Our editors’ weekly take on humanitarian news, trends, and developments from around the globe.
On our radar
Top UN court hears UNRWA case, as Gaza continues to spiral downward
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held hearings this week on Israel’s ban on cooperation with UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestine refugees. It could take some time for a (non-binding) ruling on Israel’s move to cut ties with UNRWA, but it has already been two months since Israel reinstated its full siege on Gaza, blocking the entry of aid and commercial goods while bombarding the territory. In a graphic illustration of this, organisers of a vessel carrying aid and activists to Gaza said it was bombed by Israeli drones, leaving the ship disabled off the coast of Malta. Meanwhile, on the ground In the Gaza Strip, the situation is becoming more dire by the day. UNICEF says vaccines are quickly running out, and malnutrition is on the rise, with more than 9,000 children admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the start of the year. People are looting food shops, community kitchens, and aid warehouses in what Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO network in Gaza, called “a grave signal of how serious things have become in the Gaza Strip – the spread of hunger, the loss of hope and desperation among residents as well as the absence of the authority of the law.” Amnesty International says the past two months of siege constitute a “genocidal act, a blatant form of unlawful collective punishment, and the war crime of using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare”. For more, read our latest first person account from Gaza.
India-Pakistan tensions flare after Kashmir attack
The fallout from the 22 April attack on a tourist destination in Kashmir continues to reverberate across the region, as New Delhi and Islamabad engage in a war of words and tit-for-tat reprisals. The Indian government claims the attack – which saw militants kill 28 mostly Hindu tourists – was planned across the border in Pakistan, which has denied any involvement in the killings. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned that a military incursion from India was “imminent” during an interview with Reuters. But New Delhi has taken a raft of other measures too, including suspending a key water treaty, cancelling visas, and banning use of its airspace. It is now reportedly mulling a push to return Pakistan to the so-called grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). If the global watchdog that monitors money laundering and “terror” financing was to accept such a bid, it would cut Pakistan off from much of the global banking industry and even the International Monetary Fund, which has bailed out the country a record 23 times. Regionally, countries like China and Afghanistan have called for calm and restraint from both sides, as has the United States. In Kashmir itself, local residents say authorities are demolishing homes that the Indian government claims belonged to suspected fighters. There has also been an explosion of anti-Kashmiri and anti-Muslim rhetoric in traditional and social media. For more, read our full story: Modi’s post-Kashmir attack crackdown condemned as collective punishment.
Military leader backs himself for 5 more years in Mali
Mali’s military leader Assimi Goïta has received backing to be president for five years following a national political forum organised by his regime. The forum, which was boycotted by leading opposition groups, also called for the dissolution of all existing political parties. Goïta has ruled Mali since leading two coups in 2020 and 2021, when he took on the role of transitional president. Pledges to hold elections were pushed back on several occasions, and the five-year extension follows similar moves by junta leaders in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Under Goïta’s leadership, the Malian army and its Russian mercenary partners have ramped up offensives against jihadist groups, but with a high civilian cost: Abuses have been widespread and tens of thousands have recently fled to Mauritania. Still, Goïta retains significant domestic support, having crafted an image of himself as a defender of Malian sovereignty against imperialist powers and domestic threats. Many Malians believe security is actually improving, even if the evidence often points in the other direction.
Questions abound as Rwanda, DRC, and the US ink peace-minerals deal
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are expected to submit drafts for a peace deal today, part of a US-led push to end violence in eastern DRC and enrich itself in the process. The two countries’ foreign ministers signed a declaration of principles last week alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. American involvement began earlier this year, when Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi offered up access to DRC’s resources in exchange for US backing against the Rwanda-supported M23 rebel group. A final agreement is expected in two months, alongside bilateral mineral deals that will reportedly funnel US and Western investment into mining operations in DRC (and to a lesser extent) Rwanda. The deal seems not unlike the model the US has pursued with Ukraine, and appears aimed at curbing China’s influence over Congolese mining. Less clear is what kind of security guarantees the US will provide and what role is envisaged for the M23 and various pro-Kinshasa militias in discussions. DRC was integrated into the world economy on deeply unequal terms as a supplier of raw materials. Much of the value is captured by multinational firms, while attempts to challenge the status quo have been brutally shut down by foreign powers like the US.
Vance says war in Ukraine “not going anywhere”
The war between Russia and Ukraine is “not going to end any time soon”, US Vice President JD Vance said during a 1 May interview with Fox News, adding: “It’s not going anywhere.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is ready to abandon the peace negotiations if nothing changes soon, telling the same network that although the two countries’ positions had become “closer… they’re still far apart”. The comments came hours after the signing of a deal that will give the US a share of Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for US reconstruction assistance – and, the Ukrainians hope, a better chance of ongoing American military support or some post-peace deal security assurances. US President Donald Trump has long coveted Ukraine’s natural resources, including rare earth minerals, oil, and gas. Ukraine’s parliament will vote next week on a proposal to ratify the deal. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have continued to exchange attacks. Russia’s 1 May drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least one civilian. Ukraine responded with a “massive” drone attack on the Crimean city of Sevastopol, according to Russian state media.
Weekend read
“Starting anew requires us to think of practical solutions.”
As Sudan army gains drive mass returns, mutual aid groups begin to rebuild
Local groups are organising transport and repairing damaged cities.
And finally…
Visit Rwanda? We prefer Tottenham
Despite growing fan protests, “Visit Rwanda” will be on the shirts of Spain’s Atlético Madrid next season – the fourth elite European club to sign a promotion deal with Kigali. Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich have similar sponsorships, condemned by critics as the “sportswashing” of a government internationally pilloried for its military intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and support to M23 rebels. Calling for an end to the Rwanda deal, Gunners for Peace, an Arsenal supporters’ group, has launched a campaign to “Visit Tottenham” – their north London rivals. “Obviously, none of us would accept Tottenham on the shirt, so why Rwanda?” said a spokesperson. “We’re in touch with Arsenal fans in Congo who are refusing to wear the shirt until this sponsorship is ended. This campaign is for them.” The Visit Rwanda deal earned Arsenal $13.4 million last year out of a total commercial income of $290 million.
