Equality and Human Rights

Dozens of journalists attacked and injured; a peaceful civil march cancelled under government pressure; offices of a civil society organisation ransacked; outbursts of intolerance and homophobia; and a government that at best sat and watched as things unfolded – at worst itself abetted the outrage. This was Tbilisi on 5 July 2021, a day that will be remembered as a day of shame for Georgia.

Yemen’s Houthi movement has expressed its willingness to engage in a comprehensive prisoner exchange with the Yemeni government, said Abdul Qader al Murtaza, chairman of the Houthi administration's Committee for Prisoner Affairs. 

International Criminal Court prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has said that victims of war crimes and genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan want those accused to be handed over and brought to court. The remarks come after Bensouda visited the Darfur region earlier this week.

The united European response to the brazen Belarusian snatching of an opposition figure from a commercial airplane of a European airline flying between two European capitals was swift and strong. Nothing dramatic will happen overnight as a result, but make no mistake about it, this was the opening shot of what is likely to be a long and messy war of attrition against Belarus that may last for years. On Belarus now, the EU's mind is set. The process will start and will be sustained.

The town of Ceuta, together with its sister town Mellila a bit further down the Mediterranean coast, is an anachronism. Whilst situated on the African continent the towns are recognised as being fully part of Spain – a colonial hang-over that has taken a life of its own. The enclaves were once considered of strategic importance for the defence of Spain. They have now become springboards for illegal migration into Europe. Yesterday, 5,000 arrived, taking the authorities by surprise. They say the migrants either swam around the border fences that jut out into the sea or walked across at low tide.

Ethiopia has delayed its national elections due to logistical reasons. Some opposition parties have also refused to take part and no vote will be held in the Tigray region. The election will be Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's first major electoral test. 

The brigade raided several hideouts for gangs that had been implicated in kidnapping and theft activities in Bani Walid. Creating a safe environment is one of the key priorities of the Libyan government. Brigade 444 had also released several Egyptian abductees in March.