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The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 rebel coalition commenced a new round of negotiations in Switzerland on Monday, with mediation provided by the United States and Qatar. The talks aim to halt the persistent violence that has continued despite a December peace accord signed in Washington.During the Geneva session, both parties signed an interim peace‑monitoring mechanism, according to Radio France Internationale. The framework creates a joint body tasked with tracking humanitarian and security developments and flagging any ceasefire violations. Representatives from the DRC government, the M23 coalition, and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) will staff the mechanism.Al Jazeera correspondent Alain Uaykani, reporting from Goma, described the situation on the ground as "very fragile," with each side accusing the other of breaching previous truces. He highlighted the town of Minembwe in South Kivu, where thousands of civilians are caught in crossfire between rival armed groups.Local residents hope that mediators will press both sides to honor the newly‑established monitoring body, after a series of failed agreements. The conflict has intensified since early 2025, when the M23 seized large territories, including the provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu.In December, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a "historic" peace and economic agreement in Washington, a move that was widely criticized as overlooking Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 rebels. Separate Qatar‑mediated talks have also taken place, yet clashes resumed almost immediately after the December deal.Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Tuesday condemning both parties for obstructing aid deliveries and preventing civilians from fleeing the highlands of South Kivu. Clementine de Montjoye, senior Great Lakes researcher at the organization, warned that the region faces a "dire humanitarian crisis" and that the conflict remains "vastly under‑reported."The newly‑formed monitoring mechanism, supported by MONUSCO, represents the latest diplomatic effort to stabilize eastern Congo and protect vulnerable populations, even as fighting continues to flare in the highland areas of South Kivu.

Russia's campaign to recruit Central Asian migrants to fight in Ukraine has been marked by coercion and deception. Tens of thousands of labour migrants from countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have been forced to sign up for military service, often under threat of deportation or with promises of financial incentives.Hushruzjon Salohidinov, a 26-year-old Tajik man, is one such migrant who was arrested and threatened with rape in a Russian prison unless he 'volunteered' to fight in Ukraine. He was promised a sign-up bonus of 2 million rubles ($26,200) and a monthly salary of 200,000 rubles ($2,620), but was poorly trained and equipped for combat.Salohidinov was captured by Ukrainian forces in January and is now being held in a prisoner of war facility. He says he is glad to have been captured as it saved him from certain death on the front line. His case is just one of many reported instances of Central Asian migrants being coerced into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.Human rights groups and experts say that Russia's recruitment of migrant soldiers is a deliberate tactic to target vulnerable individuals who are often subject to xenophobia and Islamophobia in Russia. The Kremlin's campaign has been marked by derogatory language and abuse towards migrants, with some officials using threats of deportation to force them into military service.The life expectancy of migrant soldiers on the front line is reportedly just four months, with losses being catastrophic. Despite this, Russia is expected to continue recruiting migrant soldiers to make up for a shortage of willing Russian recruits.

The United States military has announced that it has attacked a new vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people it accuses of “narco-trafficking”. This latest strike is part of a pattern of dozens of similar operations carried out by the US military in recent months.According to US Southern Command, the targeted vessel was operated by unnamed “Designated Terrorist Organizations” that were “transiting along known narco-trafficking routes” in the region. The military shared a video of an air strike that appeared to tear into the vessel, which burst into flames.The US military stated that none of its forces were harmed in the operation. This incident comes a day after another US military strike in the eastern Pacific killed four people, and a separate strike on Monday in the region resulted in two fatalities.In total, US attacks on vessels accused of narco-trafficking have killed at least 178 people since September, when US President Donald Trump ordered the attacks to stop what the White House claims are Latin American cartels transporting drugs to the US.Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes, with some arguing that they have targeted civilian fishing boats. Human Rights Watch has described the strikes as “unlawful extrajudicial killings”, while the American Civil Liberties Union has cast the assertions by the Trump administration against those it targets as “unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims”.Legal experts argue that if some vessels were involved in drug trafficking, those on board should face the law, rather than deadly attacks. Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, stated that “US officials cannot summarily kill people they accuse of smuggling drugs”.Critics have also questioned the effectiveness of the US military operation, particularly since the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses in the US is typically trafficked over land from Mexico, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India.

El Salvador has introduced a new law that permits life imprisonment for minors as young as 12 for serious crimes such as homicide, terrorism, and rape. The law, which takes effect on April 26, is part of a broader crackdown on gang violence in the country. The move has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who warn that it could lead to grave human rights abuses and perpetuate long-term consequences for child and adolescent development. The law's passage is seen as a continuation of President Nayib Bukele's hardline policies, which have included a state of emergency that has suspended certain civil liberties since March 2022. Under this state of emergency, over 90,000 people have been imprisoned, with some detainees held without charges and others processed in mass trials. Human Rights Watch estimates that nearly 1.9% of El Salvador's population is behind bars, one of the highest rates in the world. The new law allows for periodic sentence reviews and the possibility of supervised release, but UNICEF has expressed deep concern about the prospect of children being sentenced to life behind bars. The organization argues that such measures contradict the standards enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prioritizes rehabilitation and reintegration over punishment. Critics have repeatedly called on Bukele and the Salvadoran government to end the state of emergency and related anti-crime measures, citing violations of fundamental human rights. A recent report by the International Group of Experts for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations alleged that crimes against humanity had been committed over the last four years, with Bukele himself acknowledging that at least 8,000 detainees were innocent.

