Saturday, May 31, 2025

Zimbabwe President to Headline 57th SADC PF Plenary Assembly

Online Herald Reporter 

Sunday News 

June 1, 2025

Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will tomorrow preside over the official opening of the 57th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) which is being held in Victoria Falls.

The forum, being held under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities”, will run up to 7 June.

The high-level Assembly of Parliamentarians will draw over 300 delegates comprising Speakers and Members of Parliament, senior staff of the 15 Member Parliaments, regional experts and development partners.

Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda who has arrived in Victoria Falls to spearhead the hosting, confirmed that the official opening ceremony tomorrow will be graced by President Mnangagwa who is also the Chairman of SADC.

“His Excellency’s presence confers unmatched gravitas and stature to the proceedings, symbolising Zimbabwe’s unwavering commitment to regional integration, digital innovation and transformative Parliamentary processes.

“The Head of State is expected to deliver the keynote address, which will set the tone for an agenda that resonates across borders and generations,” said Adv Mudenda.

Advocate Jacob Mudenda

After the official opening ceremony, a symposium, running under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities,” will be held at the same venue in the afternoon.

“We have marshalled renowned AI experts from local universities and the private sector as well as from the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services under the aegis of Minister Tatenda Mavetera,” said Adv Mudenda.

From 3 to 5 June, the Plenary Assembly deliberations will commence in earnest, featuring debate on the overarching theme, followed by the presentation of Standing Committee Reports on the proposed Model Law on Prison

Oversight, which seeks to enhance legislative scrutiny of detention systems and safeguard human dignity.

He said the Plenary Assembly will provide a platform for delegates to rigorously interrogate and exchange insights on the promise and pitfalls in the application of AI in Parliamentary processes.

“Core deliberations will centre on Standing Committee Reports and Country Reports on the implementation of previous resolutions to track the implementation matrix.

“The 57th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum will also receive reports from the SADC PF Standing Committees,” said Adv Mudenda.

Convened in terms of Article 10(2) of the Constitution of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which states that “The Plenary Assembly shall meet at least twice in every calendar year in ordinary session,” and pursuant to Rule 6(2) of the Rules of Procedure, which mandates the Assembly “to deliberate comprehensively on the reports of the Standing Committees.”

Adv Mudenda said the 57th Plenary Assembly reaffirms its role as the Forum’s principal policy-making and deliberative body, entrusted with charting the legislative aspirations of the SADC Region.

“This Assembly follows a continuum of strategic engagements including the 56th Plenary in Livingstone, Zambia (December 2024); the Standing Committees of the SADC PF Sessions held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in April 2025, laying the groundwork for a proposed Model Law on Prison Oversight; and the Inaugural Executive Committee Orientation in Windhoek from 28 April to 1 May 2025,” said Adv Mudenda.

He said 12 Member Parliaments have confirmed participation and will be led by the Rt Honourable Justin Tokely — Speaker of the National Assembly, Madagascar and President of SADC PF.

Chief Fortune Charumbira,president of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) will also deliver a solidarity speech.

He said delegates are hosted across Victoria Falls’ premier venues, supported by a co-ordinated national protocol and logistical support from the Parliament and Government of Zimbabwe.

“A vibrant cultural and entertainment programme complements the formal proceedings, featuring a Welcome Dinner, a Rainforest Tour, Zambezi Sunset Cruise and a grand Farewell Gala at The Boma, all celebrating regional identity and strengthening inter-parliamentary solidarity,” said Adv Mudenda.

The 57th Plenary Assembly affirms SADC PF’s vision of a digitally empowered and forward-looking region.

@nyeve14

Africa Road Builders - Angolan President João Lourenço Receives 2025 'Great Builder' Babacar Ndiaye Prize On Sidelines of African Development Bank Annual Meetings

30 May 2025

African Development Bank (Abidjan)

On Wednesday evening in Abidjan, at the official "Africa Road Builders" awards ceremony, the 2025 "Great Builder" Babacar Ndiaye Super Prize was awarded to João Lourenço, the President of Angola.

The event was held on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group. In the absence of the winner, the award was presented to Victor Hugo Guilherme, Angolan Minister of Planning - representing President Lourenço - by the Bank's Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Mike Salawou.

Alassane Ndiaye, son of former Bank Group President Babacar Ndiaye (1985-1995), took the floor to express his gratitude for the honour bestowed on his late father.

President Lourenço was announced as the winner of the 2025 award in April in Dubai for his contribution to major transport infrastructure projects in Angola, such as the Lobito Corridor, a strategic regional rail line between Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the construction of the new António Agostinho Neto International Airport, the extension of the national road network, and the launch of the Luanda light metro project.

