a lieutenant, a sergeant, and seven soldiers, were arrested in connection with the torture and killing of a civilian at a military base in Frontino, Antioquia, in northwestern Colombia. According to an army report shared by President Gustavo Petro, the men had detained a local farmer in early October after he was seen “loitering” near the base. “Excessive use of force” led to his death. The Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation for homicide, torture, and enforced disappearance. The Colombian army stated it would not tolerate actions violating the Constitution. President Petro called for transparency from security forces regarding human rights violations. The incident echoes Colombia’s history of extrajudicial killings, known as “false positives,” in which civilians were killed between 2002 and 2008 to inflate guerrilla combatant casualty numbers, a legacy documented by the Special Peace Tribunal.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

LAFARGE TRIAL OPENS FOR FINANCING ARMED GROUP

On November 4, 2025, the trial of French multinational Lafarge and eight former executives opened in Paris for allegedly financing armed groups in Syria. The defendants include former Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont, five ex-operational or security managers, and two Syrian intermediaries (one absent under an international arrest warrant). Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS) is accused of paying millions of euros in 2013–2014 to jihadist groups, including ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, to maintain operations at its Jalabiya cement plant, built in 2010. Foreign employees were evacuated in 2012, but local staff continued until ISIS took control in September 2014. Payments reportedly facilitated raw material supplies and employee movement. The Paris judicial investigation started in 2017 following media reports and complaints from the Ministry of Economy and NGOs Sherpa and ECCHR, as well as former LCS employees. Lafarge previously pleaded guilty in the U.S. in 2022 to paying nearly $6 million to ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, incurring a $778 million fine. A separate investigation on Lafarge involves complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria and Iraq.

GERMAN FAR RIGHT PARTY ACCUSED OF HOSTING RUSSIAN “SLEEPING CELL”

On November 5, 2025, German parliamentarians accused the far-right AfD party of hosting a prorussian “sleeping cell” and using parliamentary mechanisms to pass sensitive information to Moscow. Allegations focus on detailed parliamentary questions about weapons shipments to Ukraine, power plants, drone production, and Bundeswehr bases. Marc Henrichmann, president of the intelligence oversight committee, cited Kremlin documents linking AfD members, including Markus Frohnmaier and Stefan Keuter, to Russian influence. AfD denied the accusations. The debate also highlighted AfD deputies’ planned trips to Russia. German authorities and parliamentarians, including Sonja Eichwede, stressed the potential threat to national security and democracy amid ongoing Russian espionage and disinformation campaigns.

BELGIUM HOLDS TRIAL ON YAZIDI GENOCIDE

On November 6, 2025, a Belgian court in Brussels opened the trial of Sammy Djedou, a Belgian jihadist accused of participating in the 2014–2016 genocide of Yazidis in Iraq and Syria. Djedou, presumed dead after a 2016 U.S. airstrike in Raqqa, is tried in absentia. Charges include genocide and crimes against humanity, notably sexual violence and enslavement of Yazidi women, with three victims identified (two as civil parties). Djedou, born in August 1989 in Brussels, joined ISIS in 2012 and became part of its external operations cell, previously sentenced in Belgium to 13 years for leading a terrorist group. Investigations rely on NGO and journalist reports from post-EI Baghouz. The Yazidi minority, mainly in northern Iraq, suffered mass killings, abductions, and sexual slavery after August 2014.

DUTCH COURT REJECTS DEMAND TO HALT MILITARY SALES TO ISRAEL

On November 6, 2025, a court in The Hague rejected a complaint by ten pro-Palestinian NGOs seeking to stop all Dutch military exports to Israel, including F-35 components, military dogs, and trade in occupied territories. The NGOs, including Al-Haq, accused the Dutch State of facilitating genocide in Gaza. The court ruled that while risks of serious human rights violations exist, it is not the judiciary’s role to dictate government policy. The decision noted that the Dutch government already restricts export licenses when risk of deployment in Gaza exists. NGOs were ordered to pay legal costs. The ruling followed a Supreme Court decision affirming the government’s discretion over military exports.

ICC CONFIRMS CHARGES AGAINST JOSEPH KONY

On November 6, 2025, the International Criminal Court confirmed 39 charges against fugitive Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, enslavement, forced marriage, and child recruitment. Kony led the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which terrorized northern Uganda between July 2002 and December 2005, killing over 100,000 and abducting around 60,000 children. Ten charges relate to two women forced to be Kony’s “wives,” covering sexual enslavement and forced pregnancies. The ICC rejected defense requests to suspend proceedings, as trials in absentia are prohibited. Lawyer Peter Haynes represented Kony, while victim lawyer Sarah Pellet described LRA atrocities, including coercion to kill and extreme acts of violence. Kony has not been seen publicly since 2006, leaving his status unknown.

FRANCO-PALESTINIAN LAWYER FILES DEPORTATION COMPLAINT

On November 7, 2025, Franco-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri filed a complaint in Paris alleging deportation, three years after Israel expelled him to France. The filing, submitted with Me William Bourdon and Me Vincent Brengarth, cites crimes of deportation, persecution, and segregation, potentially qualifying as war crimes or crime against humanity. The complaint targets Israeli officials involved in his case, former ministers, and airline El Al for assisting in the transfer. Hamouri, born in Jerusalem to a French mother, lost his permanent residency in East Jerusalem in November 2022. Hamouri, was previously imprisoned from 2008 to 2011 for an alleged assassination plot against Ovadia Yossef. France qualified the expulsion as illegal and the UN Human Rights Office mentioned a potential war crime.