<p>Two former Congolese warlords have been released after serving sentences for war crimes which were issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).</p> <p>The two warlords, Germain Katanga and Thomas Lubanga were found guilty of war crimes. Lubanga was found to have enlisted child soldiers under the age of 15 during a conflict in the Congo’s northeastern Ituri region which lasted from 1993 to 2003 and killed thousands of people. He was placed on trial in 2009 and sentenced in 2012 being was the first person arrested under the ICC. Katanga was sentenced to 12 years in prison for war crimes in an attack in the region in 2003 which led to 200 people killed.</p>

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), as well as the International Organisation for migration, has suspended resettling refugees in permanent homes as coronavirus has caused significant travel disruptions.

This suspension would take effect within the next few days however the UHCR has also called on the international community to enable movement where it is a matter of critical emergency.

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a statement criticising the United Nations and the African Union’s plan to limit the UN’s role in protecting civilians in Sudan, stating it will threaten civilians in Darfur.</p> <p>HRW has reported that Darfur continues to threaten civilians as government and rebel fighting continues in the Jebel Marra region when the UN peacekeeping force (UNAMID) had focused on protecting civilians since 2018. In this region, civilians are forced to flee for their lives, there are continued violence and heightened risks of sexual assault.</p>

<p>A prisoner exchange in advance of peace negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan government have been delayed due to disagreements over the number of detainees to be freed and guarantees that they will not return to the battlefield.</p> <p>Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, agreed to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners on Saturday with further releases to follow as conditions were met. In total 5,000 prisoners were set to be released so that peace negotiations could occur and an end to the 18-year conflict could come about.</p>

In response to violent anti-Muslim riots in New Delhi, which killed 52 people, mostly Muslims, India’s opposition party’s have called for the resignation of the Interior Minister.

The violent riots coincided with a visit from US President Donald Trump, during the 24-25 February. The violence was preceded by weeks of peaceful demonstrations against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act which provides a pathway to citizenship for all minorities in South Asia except Muslims.

After being detained for 7 months, Kashmiri independence leader, Farooq Abdullah, has been released by Indian authorities.

Zambia has arrested two human rights activists who protest against the arrest and harassment of hip-hop artist, Pilato.

The two activists, Laura Miti and Bornwell Mwewa, have been charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting police officers and were arrested on the 21 December. This was after they travelled to Livingstone (also known as Fumba Chama), to protest the arrest of Pilato who was arrested for “unlawful assembly”.

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW), along with the International Service for Human Rights, (ISHR), to address continuing human rights abuses in Xinjiang by China’s government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afghanistan’s government has agreed to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in the coming days on the condition that all prisoners will not return to the battlefield and the Taliban will return 1,000 government troops.</p> <p>The move is aimed at bringing to a close the 18 years conflict as the US begins to withdraw its troops from the regions.</p> <p>Despite the on-going peace negotiations, there has been continued violence in Afghanistan, which the US has warned the Taliban is “not conducive to advancing the peace process”.</p> <p>According to a statement released by the Afghan government;</p> <blockquote><p>

Myanmar’s parliament vetoed constitutional amendments proposed by Aung San Suu Kyi to reduce the influence of Myanmar’s military in politics.

The proposed amendment would gradually reduce the number of military MPs across a period of 15 years as well as removing part of the constitution which names the military commander-in-chief as the “supreme commander of all armed forces”.