"The award aims to honour road builders, transport visionaries and creators of Africa's future," said Barthélémy Kouamé, General Commissioner of Africa Road Builders.

Maimounatou Ndiaye Diop, Senior Infrastructure Specialist at the Bank, paid tribute to Babacar Ndiaye and his fair vision of infrastructure, one of the continent's development levers. She also highlighted the actions of the current President of the Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, in particular the "High 5" strategy, the operational priorities launched under his leadership which "have enabled the construction or upgrading of more than 20,000 kilometres of roads".

In addition, a "Great Builder" Special Prize was presented to Alassane Ouattara, the President of Côte d'Ivoire, and the aforementioned Adesina, for their transformative work in the field of transport and connectivity infrastructure.

The "Builder" Special Prize went to Hossam Mostafa, Egypt's Deputy Minister of Transport, Roads and Bridges.

The Babacar Ndiaye Africa Road Builders Prize is awarded by Acturoutes, a platform that provides information on the road network and infrastructure in Africa, and the organisation Media for Infrastructure and Finance in Africa (MIFA), a network of African journalists specialising in road infrastructure. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the prize, which recognises the builders of Africa.

Other accolades

The "Builder" Prize was awarded to:

Kpandji Automobiles (Koume NDa NGoran, CEO) - Côte d'Ivoire

La Congolaise des routes (Jacques Almaless, Managing Director) - Congo

REMEDES Côte d'Ivoire (Marc R. Kouassi, Country Manager) - Côte d'Ivoire

Diakité Holding (Alahassane and Fousseni Diakité, CEO and COO) - Côte d'Ivoire

AGEROUTE Côte d'Ivoire (Fabrice Coulibaly, General Manager) - Côte d'Ivoire

Moonlight Company (Tarek Rizk, Chairman of the Board) - Egypt

Al Saada Group (Said Mahmoud) - Egypt

Think Tank RDC Stratégie (Bodom Matungulu, President) - RDC

Direction générale des infrastructures routières de Côte d'Ivoire (Kouakou Yao Germain, General Manager) - Côte d'Ivoire

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

Five African Nations Pledge $16 Million in Historic 220 Percent Funding Surge for Continent's Development

29 May 2025

African Development Bank (Abidjan)

In a move underscoring greater African ownership in development financing, five African nations have collectively pledged $16 million to the next replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group.

Governors representing The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan formalized their commitment at a constituency meeting held Monday on the sidelines of the Bank Group's Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The meeting also honored the leadership contributions of Sierra Leone's Finance Minister, Sheku Bangura, chair of the constituency's governors, and Rufus Darkortey, Executive Director, both of whom were completing their terms.

"Three years ago, the road looked steep," Chair Bangura reflected. "But together, we turned challenges into stepping stones, building resilience, amplifying our voice, and unlocking greater financing flows for our countries."

Darkortey noted that the new commitments represented the first time all five countries belonging to a constituency of the Bank had contributed to the ADF. "This is a powerful message that Africa is not just a recipient but a partner in shaping its own future," he affirmed.

The increased pledges, up from a collective $5 million in the previous cycle, signal growing commitment among African countries to bolster home-grown financing solutions. Ghana's pledge rose to $5 million, while Sudan, Liberia, and Sierra Leone each pledged $3 million, with the Gambia committing $2 million. This has raised the total number of contributing African countries from 8 to 13 - a 62.5 percent increase in continental participation.

The meeting also welcomed two new Governors: Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana's newly appointed Finance Minister, and Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Liberia's new Minister for Finance and Development Planning. Both are expected to play crucial roles in shaping the constituency's forward-looking strategy.

Beyond funding, the constituency reaffirmed its commitment to domestic resource mobilization as a cornerstone of sustainable development. Reforms in the Gambia doubled its tax-to-GDP within two years. Ghana's digital revenue systems and improved compliance frameworks have enhanced its fiscal space. Liberia was selected as the pilot country for the Bank's Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank initiative and saw the Bank commit $40 million toward the Ghana SME Growth Opportunity Fund.

During his tenure, Executive Director Darkortey led 17 missions across member countries, strengthening the Bank's operational footprint. Plans are underway to establish a Bank office in The Gambia, while Ghana is receiving targeted macroeconomic support. Liberia's Coastal Highway Phase I is being considered for approval in 2025, and Sierra Leone's country office construction continues alongside the Lungi Bridge project. Sudan received emergency crisis response and food security support.

As the constituency transitions to a new leadership, Bangura outlined a strategic vision aimed at positioning member countries as active partners rather than passive recipients.

"The message from the Bank and development partners is clear: future resources will hinge on performance, selectivity, and a reduced grant component in financing," he noted. "This is our moment to position our countries not as passive recipients but as agile reformers and credible investment destinations."

