Situation in Sudan (per 4 May) A drone strike on the family home of Sudan Shield Forces leader Abu Aqla Keikel in Al-Kahli village in Al Jazirah state killed nine people, including six children, with sources close to the Sudanese army blaming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attack. A drone strike attributed to […]
Trump, Iran, and the Folly of Demanding Surrender
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK, 27 April 2026 (IDN) — Trump’s threats and maximalist demands ignore Iran’s history, security fears, and distrust of Washington. A durable agreement requires time, restraint, and professional diplomacy—not bombast, coercion, and calls for unconditional surrender that guarantee only resistance. Iran is not a transient power that can be coerced into […]
Conflict-ridden Sahel at the Crossroads
The Impact of the Iran War on West African Power and Conflict By Ramesh Jaura This article was first published on rjaura.substack.com BERLIN | 25 April 2026 (IDN) — The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is centred in the Middle East, but its effects are quickly changing geopolitical boundaries far beyond that […]
Situation Report: PLF aims to reinstate pre-war administration
Situation in Ethiopia (per 20 April) The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) reportedly decided to reinstate the pre-war status quo where the regional council elected in 2020 would take charge, rejecting the Tigray Interim Regional Administration arrangement under the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. The decision was adopted during a TPLF’s central committee meeting in […]
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 […]
How AIPAC’s Betrayal of Its Own Cause Fueled the Iran War
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 26 March 2026 (IDN) — By reinforcing Israel’s hardline positions and narrowing the scope of American diplomacy, AIPAC’s advocacy has done enduring harm to Israel’s prospects for peace and to the United States’ global credibility and moral standing. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), as a self-described bipartisan […]
From ‘Epic Fury’ to a Trap of Trump’s Own Making: Finding the Way Out
By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK | 25 March 2026 (IDN) — Trump never tested serious, sustained diplomacy to resolve the wide-ranging, conflicting issues with Iran; instead, he defaulted to the illusion that enough bombs could “end” a conflict that has spanned nearly five decades. This war with Iran is a war of choice—and a reckless […]
Brute Force Prevails The Global Order
The UN is sidelined as U.S.-backed Israel strikes deep into Iran By Ramesh Jaura This article was first published on https://rjaura.substack.com BERLIN | 25 March 2026 (IDN) — Wars no longer announce themselves with official proclamations. They creep forward, strike by strike, each retaliation erasing another line once thought uncrossable. In April 2024, Israel’s unprecedented […]
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, […]
DNC Approach to Israel Is Political Malpractices and Moral Failure
By Norman Solomon* SAN FRANCISCO | 22 March 2026 (IDN) — When the governing body of the Democratic Party convenes next month, it will face a growing challenge to its support for Israel. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has largely evaded the fact that substantial majorities of Democrats oppose continuing military aid to Israel and […]