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Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Rwandan-backed armed group and Congolese army must stop using explosive weapons in densely populated areas

Three attacks alone resulted in over 50 civilian deaths, more than half the total

Inaccurate explosive weapons with wide area effects used in densely populated areas more than 150 times in a seven-month period, killing over 100 people.  Amid fresh uptick in fighting, warring parties must immediately cease attacks on civilians and stop using explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas.  The…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Egypt: Prominent human rights defender Hossam Bahgat summoned for interrogations

The Egyptian authorities have a long-standing history of harassing Hossam Bahgat and EIPR’s staff

Responding to the news that the prominent rights activist Hossam Bahgat has been summoned to appear before Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) on 19 January, for questioning over unknown allegations in relation to a new case against him, Amnesty International’s Egypt researcher, Mahmoud Shalaby said: “Hossam Bahgat, the head…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Nigeria: Boko Haram must end vicious killing spree

Boko Haram must be held to account for its years of atrocities, including war crimes

Responding to the killing of more than 40 civilians by Boko Haram during an attack on farming communities in Borno state north-east Nigeria on 12 January, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the executions of these civilians which, once again, shows Boko Haram’s utter…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Cameroon: Authorities must stop harassment of human rights defender Alice Nkom and attacks on civil society organizations

The weaponization of the justice system to intimidate human rights defender Alice Nkom shows the authorities’ flagrant disregard for the human rights

Reacting to the summoning of Alice Nkom, a Cameroonian lawyer and President of the Central African Human Rights Defenders Network (Réseau des défenseurs des droits humains en Afrique centrale – Redhac), to appear before the prefect of the Wouri department on 10 January and before the national gendarmerie on 14…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Uganda: Immediately release lawyer Eron Kiiza and quash military court’s outrageous decision

This sham process directly violates Uganda’s constitution, especially after the 2022 constitutional court ruling making trials of civilians in military courts illegal

Responding to the assault, arrest, summary conviction and nine-month sentencing by a Ugandan military court of Eron Kiiza, lawyer for detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, said:  “Eron Kiiza’s imprisonment is outrageous. Military personnel baselessly prevented him from accessing…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Angola: Five government critics released after more than a year of arbitrary imprisonment

Amnesty International campaigned extensively for the release of the five with petitions, public statements, events and more, and supported them through their families and legal representatives during their imprisonment

Responding to the release of five arbitrarily detained government critics in Angola after more than a year behind bars, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, said:  “At last, Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro and Pensador are free. We are overjoyed…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): President Tshisekedi must halt plans to carry out mass executions

Authorities have claimed resuming executions would help combat urban gangs, a claim unsupported by any evidence

Responding to reports that more than 170 people under sentence of death have been transferred to Angenga prison for execution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, said:  “The announcement of these prison transfers is absolutely appalling. We…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Lebanon: Poet Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi must not be extradited to Egypt or United Arab Emirates (UAE)

On 3 January 2025, Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi’s lawyers submitted an urgent letter to UN Special Procedures demanding a halt to the Egyptian and Emirati extradition requests

Responding to two separate extradition requests issued by authorities in Egypt and the United Emirates (UAE) for Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian-Turkish poet, who was arbitrarily detained by Lebanese security forces upon his return from a visit to Syria on 28 December, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Ghana: New President must tackle pressing human rights issues

The new government should pass a new legislation specifically criminalizing witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks, including protective measures for potential victims

Ghana’s new President John Mahama and his government must seize the opportunity of his mandate to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights including gender equality and women’s rights, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and the right to a healthy environment for everyone in the country, Amnesty…

Amnesty International
Source: Amnesty International |

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Senior army officials must be investigated for possible crimes against humanity over Goma massacre

Amnesty’s Evidence Lab also verified dozens of videos and photos of the massacre, plus satellite imagery, to corroborate findings

The former governor of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province and two other senior army officers must be investigated for possible crimes against humanity committed while suppressing a demonstration in Goma city, in which at least 56 people were unlawfully killed and over 80 wounded on 30…