The constituency's future strategy includes transitioning from ADF to African Development Bank financing, attracting private capital, transforming remittance flows into development instruments, and maintaining vigilant engagement in Bank governance.

"We may not control global tides, but we can control how we navigate them. The storm is strong. But so is our resolve, our unity, and our future," Bangura stated, reflecting on the progress made and challenges ahead.

Darkortey urged member to mainstream domestic resource mobilization in their national strategies and prioritize domestic private-sector development. "If you get Domestic Resource Mobilization and the private domestic sector right, your development will be stronger and faster," he said.

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

Kenya's Engagement With Somaliland Raises Somali Sovereignty Concerns

30 May 2025

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Nairobi, May 30 — Kenya's recent actions, including allowing the self-declared Republic of Somaliland to open a liaison office in Nairobi and facilitating a meeting between President William Ruto and Somaliland leader Abdirahman Irro, have drawn criticism from Somalia, which views these moves as violations of its sovereignty.

Somaliland said the meeting between Ruto and Irro focused on:

1. Bilateral Cooperation - including the promotion of trade, investment, economic development, and enhanced air connectivity.

2. Peace and Regional Stability - with a shared commitment to countering violent extremism, fostering regional security, and supporting peacebuilding efforts in the Horn of Africa.

3. Education and Institutional Development - focusing on academic exchange, capacity-building of public institutions, and expanding vocational training opportunities for youth.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relationship between Somaliland and Kenya -- a partnership anchored in mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for peace, stability, and prosperity across the region.

While Kenya maintains that its policy on Somaliland remains unchanged, acknowledging Somalia as a single entity with federal regions, these developments have strained relations between the two countries.

Kenya reiterated that it considers Somalia as one entity and engages with its federal units in a manner that sustains the unity of Somalia and friendship with Kenya.

The establishment of the Somaliland liaison office and the meeting between the Kenyan and Somaliland leaders mark a significant deepening of ties between Nairobi and Hargeisa.

However, these actions have not been recognized internationally, and Somaliland's sovereignty remains unacknowledged by the global community.

The situation underscores the delicate balance Kenya must maintain in its foreign policy, navigating its relations with both Somalia and Somaliland amid ongoing regional complexities.

Read the original article on Shabelle.

Somalia Opposition Leaders' Summit Enters Second Day Amid Push for Unified Political Front

Shabelle Media Network

Scuffle In Somali Parliament (file photo).

29 May 2025

Radio Dalsan (Mogadishu)

MOGADISHU -- The national summit of Somalia's opposition political leaders has entered its second day in Mogadishu, continuing intensive deliberations aimed at forging a unified stance on key national issues and establishing a joint leadership body to represent the opposition bloc.

The high-level political gathering, which officially opened yesterday, May 28, 2025, brings together prominent figures from various opposition parties, including former government officials, party leaders, and political activists. The conference is expected to conclude on May 30, with a joint communiqué anticipated to be released summarizing the outcomes and consensus positions reached.

The opposition summit comes at a politically sensitive time for Somalia, as the country faces growing security threats, uncertainties surrounding the next electoral process, and increasing demands for inclusive governance. Opposition parties have long criticized what they perceive as opaque decision-making by the federal government and are now seeking to establish a unified political voice that can more effectively challenge or influence policy.

According to organizers, the primary aim of the summit is to strengthen coordination among opposition parties, articulate a common political vision, and form a central body or council that can act as the legitimate representative of the opposition in dealings with the federal government and international partners.

Electoral Framework and Transparency:

Participants are engaged in intense debate over the expected electoral model for the upcoming national elections. Opposition leaders are demanding a transparent, inclusive, and fair electoral system that avoids manipulation and reflects the will of the people. Proposals have been floated for constitutional and legal reforms to ensure future elections are free and credible.

National Security Concerns:

The deteriorating security situation, especially ongoing Al-Shabaab attacks, has drawn serious concern. Opposition leaders have called for a clear, coordinated, and accountable national security policy, urging the government to prioritize rebuilding national security institutions and enhancing cooperation with regional states and international partners.

Internal Opposition Unity:

A central theme of the summit is the unity of opposition forces. Discussions are focused on how to overcome internal divisions and form a unified political council or alliance that can engage more effectively with state institutions and international stakeholders. Names of potential candidates to lead this council are being floated, with behind-the-scenes negotiations reportedly ongoing.

The diversity of the attendees underscores the broad appeal and urgency of the agenda. It also reflects the growing frustration among opposition circles over the lack of meaningful consultation in government decisions and national reconciliation processes.