Telenor, majority-owned by the Norwegian government, entered Myanmar in 2013 with promises to connect isolated users. However, allegations suggest that the company provided data on over 1,200 customers to the military regime, aiding in the arrest and persecution of anti-coup activists.Aung Thu, an activist, claims that his data was released by Telenor in late September 2021, leading to his re-arrest and charge under counter-terrorism laws. A class-action lawsuit filed in Norway seeks €11m in compensation for 1,253 customers allegedly affected.Telenor's transparency reports reveal it complied with 96% of 153 data requests from authorities. The company's actions have raised concerns about its role in propping up the military junta and breaching trust with its customers.Norwegian politicians and human rights activists have called for accountability and greater transparency on the government's role in the matter. The incident has sparked debate about Norway's image as a defender of peace and human rights.

Arab Barghouti has made a compelling appeal to human rights groups, urging them to step up their support for Palestinian prisoners. The call to action comes as a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address the plight of Palestinian detainees.While specific details about the current situation of Palestinian prisoners are scarce, Barghouti's statement underscores the urgency for enhanced advocacy and assistance from rights organizations. This appeal is likely to resonate with various human rights groups that have been actively involved in Middle Eastern issues.The situation of Palestinian prisoners has been a longstanding concern in international relations, particularly within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Efforts to improve their conditions and ensure their rights are protected have been a focal point for many human rights organizations.

A group of 19 UN experts has denounced Israel's attack on Lebanon, which occurred a day after the US and Iran agreed on a ceasefire, as illegal and a blatant violation of the UN Charter. The experts are calling on UN member states to halt all arms transfers to Israel while there is credible evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.The condemnation comes as Israel continues to pound areas of southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 16 deaths, including four paramedics, according to Lebanese state media. The experts also expressed concern over the forced displacement of over 1.2 million people and the targeted destruction of homes, particularly in predominantly Shia areas of the south, which they described as a form of collective punishment that points to ethnic cleansing.The UN experts emphasized that Israel's actions constitute crimes against humanity and urged Israel to cease all military operations in Lebanon. The situation has been a point of tension in US-Iran negotiations, with Tehran pushing for Lebanon to be included in the ongoing ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to target Hezbollah wherever required, despite diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran are expected to resume in Islamabad within days, placing President Donald Trump under intense pressure to deliver an Iran accord that can be credibly billed as superior to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) brokered by former President Barack Obama. Two tests dominate the diplomatic calculus: the deal must demonstrably exceed the Obama agreement, and it must ensure that Iran derives no lasting strategic advantage, particularly over the vital Strait of Hormuz. While direct comparisons with the 159‑page JCPOA are imperfect—given the evolution of Iran’s nuclear program and the emergence of non‑nuclear concerns—the Trump team is framing its objectives around four pivotal issues. 1. Enrichment suspension: In Geneva on 26 February, the U.S. demanded a 10‑year freeze on all domestic uranium enrichment, a figure Iran’s foreign minister deemed unrealistic beyond three years. In Islamabad, the U.S. escalated the ask to a 20‑year suspension, yet Trump publicly dismissed even that, insisting on a permanent ban. The practical timeline for Iran to restart enrichment after the damage to its facilities remains uncertain. 2. Highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile: The original JCPOA capped uranium enrichment at 3.65% and limited the stockpile to 300 kg. Iran now holds 440.9 kg of 60%‑enriched uranium—a material that can be rapidly converted to weapons‑grade (90%)—mostly stored as UF₆ gas in scuba‑tank‑sized canisters. Tehran offered to down‑blend this stockpile to 3.67% in an irreversible process, mirroring the 2015 deal’s provisions. The U.S., however, is pressing for the entire stockpile to be removed from Iran under American supervision, a stance that raises questions about the relative merits of in‑country down‑blending versus export. 3. Sanctions relief: The JCPOA promised the release of roughly $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets and the lifting of oil trade restrictions, while retaining sanctions on terrorism, human rights, and missile proliferation. In the Geneva framework, over 80% of sanctions would be lifted, leaving only human‑rights‑related measures. Trump’s administration, wary of political backlash, seeks to attach conditions on how Iran can spend the relief, a demand Tehran rejects, insisting on a permanent, irreversible lifting of sanctions. 4. Non‑nuclear issues: Trump has repeatedly criticized the JCPOA for isolating Iran’s nuclear program from its broader regional behavior. The current negotiations must grapple with Iran’s ballistic‑missile program, support for proxy forces, and the strategic future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials are divided: one camp favors leveraging the strait for immediate revenue and national pride, while another views it as a diplomatic lever to secure a lasting ceasefire and security guarantees. The confluence of these challenges creates a “marshmallow test” for both sides—whether they can forgo short‑term temptations in favor of a durable, long‑term settlement. As the Trump presidency approaches its final year, the ability to craft a deal that convincingly outperforms the Obama era while addressing the expanded nuclear and geopolitical landscape will determine the legacy of U.S. policy on Iran and its impact on regional stability.

Sudan's civil war, now in its fourth year, has plunged the country into one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The conflict, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in 14 million people being forced to flee their homes, roughly a quarter of the country's population.The war has caused widespread destruction, with 40,000 people estimated to have been killed and 21 million people facing acute food insecurity, including 6.3 million in emergency conditions. The country's healthcare system is in shambles, with over 200 attacks on healthcare facilities since the war began, resulting in at least 2,052 deaths.Human rights abuses are rampant, with serious violations including massacres, forced recruitment, and arbitrary arrests. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence, with 3,396 survivors of sexual violence seeking treatment in MSF-supported health facilities across North and South Darfur between January 2024 and November 2025.The international community has attempted to mediate a ceasefire, but efforts have repeatedly failed. The conflict has also disrupted humanitarian operations, with regional instability affecting supply chains and limiting the movement of goods.The situation on the ground remains dire, with millions surviving on one meal a day and famine already confirmed in multiple areas. The international community must continue to pressure the warring parties to reach a ceasefire and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to those affected.