In his speech, President Ramaphosa stated that organized crime is a major threat to South Africa’s economic growth and security, justifying the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist police in combating gang violence and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng, two provinces that have experienced mass shootings and violence linked to illegal mining. The Defense Ministry indicated that preparations were underway to finalize the troops deployment plan in priority areas within the next few days, pending parliamentary approval.

The president also announced that his country will implement a whole strategy focused on the use of technology, intelligence, and integrated law enforcement to address organized criminal activity and its root causes. The new measures include streamlining regulations on firearm possession and trade, increasing police officer recruitment, and eradicating corruption within government institutions, including police departments. The aim of these measures is not only to tackle organized crime but also to fight corruption and illicit firearms trading, which are fueling ongoing gang wars and illegal mining activities.

South Africa has for years struggled with gang violence and illegal mining, which threaten the country’s stability and are impeding economic growth. The government has intensified efforts to combat the surge in violence by implementing targeted strategies and measures, such as creating specialized police units.

While many individuals engage in illegal mining due to unemployment, the mining is closely tied to organized crime, involving international criminal syndicates that employ illegal artisanal miners known as zama zama. These illegal miners are often heavily armed, conduct attacks against rival miners and security forces, and usually sell extracted minerals to local dealers or exporters. The South African government has employed several measures to combat this activity, such as the criminalization of illegal mining under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28. Controversy surrounded last year’s deadly Operation Vala Umgodi, a security initiative that included cutting off food and water supplies to workers illegally occupying an abandoned mine to resurface so they could be arrested.

From JURIST, Feb. 13. Used with permission

Photo: Wesley Nitsckie via Wikipedia

From The New Humanitarian, Feb. 13

Image: INPACT

Burma’s agent Ko Ko Hlaing emphasized Burma’s recognition of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention & Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, but said the country did not breach any of its obligations under international law. He stated: “A finding of genocide would place an indelible stain on my country and its people. These proceedings are of fundamental importance for my country’s reputation and future.”

He noted that the military operations carried out in northern Rakhine state in 2016 and 2017 were counter-terrorism operations, and were not carried out with genocidal intent. Furthermore, he rejected the claim that Burma denies the existence or rights of the Muslim population in northern Rakhine state. But he added: “Myanmar considers that Bengalis in northern Rakhine State are culturally, ethnically and religiously part of the same group as the population living immediately across the border in Bangladesh.”

Stefan Talmon, an international law professor at the University of Bonn, also spoke on behalf of Burma. Professor Talmon’s argument rested on the high burden and standard of proof for establishing a breach of the Genocide Convention. He argued that the Gambia, which brought the case against Myanmar, must meet the highest standard of proof, “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Talmon additionally questioned the validity of the Gambia’s argument on the grounds that it does not follow precedent established in the Bosnia v Serbia and Croatia v Serbia cases. He asserted that the Gambia’s argument is inductive, as opposed to the deductive approach used in the prior cases.

The ICJ has traditionally set a high bar for establishing genocide. The only time it has found a violation of the Genocide Convention was regarding the Srebrenica genocide during the Bosnian war. However, the court held that Serbia only breached its obligation to prevent genocide but had not directly committed genocide.

The Gambia’s case alleges that Burma’s armed forces have conducted widespread and systemic “clearance operations” against the predominantly Muslim Rohingya population with genocidal intent. Violence in northern Burma has led to over a million Rohingya displaced to in a Bangladeshi refugee camp. The case opened in November 2019, when the Gambia brought proceedings against Burma under to the Genocide Convention. In 2020, Burma was ordered to halt and prevent all genocidal acts against the Rohingya.

The Gambia’s case against Burma is the first instance in which a state not affected by the facts at issue has brought proceedings under the Genocide Convention. The case serves as important precedent for South Africa’s application against Israel, which charges that Israel’s actions against Palestinians amount to genocide.

From JURIST, Jan. 17. Used with permission. Internal liniks added.

See our last reports on the Rohingya, the ICJ case, the parallel ICC investigation, and the Srebrenica genocide.

Note: This report originally used the country’s new rendering of Myanmar. We changed it to Burma in conformity with our style, which we explain here.

Photo: VOA via Jurist

Hassan was initially lauded as a reformer upon coming to power four years ago but has overseen a harsh crackdown on opponents that has included forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Her son, Abdul, has been accused of directing the most recent bout of abductions. The silence from the African Union, and regional body SADC—where several ruling parties are also under pressure—has been deafening. Yet again, as in—most recently—Madagascar, a clear case of democratic backsliding has been ignored. It leaves a frustrated citizenry with little other option than to vent their anger on the streets.

From The New Humanitarian, Oct. 31. Internal links added.

Several other African countries are facing mass protests and crises of state legitimacy at this moment.

