Rwandan troops and the M23 armed group carried out a sweeping campaign of abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch alleged, citing forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture, and killings of civilians and captured fighters between mid-2024 and December 2025. In a 78-page report, the group said thousands of people — including children as young as 12 — were seized across North and South Kivu and transported to detention and training camps in Rumangabo and Tshanzu. Detainees were subjected to…

In a warning that cut through the usual techno-utopian rhetoric, Pope Leo XIV used his encyclical on the dangers of artificial intelligence last month to argue that AI must be "disarmed". "To disarm does not mean rejecting technology, but preventing it from dominating humanity," he said. Addressing AI developers directly, the Pope said they carried an "ethical and spiritual responsibility" and urged them to ensure what they are building serves a "genuine good". Then on Thursday, Anthropic published an essay urging that…

Despite significant advancements, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to fly under the radar of global health initiatives. To date, 61 nations have successfully eradicated at least one NTD, showcasing what sustained dedication can achieve. However, the fallout from neglecting these diseases is dire: children lose vital educational opportunities, while adults struggle to maintain employment, directly impacting household income and overall quality of life. Furthermore, stigma and discrimination thrust individuals into…

Video: Garissa religious leaders sound alarm over surging crime and human trafficking - Hiiraan Online…

An Irish doctor detained after Israeli forces intercepted a protest flotilla this week says she was held in conditions she likened to a “horror of a concentration camp”. Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly, was among 14 Irish citizens and 430 activists detained by Israeli authorities after the vessels were stopped at sea on Monday. The group had been travelling with the Global Sumud Flotilla, an effort aimed at breaching the blockade of the Palestinian territory and bringing aid to people in Gaza.…

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…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia’s National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Monday met with the National Independent Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), led by Chairperson Dr Maryan Qasim, to formally hand over its 2025 State of the Media Report. The document records 72 verified violations of media freedom between January and December 2025, painting a stark picture of a press corps operating under constant strain and official pressure. The report details a wide pattern of abuses, ranging from arbitrary arrests and…

The military government has escalated its crackdown on civil society, recently dissolving 118 organizations, with many focusing on human rights advocacy. The authorities have invoked a law regarding freedom of association enacted in July 2025, yet they have provided little justification beyond ambiguous claims of noncompliance. This latest move is part of a larger pattern of repression that emerged following the military coup in September 2022. Since that takeover, the regime has systematically targeted non-governmental…

In a powerful gesture ahead of Independence Day, South Africa will return Zimbabwe’s last remaining soapstone bird and ancestral human remains, closing a chapter that began with the artefact’s theft more than a century ago during the colonial period. The items will be handed over in a symbolic ceremony. Carved from soapstone and originating from Great Zimbabwe, the bird stands as a defining national emblem of identity and pride. Minister Gayton McKenzie said the move follows a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa,…

Friday April 10, 2026 Ethiopian police say Yetbarek Dawit, who is yet to comment on the allegations, was wanted in various countries Mogadishu (AX) — Ethiopian authorities say they have arrested a man accused of running a trafficking ring that moved thousands of migrants, including Somalis, into Libya over a number of years, where many were allegedly tortured, abused and held for ransom. Federal police named the suspect as Yetbarek Dawit, saying he directed a cross-border operation that smuggled more than 3,000 people from…