By James E. Jennings* ATLANTA, Georgia, USA | 15 April 2026 (IDN) — An Arab proverb says, “A fool threw a stone into a well—a hundred wise men could not get it out.” By thumbing his nose at the Constitution, bypassing Congress, and zeroing out 349 million US citizens kept in the dark about launching […]
Trump and Netanyahu: Twin Autocrats Leading the War on Iran
By Alon Ben-Meir* Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu—mirror images of arrogance and deceit—have subverted democratic norms in pursuit of personal power. Their malignant narcissism, contempt for law, and appetite for conflict led to the horrific war with Iran NEW YORK | 14 April 2026 (IDN) — Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are criminal leaders whose […]
Situation Report: International conference on Sudan to take place in Berlin
Situation in Sudan (per 13 April) The International Ministerial Conference on Sudan will take place on 15 April in Berlin, Germany. The conference is hosted by the German government together with France, UK, US, EU and AU, on the day which marks the 3rd anniversary of the outbreak of Sudan’s conflict. Foreign ministers from key […]
Situation Report: Alleged human trafficker arrested in Ethiopia
Situation in Ethiopia (per 9 April) Ethiopian police arrested Yetbarek Dawit in Shire, Tigray region, accused of running a multi-million-dollar human trafficking network since 2018, along with nine alleged accomplices, following a cross-border investigation. The network allegedly operated five detention warehouses in Libya where victims were tortured and forced to call their relatives to pay […]
The Need for Peace in Israel
By Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden | 8 April 2026 (IDN) — Over the last five years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has regularly walked into the courtroom where he is being tried for corruption. In November last year, he unsuccessfully sought a presidential pardon. He is difficult to read—his public mask only deepens the ambiguity. […]
A Lament for the Rules-Based International Order
By Reihshan Deen* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 4 April 2026 (IDN) — In 1648, the Thirty Years’ War came to an end. Beginning as a religious and political conflict between Catholics and Protestants regarding freedom of worship and the power of secular authorities to impose their beliefs on their subjects, the war fed upon itself, […]
Situation Report: Sexual violence used as “weapon of war” in Sudan
Situation in Sudan (per 01 April) At least 3,396 survivors of sexual violence, out of which 97% are women and girls, have been registered at the health facilities run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in North and South Darfur between January 2024 and November 2025. MSF warned the figure represents only a fraction of actual […]
Situation Report: Somali federal forces clash with Southwest State forces
Situation in Sudan (per 30 March) The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) shelled residential areas in Dilling city, South Kordofan, for several hours, resulting in at least 14 deaths, including children, and at least 23 wounded. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) claim to have repelled an […]
Situation Report: Attack on El-Daein Teaching Hospital kills 64
Situation in Sudan (per 23 March) An attack on the El-Daein Teaching Hospital killed at least 64 people on Friday, including children and medical staff, and wounded at least 89 others according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of 141 reported incidents of conflict related violence affected health care in Sudan during 2025, […]
The Role of Imported Arms in the Iran War
By Zain Hussain and Pieter Wezeman* STOCKHOLM | 20 March 2026 (IDN) — Imported arms have significantly shaped developments in the Middle East since Israel and the United States launched coordinated attacks on Iran last month. In this Q&A, Zain Hussain (ZH) and Pieter Wezeman (PW) of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme discuss what the […]