WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Nov. 29th – Dec. 5th 2025

SUDAN

+40 KILLED IN KORDOFAN

On December 1, 2025, at least 40 people were killed in an airstrike on Komo village, South Kordofan, attributed to the Sudanese army by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Emergency Lawyers reported that the strike hit a nursing school, killing dozens of students. Two local witnesses described retrieving 40 bodies and digging mass graves. The army denied targeting civilians. Fighting has intensified in Kordofan since the RSF seized control of Darfur in October.

AMNESTY ACCUSES RSF OF WAR CRIMES IN ZAMZAM CAMP

On December 2, 2025, Amnesty International accused RSF of committing war crimes during an April attack on Zamzam displaced persons camp in North Darfur. The report, based on 29 survivor testimonies, detailed deliberate killings, hostage-taking, destruction of mosques, schools, and clinics. Satellite images showed extensive bombing craters in residential areas. Over 400,000 civilians fled the camp, leaving it “almost empty.” The RSF denied targeting civilians. Zamzam is one of three famine-stricken camps near El-Fasher, now controlled by the RSF.

FIGHTING INTENSIFIES IN OIL-RICH KORDOFAN REGION

On December 2, 2025, clashes escalated in North Kordofan, with residents reporting drone strikes near the army’s 5th Division headquarters in El-Obeid. The RSF claimed to have seized Babanousa, the army’s last stronghold in West Kordofan, though the army denied losing control. The RSF’s recent advances allowed it to focus on southern Sudan, a strategic, oil-rich area. The army is struggling to prevent the RSF from advancing toward Khartoum.

ARMY CHIEF ACCUSED FOR LINKS WITH ISLAMIST GROUPS

Analysts suggested that Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s reliance on Islamist allies is hindering peace efforts. Burhan, who rejected a US-backed truce proposal, faces pressure from the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt to distance himself from groups designated as Islamists. The army’s recent victories in Khartoum were partly attributed to Iranian drones and Islamist armed groups.

TANZANIA

PRESIDENT DEFENDS PROPORTIONATE FORCE AGAINST PROTESTERS, OVER 1,000 DEAD

On December 2, 2025, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan defended the security forces’ use of “proportionate” force against anti-government protesters in October and November 2025, claiming the demonstrations aimed to overthrow the government. Opposition groups and human rights defenders estimate over 1,000 protesters were killed during the crackdown following the disputed October 29 elections, which the opposition and international observers called fraudulent. The main opposition party, Chadema, was suspended for refusing to sign a new electoral code of conduct, and its leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on treason charges, which carry the death penalty. The government has suppressed information about the violence, blocking the internet and allegedly disposing of bodies in mass graves. Authorities canceled national day celebrations on December 9, as new protests are planned to denounce the election violence.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

HEAVY FIGHTING IN EASTERN DRC ON EVE OF PEACE DEAL

On December 3, 2025, intense clashes erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo  between the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group and the Congolese army, supported by local armed groups. The fighting occurred just hours before DRC President Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Kagame were due in Washington to formalize a US-brokered peace agreement. Locals reported heavy shelling and airstrikes in Kaziba and Katogota, with civilians trapped in their homes and numerous casualties. The M23, which has been advancing in South Kivu for weeks, is attempting to encircle Uvira, the last major city in the province not under its control. Burundian troops are also deployed alongside Congolese forces.

TRUMP HOSTS DRC-RWANDA PEACE CEREMONY AS BATTLES RAGE

On December 4, 2025, US President Donald Trump presided over a peace deal signing ceremony in Washington, even as heavy fighting continued in eastern Congo. The agreement, brokered by the US and Qatar, includes provisions for a ceasefire, disarmament, and economic integration, as well as US partnerships for strategic mineral exploitation. However, clashes persisted in South Kivu, with reports of airstrikes, artillery fire, and civilian casualties. The region, plagued by conflict for decades, faces a severe humanitarian crisis. Trump’s role in the deal is seen as part of his broader push for securing critical mineral supplies.