Photo via Twitter

Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, a state party may withdraw by submitting written notification to the UN Secretary-General. Withdrawal becomes effective one year after receipt of the notification, and until then the withdrawing state remains bound by the statute. The announcement did not specify when the formal notice would be delivered.

The ICC, based in the Hague, was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. African governments have frequently criticized the court, noting that its investigations have disproportionately focused on African leaders and conflicts. Multiple African governments in 2017 announced a “strategy of collective withdrawal” from the ICC, with South Africa, Gambia and Burundi leading the way. However, the prior two later reversed course, with only Burundi following through on withdrawal.

The withdrawal marks another step in the three Sahel nations’ broader realignment. In recent months they have suspended cooperation with regional bodies, and expelled French troops while deepening ties with Russia.

The decision by the three nations comes amid an ongoing security crisis in the Sahel region, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are waging brutal insurgencies, carrying out attacks against civilians as well as security forces. Human rights groups have accused state security forces of committing extrajudicial killings and other serious abuses in counter-terrorism operations.

From JURIST, Sept. 23. Used with permission. Internal links added.

Image: Wikipedia

The organization stated that reports on the effects of the toxic spill demand that the Zambian government conduct investigations, compensate the impacted, and take necessary measures to prevent further harm. HRW stressed that the country’s authorities bear obligations under Zimbabwe’s own Environmental Management Act, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, and international principles affirming the right to a healthy environment.

The acid spill occurred on Feb. 18, when a dam holding mining waste from the Chinese company Sino-Metals Leach Zambia failed at Chambishi, Copperbelt province, resulting in the release of toxins into the Kafue River, a tributary of the Zambezi. The incident caused significant environmental damage, killing fish and livestock and destroying maize and groundnut crops, wiping out the livelihoods of local farmers. Additionally, residents now face health risks that may persist for decades.

The Zambia Environmental Justice Coalition reported to HRW that residents in the affected area unknowingly consumed contaminated water and maize, resulting in widespread and persisting health issues such as coughs, headaches and muscle cramps. A travel advisory from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that 16 water samples from the contaminated river contained heavy metals, including nickel, lead and arsenic, at concentrations exceeding World Health Organization thresholds. HRW called for a comprehensive investigation involving both international and national experts to assess environmental and health risks, and to test affected citizens for metal poisoning.

HRW criticized the government’s response as inadequate to meet the scale of the disaster. The government did order Sino-Metals to restore the polluted river, use lime to reduce water acidity, and compensate more than 500 local farmers. However, enforcement and follow-through were lax. Local activists reported increasing health problems among residents, and some individuals complained they had not received the promised compensation.

Mining has been central to Zambia’s economy since the 1930s, when it was the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia, establishing the country as a major global producer of essential metals such as copper and cobalt. However, harmful mining practices have caused severe environmental and health consequences, including soil contamination and lead poisoning. In 2023, Zambian communities filed a lawsuit against Anglo American South Africa over toxic lead contamination in local communities.

In March, HRW published a report documenting detrimental mining practices in Zambia and accused the government of exacerbating lead poisoning by failing to implement effective strategies. Earlier this month, HRW released another report, detailing the environmental impacts of a South African firm’s mining activities in Kabwe municipality, Central province, and called for accountability for companies that violate environmental regulations.

From JURIST, Sept. 11. Used with permission.

Note: Sino Metals Leach Zambia is a subsidiary of the state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, whose operations in the country have been repeatedly linked to labor abuses and violence.

Photo: Global Atlas of Environmental Justice via Institute for Security Studies

Afghanistan is experiencing a dire human rights crisis under renewed Taliban rule. Human Rights Watch has reported that individuals who have links with the previous Afghan government’s security forces (or the US-led force that backed it) face violent reprisals such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture. The International Criminal Court prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Taliban officials accused of crimes against humanity.

Also May 12, nearly 60 white South Africans were admitted into the US as part of President Trump’s resettlement program for Afrikaners who say they fear persecution. Trump, who has otherwise virtually shut down the US asylum program, replied to a reporter’s question ebout the entry of the South Africans: “It’s a genocide that’s taking place that you people don’t want to write about, but it’s a terrible thing that’s taking place. And farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they’re white or Black makes no difference to me, but white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.”

