Former Rwandan mayor and politician, Ladislas Ntaganzwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the killing of over 25,000 people in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, yesterday.

58-year-old Ntaganzwa, who served as the mayor of Nyakizu in southern Rwanda, was today “sentenced to life imprisonment over genocide crimes committed during the genocide against Tutsi in 1994,” according to court spokesman, Harrison Mutabazi.

The ruling was made via a video conference and Ntaganzwa and his lawyers were able to follow it via Skype at Mpanga prison in Southern Rwanda.

In response to the verdict, Alexis Musonera, Ntaganzwa's lawyer, stated he would appeal the ruling;

Myanmar has been accused of genocide against the Rohingya people by the humanitarian organisation Refugees International which has called on UN Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This follows an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for Myanmar to take “all measures within its power” to prevent crimes of genocide against the Rohingya.

<p>Hong Kong Security forces cracked down on protesters who opposed a new draconian national security law which threatens dissidents and Hong Kong independence activists.</p> <p>During the protests, police fired tear gas and pepper spray on thousands who had taken to the streets, despite the lockdown measures intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Over 180 people were arrested during protests on Sunday.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Responses from state officials</strong></p>

The president of Somaliland has called on the international community to recognise the independence of the region and warned that unless Somalia “accepts the reality of two independent nations,” his government will explore international legal avenues.

Myanmar has complied with a deadline set by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and submitted a report on steps the government has taken to prevent acts of genocide against the Rohingya people.

The United Nations confirmed that the remains of a former Rwandan defence minister who was wanted over the country’s 1994 genocide, have been identified in a grave in Congo.

Augustin Bizimana, who was indicted on 13 charges, including genocide, murder and rape, is believed to have died in the Republic of the Congo, in 2000. His remains were identified by DNA testing, according to United Nations war crimes prosecutor Serge Brammertz.

Félicien Kabuga, one of the main financiers of the Rwanda genocide, has been arrested in France under charges from the International Criminal Tribunal of genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Rwanda genocide claimed the lives of 800,000 Tutsi’s and political opponents in 1994. The US was supportive of this arrest, offering $5 million reward for information leading to Kabuga’s arrest. Kabuga is accused of paying the militant’s who carried out massacres during this genocide.

<p>Clashes between pro-government and separatist forces in the Zinjibar and Abyan province in Yemen, have led to the deaths of 14 including 10 pro-government soldiers.</p> <p>The conflict has been described by Al Jazeera as the first major confrontation since separatists declared self-rule on 26 April in southern Yemen. According to Al Jazeera, both sides exchanged missile and artillery shelling on these two fronts.</p> <p>Separatists have claimed that they captured 40 pro-government soldiers as well as their military equipment.</p>

<p>Yemen’s government vows to continue their fight against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) as both sides clash on the outskirts of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan.</p> <p>The clash led to the deaths of 2 government soldiers and 2 separatists; 13 government soldiers were also wounded, and 11 separatists were wounded. The conflict was sparked by the offensive military manoeuvre in the region by pro-government troops.</p> <p>Al Jazeera notes that on 25 April, the STC declared self-rule in the port city of Aden and nearby areas.</p>

<p>In the city of Villavicencio, over 700 inmates and guards, 30% of the prison population, were reported to have contracted the coronavirus.</p> <p>In April the Colombian government announced that they would release 4,000 low-risk inmates under house arrest to help curb the spread of the virus however three weeks later only 320 were released.</p> <p>According to Nelson Barrera, a representative of the prison’s staff, little can be done due to limited space and overcrowding. This has made it “impossible to establish isolation zones required by the Secretary of Health”.</p>