For the first time in Mali's turbulent north, the military, alongside Russian forces, has commenced the use of cluster munitions amid ongoing conflicts involving jihadist factions, separatist groups, and governmental troops that have persisted for over a decade. Sources on the ground, security experts, and human rights organizations have confirmed that these bombs were deployed during recent counter-terrorism operations. Reports indicate that the initial strike took place in Oubder, situated near In-Gouzma within the…

In a milestone moment for victims of Libya's long-running violence, the International Criminal Court has opened a three-day hearing for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, who stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. El Hishri is the first individual from Libya to be brought before the ICC since the United Nations Security Council sent the Libyan situation to the court's prosecutor in 2011, marking a significant step in efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for atrocities committed during the country's…

Sierra Leone has stepped into the spotlight as the newest African country accepting migrants deported from the United States amid President Donald Trump's stringent measures on illegal immigration. A charter flight transporting nine West African nationals touched down near Freetown. This group comprises individuals from five different nations, specifically two from Guinea, one each from Nigeria and Senegal, and the remainder hailing from Ghana. The United States has previously facilitated the deportation of individuals to…

Rwandan opposition figure Victoire Ingabire is back in court for a second trial, this time accused of inciting public unrest and joining a criminal organization. She appears alongside nine co-defendants, most of whom are fellow members of her party, Development and Liberty for All (DALFA-Umurinzi). Ingabire was freed in September 2018 by a presidential pardon from President Paul Kagame after serving 8 years of a 15-year sentence.

A family feud has spilled into the courts: Wicknell Chivayo’s former mother-in-law, Tabitha Madzikanda, has been arrested on suspicion of fraud, accused of attempting to divert U.S.$1.4 million from a trust established for her grandchildren. Madzikanda, who works at FBC Bank, allegedly tried to recruit colleagues to remove Chivayo as a signatory on a US$5 million account, after which they purportedly sought to channel the funds into a property development project involving the construction of cluster houses. Her arrest…

After coordinated protests by the anti-immigrant group March and March targeting undocumented migrants in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Durban, Human Rights Watch urged South African authorities to act decisively. South Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka said authorities "should intensify efforts to address anti-immigrant sentiments and violence to ensure the safety and protection of at-risk foreign nationals in the country," calling for stronger measures to curb hostility and safeguard…

The stage is set for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the qualifying rounds officially drawn at the Egyptian Football Association's headquarters. A total of 48 nations have been organized into 12 groups of four, igniting the competition for coveted spots in the tournament. This vibrant event is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who will share hosting duties. Defending champions Morocco head Group A, where they will compete against Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho. Key…

A surge in politically linked abuses gripped Zimbabwe in April, with 145 human rights violations impacting 3,675 people, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) reported. The watchdog highlighted a pattern of political intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and curbs on freedoms of expression and association among the most pressing issues. According to the report, those affected included 1,887 women and 1,788 men. ZPP warned that the human rights climate is deteriorating, citing an escalation in intimidation, violence, and the misuse…

A Federal High Court has mandated the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to compensate two officials from the Department of State Services (DSS) with $72,000 in damages. Additionally, the court has instructed SERAP to publish public apologies and cover the associated litigation costs. This decision arises from SERAP's accusations in 2024 that DSS personnel conducted an unlawful raid on its office in Abuja. These allegations followed SERAP's critique of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company's fuel…

Felicien Kabuga, long branded one of the world’s most-wanted fugitives and a central suspect in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has died in custody at 93, the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals confirmed. Prosecutors accused Kabuga of using his wealth and influence to encourage and finance the killings that swept Rwanda between April and June 1994, when Hutu extremists murdered more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in just 100 days. After more than two decades on the run, he was arrested in France…