Analysts view the summit as a pivotal moment in Somalia's fragile political landscape. If the opposition can emerge with a unified leadership and coherent strategy, it could reshape the balance of political power and increase pressure on the federal government to engage in more inclusive governance.

"This is not just a political gathering -- it's a defining test of whether Somalia's opposition can act as a responsible, unified alternative to the current administration," said political analyst Fartun Ibrahim, speaking from Mogadishu.

Sources inside the summit suggest that tough negotiations are underway over who will chair the proposed opposition council, with several high-profile names under consideration. A final declaration or joint statement is expected by May 30, which will outline the opposition's collective position on elections, governance, and national priorities.

Observers say that international partners are closely watching the developments, particularly given Somalia's volatile security environment and the need for inclusive political stability ahead of critical elections.

As the opposition summit moves into its final day, much hinges on whether the attendees can rise above party differences to form a cohesive political front. Success could signal a new phase of political maturity and democratic competition in Somalia. Failure, on the other hand, could deepen fragmentation and weaken the opposition's ability to hold the government accountable.

All eyes are now on Mogadishu as political stakeholders -- and the Somali public -- await the outcome of what may become a turning point in Somalia's democratic evolution.

Read the original article on Radio Dalsan.

Death Toll Reaches 151 in North-central Nigerian Town Submerged in Floods, With Thousands Displaced

By TAIWO ADEBAYO and CHINEDU ASADU

10:14 AM EDT, May 31, 2025

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The death toll from devastating flooding in a market town in Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger rose to at least 151 on Saturday, the local emergency service said, amid efforts to find more victims.

Torrents of predawn rainfall early Thursday unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, nearly 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Abuja and a major trading and transportation hub where northern Nigerian farmers sell beans, onions and other food to traders from the south.

A woman sits in a flooded area after heavy rainfall in the market town of Mokwa, north-central Nigeria, Saturday May 31, 2025. 

The spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, confirmed the updated fatality count to The Associated Press on Saturday. In addition to the rising death toll, 11 people were injured and more than 3,000 people were displaced, the official added.

At least 500 households across three communities were affected by the sudden and intense flood that built rapidly in about five hours, leaving roofs barely visible and surviving residents waist-deep in water, trying to salvage what they could and rescue others.

Husseini added that two roads were washed away and two bridges collapsed.

In a statement on Friday night, President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences and said he had directed the activation of an emergency response to support victims and “accelerate” recovery.

He said that security agencies have also been asked to assist in emergency operations, which remain underway amid concerns that more bodies could be recovered in remote areas.

“Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay,” the president said, promising “no Nigerian affected will be left behind or unheard of.”

Flooding is common during Nigeria’s wet season. Communities in northern Nigeria have been experiencing prolonged dry spells worsened by climate change and excessive rainfall that leads to severe flooding during the brief wet season. But this flood has been particularly deadly in Mokwa, a farming region near the banks of the River Niger.

Mokwa community leader Aliki Musa told the AP the villagers are not used to such flooding.

The chairman of the Mokwa local government area, Jibril Muregi, told local news website Premium Times that construction of flood-control works was long overdue.

DR Congo Imperialist-driven Minerals Deal Will Not Foster Genuine Development

By Al Mayadeen English

25 May 2025 10:12

The Democratic Republic of Congo is negotiating a US-backed minerals deal and a potential peace agreement with Rwanda to end the M23 rebellion and reduce reliance on China for mineral exports.

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are optimistic that a deal with the United States could be finalized as early as next month. The proposed agreement includes substantial US investment in critical minerals and diplomatic support to end the Rwanda-backed M23 rebellion in eastern Congo, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Sunday.

According to Reuters, a peace arrangement under negotiation would allow Congolese minerals such as tungsten, tantalum, and tin, often cited by Kinshasa as being illegally exploited by Rwanda, to be exported legally to Rwanda for processing.

Congo's Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, stated that an agreement with Washington would help "diversify our partnerships," aiming to reduce the country’s current dependence on China for mineral exploitation.

The Democratic Republic of Congo holds some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals essential for global technology supply chains.

Kinshasa continues to accuse Kigali of backing the M23 rebel group and of smuggling tens of millions of dollars’ worth of minerals across the border monthly.

The plundering of these resources is seen as a major driver of the ongoing conflict in the east, which has escalated since January.

Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government, defended Kigali’s military posture, saying Rwanda’s defensive measures along the border will remain in place as long as threats and insecurity persist in the DRC.

Potential hurdles to finalizing agreements

While the talks are progressing, FT reported that substantial obstacles remain. Sources close to the negotiations indicated that a finalized deal, including US investment and a peace agreement with Rwanda, was possible by the end of June, though unresolved issues could delay progress.

