Human Rights Watch has called on Tunisian authorities to drop what it described as “unfounded charges” against five employees of the Tunisian Council for Refugees, who went on trial on Nov 24, amid an escalating crackdown on civil society groups. The rights watchdog also urged the immediate release of two staff members who have been […]
Tag: Human Rights Watch
Islamic State resurgence in Niger exposes civilian vulnerability — HRW report
A recent surge in attacks by the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (IS Sahel) has left more than 127 civilians dead in Niger’s Tillabéri region, according to a latest report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The watchdog group described the killings — carried out in at least five separate incidents since March — as […]
Mozambique’s forgotten war: over 120 children abducted by Islamist insurgents
At least 120 children have been abducted in recent days by Islamist insurgents in Mozambique’s northern oil-rich Cabo Delgado province, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported, adding that they were reportedly being forced into labor, used to transport looted goods, and in some cases turned into child soldiers or forced into marriage. The kidnappings mark […]
Burundi’s ‘clean sweep’ vote sparks fears of authoritarian consolidation
Burundi’s ruling party, CNDD-FDD, has claimed all 100 contested seats in the 5 June parliamentary election, prompting outcry from opposition groups and rights organizations who allege systematic electoral fraud and political repression. According to official results, CNDD-FDD secured 96.5% of the vote, with no other party surpassing the 2% threshold required for parliamentary representation. Opposition […]
Rights watchdog calls for investigation into B. Faso massacre linked to gov’t-aligned militias
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling for an investigation into a brutal massacre in Burkina Faso, where dozens of civilians were reportedly killed by government-aligned militias. The attack occurred in the western city of Solenzo, with video footage circulating on social media showing bodies of ethnic Fulani civilians, including women, children and elderly, bound and […]
Tunisia: Former presidential candidate Safi Saïd released after one day in prison
On August 22, the Tunisian judiciary ordered the release of opposition politician Safi Saïd. Saïd, a former candidate in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections who withdrew from this year’s race, had been arrested on August 20 for “illegally crossing the border into Algeria.” The 70-year-old writer and critic of the current Tunisian president was […]
Burkina Faso: army summarily executed 223 civilians, babies — rights group
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Burkina Faso’s military forces of “summarily executing” 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in two northern villages in February as part of its campaigns against civilians suspected of collaborating with armed groups. Soldiers killed at least 44 people, including 20 children, in Nondin, and 179 people, including 36 […]
Human Rights Watch alerts to Tunisia’s authoritarian drift under President Saied
With thousands jailed for expressing dissent, destroyed checks and balances and an undermined civil society, Tunisia has backpedaled to autocracy following a crackdown on civil liberties by a president bent on continuing his power grab, Human Rights Watch said. “Tunisia experienced further regression in terms of human rights and the rule of law during 2023 […]
DR Congo goes to polls amid concerns about transparency and ‘hate speech’
As millions of Congolese citizens Wednesday (20 December) head to polling stations to cast their vote one of the most anticipated elections of 2023, the European Union has, among others, expressed concerns about transparency, especially after its observer mission pulled out, and also about “the hate speech, violence and incidents that have marked the last […]
Tunisian political party calls on State to reintroduce visa requirement to Sub-Saharan migrants
Centre-right political party Afek Tounes, called on Tunisian authorities to re-impose visa requirements to Sub-Saharan migrants as part of measures to stem arrival of flows of migrants from South Saharan African countries who use the North African country as transit to reach Europe’s southern coasts. The party, “Webdo Tunis” reports, in a statement, also calls […]