NIGERIA

12 WORSHIPPERS KIDNAPPED IN CHURCH

On November 30, 2025, 12 people, including a pastor, were kidnapped during a Sunday service at a rural church in Ejiba village, Kogi State, central Nigeria. The attack is the latest in a wave of mass abductions that prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a “national security emergency” on November 27. Armed groups, locally known as “bandits,” have been operating northern and central regions, carrying out kidnappings for ransom, killing civilians, and burning homes. In the past two weeks alone, hundreds have been abducted, including over 300 Catholic school students in Niger State.

BURKINA FASO

NGO WORKERS FREED AFTER ESPIONAGE ARREST

Burkina Faso’s junta released eight International NGO Safety Organization (INSO) staff, including a French national, a Franco-Senegalese and a Czech, after detaining them on espionage charges. INSO, which denies the allegations, had its operations suspended in July. The junta has increasingly targeted critics and foreign organizations, accusing them of undermining national security.

JUNTA REINSTATE DEATH PENALTY

On December 4, 2025, Burkina Faso’s military government announced it would reintroduce the death penalty for crimes including high treason, terrorism, and espionage. The decision, pending approval by the junta-appointed transitional legislature, also criminalizes “the promotion and practice of homosexuality,” with penalties of up to five years in prison. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala stated the reforms align with “the deep aspirations of the people.” The move follows a September law already targeting LGBT+ individuals and reflects the junta’s sovereignist, anti-Western stance under Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

UGANDA

UN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS PRE-ELECTION CRACKDOWN

On December 3, 2025, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk denounced “repressive maneuvers” by Ugandan authorities against opposition figures and media ahead of the January presidential and legislative elections. Türk cited credible reports of at least 550 arrests targeting members and supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi. Two Kenyan human rights activists were arbitrarily detained for over a month. Many detainees face charges such as public order offenses, disobedience, aggression, obstruction of justice, and incitement to violence. Türk also condemned the use of “unnecessary or disproportionate force” against the opposition, noting the death of one person during a rally in Iganga. He urged Ugandan authorities to investigate all allegations of forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture, and media repression. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, is seeking re-election.

LEBANON

LEBANON: NO PEACE NEGOCIATION WITH ISRAEL

On December 3, 2025, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam clarified that direct talks with Israel, held for the first time in decades under a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, were not peace negotiations. The meeting, attended by Lebanese and Israeli civilian officials, aimed at ending hostilities, ensuring Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and securing the release of Lebanese detainees. Salam stressed that economic relations could only follow a peace process, not precede it, and reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. He also confirmed that the Lebanese army is set to dismantle Hezbollah’s military structures South of the Litani River as per the ceasefire agreement.

ISRAEL STRIKES SOUTH LEBANON DESPITE TALKS

On December 4, 2025, Israel conducted airstrikes on Mahrouna and Jbaa villages in southern Lebanon, targeting what it called Hezbollah’s “terrorist infrastructure.” The strikes followed warnings to civilians to evacuate and came just a day after the first direct Lebanese-Israeli talks. Israel’s military accused Hezbollah of rearming in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire. Lebanon condemned the strikes as clear ceasefire violations.

PALESTINE

70,000 DEAD

On November 29, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that over 70,100 people had been killed in the territory since the war began on October 2023. The ministry also stated that 354 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire since the October 10^th ceasefire.

TWO PALESTINIAN CHILDREN KILLED BY THE ARMY

On November 29, 2025, two Palestinian brothers, Fadi, 8, and Joumaa Tamer Abou Assi, 10, were killed by an Israeli drone strike in Bani Souheila, east of Khan Younis, according to their family and Gaza’s Civil Defense. The boys were gathering firewood when struck. The Israeli military claimed they had crossed the demarcation “Yellow Line” and posed a threat to troops. Their uncle, Alaa Abou Assi, described finding their bodies in pieces and denied any militant activity.

10 PALESTINIANS INJURED IN WEST BANK BY SETTLERS

On November 29, 2025, ten Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli settlers near Khala’il al-Luz, south of Bethlehem, according to the Red Crescent. The Israeli military reported stone-throwing and gunfire between Palestinians and settlers, leading to the declaration of a closed military zone. Due to relentless harassment by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, over 3,200 local residents have fled their homes since 2023, according to the UN. Kaabneh described daily intimidation and land seizures by settlers, who operate with impunity. NGOs accuse the Israeli government and army of enabling settler violence.