Senior advisor to former US President Donald Trump on African affairs, Massad Boulos, said earlier this month that Washington is pushing for a comprehensive summer agreement combining peace efforts and Western mineral investment.

Last week, the United States negotiated with the DRC over the minerals agreement that could grant Washington access to critical resources in exchange for security support. However, human rights organizations warned that without formal protections for the country’s informal mining sector, such a deal could exacerbate child labor and unsafe working conditions in one of the world’s most resource-rich but vulnerable regions.

Nonprofits like the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) and academic observers say the inflow of US investment, especially in industrial mining, will inevitably stimulate artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), where labor is often informal, underregulated, and dangerous.

It is worth mentioning that the DRC holds vast reserves of cobalt and copper, key materials for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy, and military technology. Despite the presence of major mining companies, a significant share of the country's cobalt and copper is mined artisanally, often with limited oversight and high human cost.

Uganda Accuses German Envoy of Subversion, Berlin Dubs Claims 'Absurd'

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Agencies

26 May 2025 14:13

Uganda suspends military cooperation with Germany, accusing Berlin’s ambassador of subversive activity.

Uganda's military has severed all defense cooperation with Germany, accusing the German ambassador to Kampala of engaging in "subversive activities" inside the East African nation.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced the decision on Sunday, citing what it described as credible intelligence implicating Ambassador Mathias Schauer.

“The Uganda People's Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,” said UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi in a statement posted on the X platform.

He added that the move came in response to intelligence indicating Schauer was "actively engaged in subversive activities in the country.”

Magezi did not provide specific details on the nature of the allegations or on the scope of existing military cooperation between Uganda and Germany. As of publication time, Germany’s embassy in Kampala had not responded to a Reuters request for comment.

Germany slams claims as 'absurd'

In response, Germany slammed the Ugandan accusations against its ambassador to Kampala as "absurd".

"The allegations on the part of the Ugandan military are absurd and have no basis whatsoever," German foreign ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer told reporters, adding, "We reject them absolutely."

Commenting on Uganda's suspension of defense and military cooperation activities, Deschauer said that "there is no formalised military cooperation with Uganda... so there is nothing to cancel."

Kainerugaba targets envoy personally

Ugandan military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni and widely considered his political successor, also weighed in on the matter via X. “It has to do with him as a person. He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people,” Kainerugaba wrote.

Kainerugaba has a history of inflammatory social media posts, including previous threats directed at Western diplomats. His statement appeared to separate the German state from Schauer’s conduct, yet framed the ambassador as a destabilizing figure.

The decision to end UPDF-German cooperation comes amid growing friction between Uganda and the European Union. Uganda currently deploys troops to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which receives partial funding from the EU, including Germany. The impact of the UPDF’s decision on broader EU-supported operations remains unclear.

Earlier this month, Kainerugaba issued a warning to the EU, saying it was “playing with fire” after a delegation of European ambassadors held a meeting with Uganda’s main opposition party, the National Unity Platform, and its leader Bobi Wine.

The meeting angered the Ugandan government, which has grown increasingly wary of perceived foreign interference.

Germany silent as accusations mount

Ambassador Schauer has yet to publicly respond to the accusations. Germany’s federal government has also made no official statement on the matter. The absence of comment leaves open questions about the credibility of the intelligence cited by the UPDF and whether the diplomatic standoff will escalate.

Uganda has in recent years hardened its stance toward Western criticism, and the rupture with Germany may signal a wider breakdown in military and diplomatic cooperation with European states critical of Kampala’s internal politics.

Nigeria to Commission Two Chinese-backed Lithium Processing Plants

By Al Mayadeen English

26 May 2025 21:46

Two additional processing plants are planned in Nasarawa State, adjacent to the capital, with commissioning expected before the third quarter of 2025.

Nigeria is set to commission two major lithium processing plants this year, signaling a strategic shift from exporting raw minerals to creating domestic value through processing and manufacturing, the country’s mining minister announced on Sunday.

The two facilities, largely financed by Chinese investors, are expected to boost job creation, spur technology transfer, and drive industrial growth. A $600 million lithium processing plant near the Kaduna-Niger border is scheduled to launch this quarter, while a $200 million refinery near Abuja is nearing completion, according to Mining Minister Dele Alake.

Two additional plants are also planned in Nasarawa State, adjacent to the capital, with commissioning expected before the third quarter of 2025.

Alake announced the country was focused on turning its mineral wealth into economic value at home through jobs, technology, and manufacturing.

Jiuling Lithium Mining, Canmax contribute over 80%

Chinese firms, including Jiuling Lithium Mining Company and Canmax Technologies, have funded over 80% of the total investment in the four plants, according to state governors. The remaining stakes are held by local firm Three Crown Mines. The Chinese companies have not yet commented on the projects.

