WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old nursing graduate and rickshaw driver from Somalia, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being convicted of insulting government institutions over comments she made on social media. Ali, who had posted on Facebook and TikTok, was sentenced on 25 June in a case that has sparked outrage in Somalia and renewed concern over the shrinking space for…

World Court to hold rare genocide hearing against Israel on 11 January 2024

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) , also known as the 'World Court', will hold a hearing concerning the 84-page international law suit that South Africa lodged against Isreal, accusing Isreal of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. The complaint was filed before the ICJ on 29 December 2023. The State of Isreal was quick to deny the allegations within South Africa’s complaint as “baseless” and announced on 2 January 2024 that it will challenge the allegations of genocide before the ICJ in The Hague. The ICJ hearing is scheduled for 11 and 12 January 2024. 

No reconciliation' with paramilitary RSF, says Sudanese army chief al-Burhan

Sudan's army chief, Abel Fattah al-Burhan, has rejected the latest calls for a ceasefire stating that the nine-month war between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary will continue. 

RSF head, Mohammed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, agreed earlier in the week to a ceasefire under the condition that the military must cooperate. However, this was met with skepticism as the RSF has previously failed to fulfill its promises. 

Taiwan president states the island's future must be decided by its people

Taiwanese President, Tsai Ing-wen, emphasized that Taiwan's relationship with China must be determined by the will of the people and peace must be based on "dignity." These comments come in response to China's leader, Xi Jinping stating that "reunification" with the island is inevitable. 

Xi Jinping's comments depict a shift in tone from the previous year wherein he stated that people on either side of the Taiwan Strait are "members of one and the same family."

Outcry as Mexico reduces number of disappeared

Activists say the review of 113,000 missing people in Mexico is a ploy to reduce the number ahead of the presidential election

The government has now announced it was able to confirm just 12,377 of the more than 113,000 cases of disappeared people.

Former Rwandan Doctor sentenced to 24 years over genocide by French court

Former Rwandan doctor Sosthene Munyemana was on Wednesday jailed for 24 years by a French court for his involvement in the 1994 genocide of Tutsis.

The 68-year-old former gynaecologist was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and participation in a conspiracy to prepare these crimes.

Ireland begins human rights case against UK

The Irish government has initiated a legal challenge against the UK government over its controversial decision to offer immunity for Troubles-era crimes. 

In September the Troubles Legacy Act received royal assent despite widespread opposition from victims' organizations, political parties in Northern Ireland, and human rights organizations. 

RSF paramilitary seize city Wad Madani

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized Wad Madani, the city has been housing hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled the country's capital Khartoum due to conflict between the state forces and the RSF paramilitary. 

After three days of intense fighting, the RSF advanced and captured the capital of el-Gezira state. Thousands of people have fled the city, heading towards the south. 

Human Rights Watch urges India to investigate alleged overseas murder plots

Human Rights Watch have stated that the Indian government should conduct thorough and impartial investigations into allegations that government agents were involved in assassination plots against Sikh activists in the United States and Canada.

Conflict pushes families in Sudan towards famine-like conditions

According to the United Nations Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) families in Sudan's conflict zones are being pushed toward famine-like hunger, approximately 18 million people require urgent humanitarian food assistance. 

The UN IPC has identified the violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) along with other organized violence as the primary driver of life-threatening food insecurity in Sudan. 

UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and well as "ensuring humanitarian access".

153 member states voted in favour, 10 against and there were 23 abstentions.

 This was a second attempt by the UN General Assembly which in October had called for "a humanitarian truce" in a resolution adopted with 121 votes in favour, 14 against and 44 abstentions.