EGYPT TRAINS FUTURE GAZA POLICE

On November 29, 2025, a Palestinian official revealed that Egypt is training hundreds of Palestinian policemen to form a future law enforcement unit in Gaza. The program, announced in August by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Palestinian PM Mohammad Mustafa, aims to train 5,000 officers. Trainees, all from Gaza, are paid by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority. A 26-year-old Palestinian policeman, who requested anonymity, expressed hope for an independent force. The initiative is part of a broader plan to deploy 10,000 officers.

FOUR FOREIGNERS INJURED IN WEST BANK BY SETTLERS

On November 30, 2025, three Italians and one Canadian were assaulted by masked settlers in Duyuk, west of Jericho. The attackers, some armed with guns and clubs, beat the group for 10-15 minutes, stole their passports, phones, and wallets. The victims were treated at Jericho’s public hospital for facial and chest contusions. Italy’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack.

ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS 5 PALESTINIANS

On December 3, 2025, five Palestinians, including two children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Al-Mawassi, Khan Younis, according to the Kuwaiti field hospital and Gaza’s Civil Defense. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas fighter in response to clashes that wounded five soldiers. Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal confirmed the strike hit displaced people’s tents.

MSF : THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS NEED EVACUATION

On December 3, 2025, MSF’s Hani Isleem warned that thousands of Gazans require urgent medical evacuation, with over 16,500 officially registered and waiting. Only 8,000 have been evacuated since October 2023. Isleem, who accompanied 13 children to Switzerland, said the real number is three to four times higher. He criticized countries for focusing only on children and imposing restrictive criteria. Over 900 people have died waiting for evacuation since 2023.

ISRAEL & EGYPT DISAGREE ON RAFAH CROSSING

On December 3, 2025, Israel announced that the Rafah crossing would open “in the coming days” for Gaza residents to exit to Egypt. However, Egypt denied any agreement, insisting on two-way passage. The crossing, controlled by Israel since May 2024, is crucial for aid and humanitarian access.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS OPPOSES ISRAELI DELAY ON GAZA ACCESS

On December 4, 2025, the Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem opposed another Israeli delay in responding to its request for independent media access to Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel has only allowed a few journalists to embed with its troops. The Supreme Court extended the deadline to December 21, marking the ninth delay. The FPA called the restrictions a grave violation of press freedom.

EASTERN EUROPE

RUSSIAN KILLS 1 IN KYIV

On November 28, 2025, a Russian strike on Kyiv and its suburbs killed 1 man and injured 11, including a 13-year-old boy. Authorities warned of a ballistic missile threat from a Russian MiG-31, urging residents to seek shelter. The attack damaged residential buildings and cars, and cut power to western Kyiv.

HIGH-STAKES TALKS IN U.S.

On November 30, 2025, Ukrainian and US negotiators, led by Rustem Umerov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, began talks in Florida to discuss a US-brokered plan to end the war with Russia. The Ukrainian delegation, under military and political strain, sought to secure the country’s sovereignty and reconstruction. The talks followed a week of amendments to the controversial 28-point US plan, criticized as overly favorable to Moscow.

RUSSIAN MISSILE ON DNIPRO KILLS 4

On December 1, 2025, a Russian missile hit Dnipro, killing 4 people and wounding 22. The attack damaged a gas station and businesses. Dnipro, a major industrial hub, has been a frequent target since Russian forces first entered the region in summer 2025.

UKRAINE CLAIMS FIGHTING CONTINUES IN POKROVSK

On December 2, 2025, Ukraine’s military stated that battles for Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub, were ongoing, contradicting Russia’s claim of full control. Moscow released a video with Russian troops raising their flag in the city, but Kyiv called it a staged propaganda move. President Putin invited journalists to visit Pokrovsk to verify Russia’s control. The city’s capture would threaten Ukrainian supply lines.