This push for domestic lithium processing follows a 2022 study by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, which confirmed large deposits of high-grade lithium across several states, attracting international attention and investment.

These developments form part of a broader reform of Nigeria’s underperforming mining sector, which currently contributes less than 1% to GDP. Additional reforms include a ban on unprocessed mineral exports, formalization of artisanal mining, and the creation of a state-owned mining company allowing up to 75% private ownership.

Amnesty Warns of War Crimes Committed by M23 in Eastern DRC

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Amnesty International

28 May 2025 12:47

Amnesty International accuses M23 of war crimes in eastern DRC, including torture, killings, enforced disappearances, and hostage-taking at detention sites in Goma and Bukavu.

The Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (M23) has been accused of committing war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and the taking of civilians as hostages.

In a new report, Amnesty International said M23 detained civilians under inhumane conditions in Goma and Bukavu, in violation of international humanitarian law.

“M23’s public statements about bringing order to eastern DRC mask their horrific treatment of detainees. They brutally punish those who they believe oppose them and intimidate others, so no one dares to challenge them,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. 

Between February and April 2025, Amnesty International interviewed 18 male civilians who had been held in M23 detention sites. Nine of them reported being tortured, while others described witnessing fellow detainees die as a result of beatings and deprivation.

What happens in Goma and Bukavu detention sites?

Detainees reported being held in overcrowded, unsanitary cells without adequate food, water, or medical care. Many were denied contact with their families and held incommunicado.

One former detainee said he saw a man executed after being accused of hiding weapons. Others recounted how detainees were beaten with wooden rods, cables, and metal objects. At least two detainees described witnessing fellow prisoners being killed with hammers.

M23 has used several locations in Goma as detention sites, including the Chien Méchant facility, the provincial assembly building, the 34th military region compound, and the area near the state-run Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC).

In Bukavu, detainees were held at the main office of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) and a military camp in Bagira.

Systematic torture

All 18 former detainees said they either experienced or witnessed torture. Beatings were routine, often carried out using electric cables, engine belts, and sticks. Victims were struck on their backs, legs, buttocks, and genitals, leaving lasting injuries. Amnesty International reviewed photos consistent with accounts of torture and confirmed several cases of hospitalization.

One former detainee described a daily ritual where guards would flog prisoners under the guise of morning routines. “They said they were giving us our morning tea,” he said, referring to being whipped 10 times each morning.

Enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests

Amnesty International also documented enforced disappearances, where families were unable to locate detained relatives. M23 fighters frequently denied having individuals in custody or refused access to them. In some cases, families had to rely on intermediaries to confirm their loved ones were detained.

The arrests were often arbitrary, with M23 accusing civilians of collaborating with the Congolese army, possessing weapons, or criticizing M23 rule. Many detainees said they were never informed of the charges against them.

Hostage-taking and ransom demands

Amnesty International reported that M23 demanded ransoms from families to secure the release of detainees, with amounts ranging from several hundred to over $2,000. Eight former detainees confirmed that their families paid for their release.

One detainee said M23 fighters demanded money from his family without revealing his whereabouts, only releasing him after a payment was made.

Inhumane detention conditions

Conditions in detention sites were described as degrading and life-threatening. In some cells, detainees were forced to sleep standing up due to overcrowding. Food was limited to a daily portion of boiled corn, and there was no access to running water or proper sanitation.

“It was incredibly hot… People were drinking each other’s urine,” one detainee recalled. Toilets were few and frequently clogged, forcing detainees to defecate in makeshift containers.

Amnesty calls for immediate action

Amnesty International has called on M23 to release all arbitrarily detained civilians, disclose the whereabouts of those forcibly disappeared, and provide access to legal counsel and family members. The organization urged independent bodies to be granted access to all detention sites.

“These acts may amount to war crimes,” said Chagutah. “Congolese know all too well the cruelty of M23. They continue to live in misery as international actors have become complacent, waiting patiently for a peace deal while M23 keeps brutalizing Congolese.”

Amnesty also called on regional and international actors to pressure Rwanda to end its support for M23.

Iran Rejects IAEA Report Says it is Based on Forged Israeli Documents

By Al Mayadeen English

31 May 2025 21:34

Iran slams the IAEA's latest report as politically motivated and based on forged Israeli documents, warning of retaliatory measures.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) have strongly condemned the latest report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), describing it as a politically motivated document that disregards Iran’s cooperation and reflects continued Western violations of the 2015 nuclear agreement.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, along with the United States, have  repeatedly violated their commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, fully known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and continue imposing sanctions on Iran, describing the latest resolution as an “unjustified political step.”

