30 years after genocide: Rwanda’s older generations fear a return of ethnic tensions, but youth feel more united

By Jonathan Beloff, King's College London It’s 30 years since a genocide ripped through Rwandan society, leaving up to a million Tutsi and non-extremist Hutu dead. Every year in early April, the country enters a 100-day period of commemoration during which Rwandans are asked to remember and reflect on historical divisions between the country’s main ethnic groups: Tutsi, Hutu and Twa. This is done under the banner […]

April 5, 2024 12

World

Malta Urges the ICC to Hurry Up Its War Crimes Probes in Palestine

Ambassador Vanessa Frazier of Malta detailed to the press her country’s plans presiding over the Security Council in April 2024. Frazier is one of five women envoys in the Council, and she successfully led a resolution calling for a pause in fighting in Gaza in November by focusing on the plight of children. “Children are affected more in Gaza, and as women, it affects us too,” she said in […]

April 2, 2024 14

World

The UN Security Council Is Struggling ‘Day by Day,’ Japan Says

Secretary-General António Guterres, left, and Kazuyuki Yamazaki, permanent representative of Japan and president of the Security Council for March, before a recent meeting on Sudan and South Sudan. Only three months in the UN post, Yamakazi leads the Council on a range of crises this month, from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine to conflicts in parts of Africa, as Japan also highlights its own two signature debates: building peace […]

March 13, 2024 15

World

How Haiti became a failed state

By Nicolas Forsans, University of Essex The US military started airlifting embassy staff out of Haiti overnight as the Caribbean island descends further into chaos. Rival gangs have joined forces to overrun the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, in an attempt to force the resignation of the acting president, Ariel Henry. The gang leader behind the violence, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, has warned there will be a “civil war that […]

March 11, 2024 30

World

Rights experts call for arms embargo on Israel

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and experts have warned countries against the “transfer of weapons or ammunition to Israel” as this could violate international humanitarian law if these weapons are used contrary to the Geneva Conventions, referring to Israel’s alleged failure to adhere to international law in Gaza. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch says Israel has failed to comply with the International Court of Justice order […]

February 27, 2024 12

Namibia

It is high time to tender an apology to the Namibian people: Steinmeier

Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier says it is high time that Germany apologises to Namibia for the genocide it inflicted on the Nama and Ovaherero people between 1904 and 1908. He was speaking at the memorial service of the late President Hage Geingob here on Saturday. Geingob died on 04 February and is set to be buried on Sunday. Steinmeier said he spoke to Geingob late last year and the Namibian […]

February 25, 2024 25

Namibia

German president tenders apology to the nation

Speaking during the State memorial service of late President Hage Geingob at Independence Stadium on Saturday German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Germany commits to a path of reconciliation, and thus he had to apologize to the Namibian people on behalf of his country with regards the 1904-1908 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama communities. "It is high time to take responsibility and tender an apology to the Namibian people […]

February 25, 2024 43

Opinion Pieces

Rafah: A Point of No Return

By Mona Ali Khalil The catastrophe in Rafah has begun. In the 131 terrible days since the horrible Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, we have watched 1.8 million Palestinian civilians pushed from the north of Gaza to the south and even further south until they reached Rafah at the very end of the strip. Adults and children alike have been bombed and shot relentlessly in […]

February 16, 2024 27

World

US calls Israel’s actions in Gaza ‘over the top’…

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a "massive operation" in Rafah, in the south of Gaza. This comes just hours after the US warned a military offensive in the city without proper planning would be a "disaster". More than a million Palestinians are living in the city bordering Egypt after fleeing from other parts of the strip. Sally Patterson has more.

February 12, 2024 27