FOREIGNER SENTENCED IN RUSSIA FOR MERCENARY ACTIVITIES

On December 4, 2025, a Russian court in Luhansk sentenced Minh Hoang Tran, a Czech-Vietnamese national, to 13 years in prison for fighting with Ukrainian forces. Prague condemned the verdict, stating Russia violated the Geneva Convention by denying him prisoner-of-war status. Since 2022, Russia has prosecuted several foreign fighters as “mercenaries”.

OSCE STAFF DETAINED IN RUSSIA FOR +1,300 DAYS

On December 4, 2025, relatives of three Ukrainian OSCE employees, Dmitri Chabanov, Maksim Petrov, and Vadym Golda, detained in Russia since April 2022, appealed for their release at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna. The men, sentenced to 13–14 years for “treason” and “espionage,” were transferred to Siberia.

UKRAINE ACCUSES RUSSIA OF SENDING CHILDREN TO NORTH KOREA

On December 4, 2025, Ukraine accused Russia of sending Ukrainian children from occupied territories to re-education camps in North Korea. An NGO reported 165 such camps in Russia, Belarus, and North Korea, where children undergo forced “Russification” and militarization.

MYANMAR

MAN ARRESTED FOR POLITICAL CRITICISM

On December 3, 2025, Myanmar’s military junta announced the arrest of Khaing Soe, 58, from a village near Yangon, for sending anti-election messages in a private Facebook Messenger conversation. Authorities accused him of attempting to “disrupt the electoral process and mislead the public” under a new law that punishes election criticism with up to 10 years in prison. Two other men were also detained: one for a Facebook post, another for vandalizing an election billboard. 11 additional cases were opened against individuals or groups. The junta did not explain how it accessed Khaing Soe’s private messages. The UN Human Rights Office previously warned of increased electronic surveillance to target dissidents ahead of the widely criticized December 28 elections, which opposition groups and rebel factions are boycotting.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

GLOBAL MINE VICTIMS SURGE

On December 1, 2025, the Landmine Monitor reported 6,279 people were killed or injured by mines and explosive remnants in 52 countries in 2024, nearly 500 more than the previous year and the highest toll since 2020. Civilians accounted for 90% of casualties. The surge was driven by conflicts in Myanmar, Ukraine, and Syria, coupled with reduced funding for demining. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) warned of “unprecedented challenges” to the 25-year-old Mine Ban Treaty, as Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland announced their withdrawal, and Ukraine sought to “suspend” its obligations, both moves deemed illegal under the treaty.

COMPLAINT IN FRANCE OVER ISRAEL’S OBSTRUCTION OF GAZA COVERAGE

On December 1, 2025, French journalists’ unions filed a complaint in Paris, accusing Israeli authorities of obstructing French reporters’ coverage of the Gaza war. The complaint cited systematic denial of access, violence, and threats, arguing these acts could constitute war crimes. Since October 7, 2023, over 210 journalists have been killed in Gaza. The unions demanded an investigation into the “concerted obstruction” of press freedom, including attacks on French journalists in the West Bank.

BELARUS ACCUSED OF “HYBRID ATTACK” ON LITHUANIA

On December 1, 2025, the EU announced new sanctions against Belarus for orchestrating a “hybrid attack” on Lithuania, including intrusion into Lithuanian airspace. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the actions as “totally unacceptable” and reaffirmed EU solidarity with Lithuania. Belarus accused Lithuania of provocation after a drone crossed into its territory. The EU has progressively sanctioned Belarus since 2020, citing repression and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

ICC DEFENDS INDEPENDENCE AMID US SANCTIONS, PROSECUTOR’S SUSPENSION

On December 1, 2025, ICC President Tomoko Akane and European allies reaffirmed the Court’s independence after the US imposed sanctions on ICC officials, including judges and prosecutors, following an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

TRUMP WARNS ISRAEL AGAINST INTERFERENCE IN SYRIA

On December 1, 2025, US President Donald Trump warned Israel not to interfere in Syria, calling for dialogue to support Syria’s transition to a “prosperous state.” The warning followed a deadly Israeli incursion into southern Syria. Trump praised Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Chareh, and invited Netanyahu to the White House to discuss regional peace. Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in late 2024.