The IAEA had accused Tehran of stepping up its production of highly enriched uranium.

Had the E3 countries and the US acted based on justice, they would not have issued such an unfair and repetitive report, the joint statement read.

It further criticized the IAEA for releasing the report without considering the outcomes of the recent visit by the agency’s Director General to Tehran, saying that the decision shows political intent rather than professional judgment.

IAEA's report

In its latest report, the IAEA claimed that Iran has sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60%, close to the roughly 90% level needed for atomic weapons.

In its quarterly report, the agency said that as of May 17, Iran possesses an estimated 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, marking an increase of 133.8 kilograms since the previous report in February.

According to the report, Iran's total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorized by the 2015 agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kilograms.

Israeli fingerprints all over report

Tehran stated that the report is based on forged Israeli documents, arguing that such reliance violates the IAEA’s principles regarding source credibility.

Iran stressed that "Israel", a third party not part of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), continues to threaten Iran’s peaceful nuclear program while remaining outside the international regulatory framework, although it possesses a nuclear arsenal. The statement expressed regret that the IAEA had not condemned repeated Israeli threats, despite repeated requests from Tehran.

“Unfortunately, the director general of the Agency has not taken any action despite his legal responsibilities and the repeated requests of the Islamic Republic of Iran to condemn these threats," the statement pointed out.

Iran warns against politicization at IAEA board

Iran warned that if countries attempt to exploit its constructive cooperation with the agency, especially during the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting, it will take "appropriate measures", adding that the Foreign Ministry held Western powers accountable for the consequences of what it described as an unconstructive approach.

"If some countries intend to abuse Iran's cooperation and interactions with the IAEA and its transparent and trust-building approach in the IAEA's verification activities or the current report during the Board of Governors meeting, Iran will adopt and implement appropriate measures in response to such an approach, in order to protect the country's legitimate rights and interests, the consequences and responsibility of which will have to shouldered by those countries," the statement read.

It also mentioned that the report lacks professional standards, failing to address the root causes of the current situation, particularly the unilateral US withdrawal from the agreement and the failure of European countries to fulfill their obligations.

Report lacks consensus

Iran also pointed out that many IAEA member states have not supported the resolution, calling it a clear indication of the failure of Western efforts to build consensus on punitive measures against Tehran, emphasizing that Iran’s uranium enrichment program remains under the IAEA’s supervision, conducted with full transparency and within the bounds of the NPT.

Tehran reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place in its defense doctrine, citing a religious decree by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, as the moral and strategic foundation for its peaceful nuclear stance.

"There is no place for nuclear weapons in our defense doctrine," the statement said.

Tehran further insisted that it does not accept any illegal restrictions on its sovereign right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy.

Slamming Grossi's claims of undeclared nuclear activities, Iran maintained that it has provided IAEA inspectors access to all requested sites and facilitated comprehensive inspections to disprove such allegations, arguing that the repetition of these accusations aims to incite a hostile atmosphere and undermine Iran’s international standing.

"The allegations in the [IAEA] Director General’s current report are based on allegations of a few undeclared activities and locations relating to the past decades, while Iran has repeatedly stated that it has no undeclared nuclear sites or activities," the statement read.

"According to the fundamental principles of international law, there are no barriers or limitations to the enjoyment of the inherent and inalienable right to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," it asserted.

"Iran's enrichment program is for peaceful purposes only, under full IAEA monitoring, fully transparent, and in accordance with the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA," it further read.

Western powers prepare to pressure IAEA

This comes, as earlier, Reuters reported, citing diplomatic sources, that Western powers plan to pressure the IAEA’s Board of Governors at its upcoming meeting to formally declare that Iran is not complying with its nuclear obligations.

It is worth mentioning that the “trigger mechanism” clause of the nuclear agreement nears expiration in October. Under this mechanism, any of the original signatories, the US, France, Britain, Russia, or China, could refer the issue to the UN Security Council, potentially reimposing sanctions if consensus is not reached.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran will respond forcefully if this mechanism is activated.

17 Palestinians Killed in US-Israeli Designated Aid Zones in Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Ministry of Health in Gaza

31 May 2025 23:56

UN and human rights groups continue to warn that the aid mechanism is linked to forced displacement efforts.

The death toll from the US-Israeli aid mechanism has risen to 17, with 86 others injured, in addition to 5 people reported missing, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced in a statement on X.

The Ministry detailed that one person was martyred on Thursday and five others on Friday, in areas designated by "Israel" and the US for aid distribution. It also reported that five people remain missing at the Rafah aid distribution center in the southern Gaza Strip.

Since May 27, the Israeli occupation has implemented what it calls a "humanitarian aid distribution plan" through the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a body supported by "Israel" and the United States, rejected by the United Nations, and not subject to supervision by international humanitarian organizations.

