Links to recent news and analysis on efforts to prevent and resolve violent conflicts, including the role of the UN and International Criminal Court, and weapons control.
International courts to investigate Ukraine invasion
7/3/2022: The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have both embarked on the process of investigating cases against Russia's actions in Ukraine. The Criminal Court has the stronger foundation for progress.
Source: DW
Just how far will Russian forces go in Ukraine?
3/3/2022: The executive director of Human Rights Watch draws on the evidence of Russian tactics in Syria to anticipate what happens next in Ukraine. Serious violations of the laws of war including cluster bombs and deliberately targeting civilians cannot be ruled out.
Source: The Guardian
UN General Assembly backs condemnation of Russia’s invasion
2/3/2022: 141 UN member states out of a total of 193 backed a UN General Assembly resolution to demand Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine. It is only the 11th time such a meeting has been called in the UN's 77-year history. The resolution is not legally binding.
Source: DW
Countries request ICC inquiry into war cimes in Ukraine
2/3/2022: Thirty-eight governments have asked the International Criminal Court prosecutor to open an investigation into potential war crimes in Ukraine. Human Rights Watch and others have documented serious violations of the laws of war by Russian forces including the use of cluster munitions.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Ukraine crisis exposes ineffectiveness of UN Security Council
23/2/2022: The UN Security Council whose primary mandate is the maintenance of international peace and security has remained paralyzed in the Ukraine crisis by the double veto option of Russia and China. Civil society voices suggest that the International Court of Justice should examine whether Russia's actions can be reconciled with the UN Charter.
Source: Inter Press Service
Europe’s troop withdrawal leaves Mali in limbo
17/2/2022: The African Union chairman has called for more solidarity with Sahel states in the fight against terrorism. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France would pull most troops out of Mali within six months.
Source: DW
Macron expected to announce Mali withdrawal
15/2/2022: President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce that French troops will be withdrawn from Mali and redeployed elsewhere in the Sahel following a breakdown in ties with the country's military regime. A pullout would amount to a major strategic shift by France provoked by two military coups in Mali.
Source: The East African
Conflicts mar 20th anniversary of African Union
8/2/2022: African leaders should reflect on the African Union's capacity to fulfil its promise to prevent and resolve conflict especially after a turbulent 2021 in which the organisation's response to coups, Islamist insurgencies, civil wars and other urgent crises has been mixed.
Source: The East African
Myanmar: 1 year after coup, a bitter stalemate looms
31/1/2022: One year ago Myanmar's generals took power away from the county's democratically elected government. But the ruling junta faces heavy challenges and resistance to its rule will continue to come at a great human cost.
Source: DW
UN chief appeals for countries to sign nuclear test-ban treaty
23/9/2021: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged eight key countries which have not yet signed or ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, to do so without delay. He stated that a prohibition on nuclear testing is an essential element of a nuclear weapons-free world.
Source: UN News