Bill Frelick, head of the Refugee & Migrants Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, responded to Trump’s claims by saying: “Well, this is not actually supported from any of the information that we have seen.” (NewsHour)

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa called the group of 59 who have moved to the US “cowards” who are unhappy with efforts to address the inequities of the apartheid past, terming their relocation a “sad moment for them.” (BBC News, PRI)

In a statement, South Africa’s foreign ministry described the resettlement program as “politically motivated” and designed to undermine South Africa’s “constitutional democracy.” The statement said that allegations of discrimination against the country’s white minority are unfounded, and that crime statistics do not indicate that any racial group had been targeted in violent crimes on farms. (BBC News)

Photo: USMC Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/CentCom Public Affairs via Wikimedia Commons

The experts, part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures, expressed concern that the credibility of the international legal system is at risk due to inaction over ongoing violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. They warned that failure to act could set back the multilateral system by decades and called for decisive, principled and concerted action.

The UN experts also highlighted the disproportionate impact of the ongoing conflict on vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. They stressed that ensuring accountability for violations is essential to safeguarding fundamental human rights and preserving international peace and security. The experts concluded:

We call on all nations to join us in our solemn commitment to an international order based on the rule of law. Only through coordinated, collective action can we hope to end this cycle of impunity and safeguard the rights and lives of those affected.

On Jan. 31, delegates from nine nations (including South Africa, Malaysia, Colombia, Bolivia and Cuba) formed the Hague Group, responding to the failure of the broader international community to halt Israel’s military actions and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied territories. Drawing on a series of binding and advisory rulings, the group’s declaration especially cited the Advisory Opinion of July 2024, issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The opinion asserted the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and called for a total and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories.

International human rights groups have documented numerous violations of international humanitarian law, from indiscriminate air-strikes that hit civilian shelters and hospitals, to targeted demolitions and forced evictions in both Gaza and the West Bank. International legal actions have mounted, including an International Criminal Court investigation and South Africa’s application to the ICJ, accusing under the Genocide Convention. Israeli authorities have refused to cooperate with UN inquiries or investigate alleged war crimes.

From JURIST, April 8. Used with permission.

Notes: Having just visited Hungary, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week met with Donald Trump at the White House, where the two discussed their plan to “transfer” the population of the Gaza Strip. (NYT) These meetings took place in defiance of an ICC warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest on war crimes charges. (NYT)

Nicaragua last week withdrew its application to intervene in the proceedings of South Africa v Israel at the ICJ, without citing any reason for its decision. (Jurist) But just days earlier, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua released a landmark report naming 54 Nicaraguan officials allegedly responsible for grave human rights violations. The violations occurred as part of a systematic campaign of repression orchestrated by President Daniel Ortega’s government. (Jurist)

See our last report on genocide accusations against Israel.

Photo: Hague Group

A long-overdue land recovery measure in South Africa sparks a blatantly racist reaction from the Trump White House. In Episode 269 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg breaks down how this imbroglio reveals the white supremacist backlash that informs the entire political project of Donald Trump and his tech-oligarch backers, collaborators and ideologues.

Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon.

Production by Chris Rywalt

We ask listeners to support us at one of our three tiers via Patreon: Become a Basic Supporter for just $1 per weekly podcast ($5 per month), or a Special Supporter for $2 per podcast ($10 per month), or a Major Rant Enabler for $5 per podcast ($25 per month). We now have 70 paid subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 71!

Map: PCL

Fighting has now subsided, but the rebels’ hold on the city remains firm. A humanitarian crisis is fast deepening in the city, with hospitals overwhelmed and food running out. This is not the first time M23 has captured Goma. In 2012, the group briefly occupied the city before retreating to allow peace negotiations. The M23, named after a failed March 23, 2009 peace agreement with the Congolese government, claims to fight against persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Tutsi Congolese, many of whom have lived as refugees for over 30 years. Rwanda currently hosts nearly 100,000 of these refugees.

The current conflict pits M23 against a coalition of Congolese government forces (FARDC), the FDLR (a UN-sanctioned terrorist group linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide), Burundian soldiers, European mercenaries, a South Africa-led SADC mission, and local militias known as Wazalendo. The FDLR and allied militias like the Mai Mai–Nyatura have for decades persecuted Congolese Tutsi communities.

The fall of Goma has sparked protests in the DRC capital, Kinshasa, with foreign embassies vandalized and set on fire, including those of Rwanda, South Africa, the US, Belgium and France. Amid the turmoil, President Felix Tshisekedi has promised a counter-offensive to retake Goma. He has appointed Maj. Gen. Somo Kakule Evariste as the new military governor of North Kivu, replacing Maj. Gen. Peter Cirimwami, who was killed by rebels on Jan. 23.

The DRC’s reliance on foreign mercenaries in the war in the east has drawn sharp criticism. Reports indicate that around 2,000 mercenaries, mostly from Eastern Europen countries such as Romania, have been hired to fight the M23. Nearly 300 of these mercenaries surrendered to M23 during the recent escalation and were handed over to Rwanda before being repatriated. (Great Lakes Voice, Jurist, Romania Insider, BBC News, UN News)

Map: PCL