VENEZUELA MOVES TO QUIT ICC, ACCUSES COURT OF POLITICAL BIAS

On December 2, 2025, Venezuela’s National Assembly initiated the process to withdraw from the ICC’s Rome Statute, accusing the court of “shirking its responsibilities” and using justice for political ends. The move followed the ICC’s closure of its Caracas office, citing lack of cooperation. The government denied obstructing the ICC’s probe into alleged 2017 crimes against humanity. Withdrawal requires a year’s notice to the UN. The ICC had opened a formal investigation in 2021, with six Latin American countries and Canada referring Venezuela for human rights abuses.

TAJIKISTAN REJECTS RUSSIAN TROOPS AT AFGHAN BORDER

On December 3, 2025, Tajikistan dismissed reports of Russian troop deployments along its Afghan border, insisting it would secure the 1,350-km frontier alone. The statement followed two deadly attacks that killed five Chinese civilian workers and injured several others. Tajikistan’s foreign ministry affirmed the situation was “stable and fully under control,” despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent offer to equip Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) forces with modern weapons. The Taliban condemned the attacks and pledged cooperation. Russian troops had guarded the border until 2005, but Tajikistan now relies on its own forces, though Russia maintains a large military base in the country.

LIBYAN PRISON CHIEF FACES ICC PROSECUTION

On December 3, 2025, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, appeared before the ICC, charged with six counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for overseeing murders, torture, and rape at Mitiga Prison near Tripoli between 2015 and 2020. The court alleged he personally killed a detainee and imposed brutal conditions, including torture, sexual violence, and starvation. Thousands were detained under his command, with many dying from torture and untreated wounds. El Hishri, arrested in Germany in July, requested provisional release, which was denied. His confirmation of charges hearing is set for May 19, 2026.

UK SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF RAPE IN KENYA

On December 3, 2025, a Kenyan parliamentary report exposed a “worrying trend” of sexual misconduct by British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) personnel including rapes, assaults, and abandoned children. The inquiry also cited deadly negligence in handling unexploded ordnance, causing civilian injuries and deaths. The report followed the November arrest in the UK of Robert James Purkiss, accused of murdering 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru in 2012. Locals increasingly view BATUK as an “occupying force,” drawing parallels to colonial injustices. Amnesty International had previously documented 650 rape allegations against British soldiers in Kenya between 1965 and 2001.

GAMBIA: DEATH SQUAD MEMBER CHARGED FOR MURDER

On December 3, 2025, Gambian authorities charged Sanna Manjang, a former member of Yahya Jammeh’s “Junglers” death squad, with the 2004 murder of AFP correspondent Deyda Hydara and businessman Ndongo Mboob. Manjang was arrested in Senegal and extradited, marking a step toward accountability for Jammeh-era crimes. Hydara, a veteran journalist and press freedom advocate, was shot down in Banjul on December 16, 2004. The Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) had implicated Manjang in multiple atrocities. His testimony could provide new insights into Jammeh’s regime, now in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OFFICER ARRESTED IN FRANCE

French authorities detained Malik N., a former Syrian intelligence officer, on charges of crimes against humanity for alleged involvement in torture and killings at Damascus’s Branch 285 detention center between 2010 and 2013. The UN documented systematic torture, sexual abuse, and mass deaths at the facility.

GROWTH OF CROATIA ULTRA-NATIONALISM

Croatia faced a resurgence of ultra-nationalism and historical revisionism, with a July concert by pro-Nazi sympathizer Marko Perković “Thompson” drawing 450,000 fans in Zagreb. The event, featuring the Ustasha slogan “Za dom spremni,” emboldened far-right groups, leading to attacks on Serbian cultural events and a rise in anti-Serbian graffiti. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s attendance at rehearsals and the ruling HDZ party’s coalition with the nationalist Patriotic Movement fueled tensions. Serbian minority representative Milorad Pupovac warned of unprecedented hostility. Parliamentarians even questioned the death toll at the Jasenovac concentration camp, sparking outrage from Jewish and anti-fascist groups.