World news roundup: ICC convicts Malian extremist of war crimes, Sudan crisis update, UN police summit preview
Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mohamed was also convicted of crimes against humanity. The charges include flogging, sexual slavery and the destruction of historical sites in the ancient city of Timbuktu, according to the 822-page indictment. judge.
The unstable West African nation has faced a wave of armed terrorist groups more than a decadeincluding those with ties to Al Qaida and the Islamic State (ISIL/Da’esh).
Amputation and flogging
Court prosecutors said the 46-year-old man, also known as Al Hassan, was a key figure in Ansar Dine, one of the armed groups that seized power in northern Mali and directed the terror across the regional capital Timbuktu.
Based on criminal record In his trial, which began in 2020, he faces charges of overseeing amputations and beatings while serving as the group’s “de facto chief of the Islamic police” from April 2012 until January 2013.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Ag Mahmoud on March 27, 2018 and he surrendered to court four days later.
He faces life in prison and sentencing will take place at a later date.
UN scrambles to boost aid for Sudanese mired in humanitarian crisis
UN humanitarian agencies and partners are working to scale up the response to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Khartoum and other “hotspots” across war-torn Sudan destruction, the United Nations Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Stéphane Dujarric said the situation in and around the besieged North Darfur capital El Fasher – where Rapid Support Forces militias have besieged the last Government-held city in the region, continues “extremely worrying”.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted that more than 400 children were believed to have been killed and injured in the recent escalation of fighting there.
Deadly conditions
“The continued use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas is posing additional risks to civilians and aid workers,” Mr Dujarric added.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) distributed emergency food and nutrition to more than 135,000 people in Al-Jazirah state in east-central Sudan.
This is the first time WFP supplies have reached Sudan’s former food basket since conflict spread to the state capital Wad Madani last December, forcing WFP to temporarily relocate.
Elsewhere, a WFP convoy carrying more than 2,300 tons of food assistance to some 164,000 men, women and children affected by the conflict is crossing the border from Chad to Darfur and on its way to North and South Africa. Central Darfur.
Some 14 million children – more than half of the 24 million children in Sudan – are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
The United Nations Police Summit demonstrates the role of law enforcement for peace
Government leaders and Police Chiefs are gathering at United Nations Headquarters in New York for a summit aimed at further strengthening the role of police forces as important enablers. important for peace.
The fourth United Nations Chiefs of Police (UNCOPS) Summit begins on Thursday and aims to build on the momentum of recent high-level peacekeeping initiatives – reinforcing the importance of multilateralism.
The official theme is Advancing our common security: United Nations policy for a new era.
Participants will hold dialogues aimed at “strengthening international peace, security and development for all through the united strength and supporting role of national and Federal police forces.” United Nations”.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix (right), Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, and Faisal Shahkar, United Nations Police Advisor, brief reporters on the Fourth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2024).
Opportunity knocks on the door
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Peace Operations, said UNPOL (the United Nations Police agency) provides expertise and support. support Member States as required.
This comes with the challenge of addressing the pressures and impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, transnational crime and global terrorism.
“That is why we place special emphasis, especially on capacity-building activities, to strengthen the law enforcement capacities of the member states with which we cooperate and especially help them better solve these challenges.”
