Cameroon: Prominent Opposition Leader Dies in Custody
Investigate Possible Negligence in Care of Anicet Ekane The death in custody of a prominent Cameroon opposition leader, Anicet Ekane, should be impartially, promptly, and effectively investigated, Human Rights Watch said today. Ekane, 74, the leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (Mouvement africain pour la nouvelle indépendance et la démocratie, MANIDEM) party, died […]
Central African Republic: Concerns Over Crucial Election
Barriers, Xenophobia, Weakening Oversight Could Undermine Vote’s Credibility Concerns about irregularities, political interference, and security pressures risk putting the credibility and inclusiveness of key elections in the Central African Republic into question, Human Rights Watch said today. The vote, scheduled for December 28, 2025, will include presidential and parliamentary elections, but also municipal elections for the […]
Nigeria: Renewed Spate of School Kidnappings
Ensure Safe Release of Victims, Protect Schools from Attacks Nigerian authorities should act urgently to secure the safe release of students and teachers recently kidnapped in the country’s northwest and take concrete steps to protect schools and communities from further attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. The groups responsible for the kidnappings should immediately release […]
Egypt: African Commission Should Act to Protect Rights
Government and Commissioner’s Reports Exclude Key Violations The African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights should act decisively to address the dire, protracted human rights crisis in Egypt following its review of the situation in the country, 22 organizations said today. The commission has found Egypt in breach of numerous articles of the African Charter on […]
Alarm Bells Go Off on Ethiopia
Concerned Governments Should Act to Prevent Further Abuses The fragile truce largely insulating civilians in northern Ethiopia from war crimes and other abuses may be unraveling. With many countries focused elsewhere, it is increasingly important that influential governments mobilize swiftly to prevent a resurgence of atrocities in the northern Tigray region that could spread further. […]
EU Should Focus on Civilian Safety in Sahel Region
When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked EU’s newly appointed top diplomat Kaja Kallas in September 2024 to develop a “renewed approach to the Sahel,” she sent a clear signal: the European Union should put an end to an erratic policy toward the West-African region that undermined its core interests to security and […]
A Family Erased in Mali
A quiet desert night in northern Mali turned deadly when an apparent military drone launched its explosive munition on a tent, leaving an entire family dead. The strike was a recent example of Malian military operations killing civilians and may amount to a war crime. The November 13 strike at about 9:30 p.m. on the village […]
Mali: Army, Militias Massacre Villagers in Central Region
African Union Should Urgently Take Action to Promote Accountability for Abuses Mali’s military and allied militias killed at least 31 civilians and burned homes on October 2 and 13, 2025, in 2 villages in the country’s embattled Segou region, Human Rights Watch said today. On October 2, Malian army forces and the Dozo, a predominantly […]
Trial of Ex-Congolese Warlord Important Step for Justice
Roger Lumbala Faces Crimes Against Humanity Charges in French Court The trial of Roger Lumbala Tshitenga, a former rebel leader and former minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo, begins on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, before the Paris Criminal Court. Lumbala is charged with crimes against humanity allegedly committed in North Kivu and Ituri provinces between […]
UN Rights Body Set to Hold Urgent Session on Sudan
Ensure Rigorous Investigations to Pave Way for Accountability Following an appeal by 49 rights groups, a cross-regional group of states requested an urgent United Nations Human Rights Council session on atrocities in North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, in Sudan. The session, planned for November 14, follows reports and images of mass atrocities by the Rapid Support […]