Aid distribution under this mechanism is being conducted in the so-called "buffer zones" in southern Gaza, far from the besieged northern areas.

UN, rights groups warn of forced evacuation 

The Israeli Army Radio previously admitted that the plan is intended to expedite the evacuation of residents from northern Gaza by limiting aid to four distribution points in the south.

The Gaza government and several human rights organizations have denounced the plan as a prelude to the forced displacement of Palestinians, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s proposal, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly declared as an objective of the current war.

In this context, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), criticized the aid mechanism, describing it as a "waste of resources and a distraction from the atrocities."

In its broader update, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that the total death toll from the ongoing Israeli genocide, which began on October 7, 2023, has now reached 54,381 martyrs, with 124,054 others wounded.

The Ministry continues to warn of the deteriorating humanitarian situation as efforts to impose displacement through manipulated aid channels persist.

Earlier today, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Israeli military continued its devastating war on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 22 people in airstrikes across multiple areas since Saturday dawn.

Our correspondent confirmed the martyrdom of two people and the injury of others by occupation gunfire as they attempted to reach the aid center of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, west of Rafah, in the southern part of the enclave.

Several people were wounded when Israeli warplanes struck a home in the al-Saftawi area north of Gaza City, as the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for Gaza City and much of northern Gaza, specifically the al-Zaytun, al-Tuffah, and Jabalia al-Balad neighborhoods, forcing residents to flee under ongoing bombardment.

US Envoy Calls Hamas Ceasefire Response 'Totally Unacceptable'

By Al Mayadeen English

As US envoy Steve Witkoff deems Hamas' response to the Gaza ceasefire proposal "totally unacceptable", Hamas affirms it has not rejected the deal.

United States Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff criticized Hamas on Saturday over its response to a Washington-backed ceasefire proposal, describing the group’s position as “totally unacceptable," saying it “only takes us backward.”

In a post on X, Witkoff claimed that Hamas should immediately agree to the framework proposal presented by the US as the basis for indirect talks, saying, “That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages (captives) and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families.”

The envoy insisted that proximity talks could begin as soon as next week if Hamas accepts the deal, and emphasized the need for “substantive negotiations in good-faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire.”

Responding to Witkoff’s remarks, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters that the group had not rejected the proposal. Rather, he said Hamas was seeking amendments, particularly in light of what he called an incompatible response from the Israeli side.

Naim criticized the US envoy’s rhetoric, stating that his stance was “unfair” and demonstrated “complete bias” in favor of the Israeli position. He reiterated that Hamas’s engagement with the proposal was genuine, but hinged on modifications that addressed the group's concerns.

The proposed deal, according to earlier reports, includes a 60-day truce and the phased release of captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being held by Israeli occupation authorities. While Washington and Tel Aviv have claimed to support the initiative, Hamas and other Palestinian Resistance factions' demands for amendments have exposed deep divide over the deal’s terms.

Their demands include:

The unconditional flow of humanitarian aid

Commencement of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip

Full withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza

Return of displaced Palestinians to their homes

Initiative for national leadership

The factions revealed they are working on an initiative to halt the famine, provide emergency shelter, and stop the ongoing genocide. This initiative also aims to:

Establish a temporary and acceptable national leadership to manage Gaza during truce periods

Ensure stability and administrative continuity

Create a political opening that restores hope to the Palestinian people

Old City of Gaza Devastated by Israeli Bombing – New Resistance Operations

May 31, 2025

Israel continued to carry out massacres in Gaza. (Photo: social media, via QNN)

Scores of Palestinians were killed in intensified Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including at a US-linked aid center, as Palestinian resistance factions launched new operations.

Dozens of Palestinians were killed in intense Israeli shelling across several areas of the Gaza Strip today, Saturday, including individuals attempting to reach an aid center run by an American company.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian resistance carried out a series of operations against occupation forces.

The Ministry of Health in the Strip reported documenting the killing of 60 Palestinians and injury of 284 others due to Israeli shelling within the last 24 hours, according to its report issued this afternoon.

This raises the total to 54,381 killed and 124,054 injured since the start of the Israeli genocidal war in October 2023, according to ministry data.

Sources at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, reported the killing of at least 15 Palestinians in Israeli airstrikes on several areas in the Strip.

The same sources also stated that four people were killed by Israeli occupation fire while attempting to reach the American company’s aid center west of Rafah city. These incidents are part of repeated Israeli targeting since these centers opened days ago, under an Israeli-American plan, which has resulted in dozens of killed and injured.

Bombing the Old City

In the Old City, east of Gaza City, Israeli occupation aircraft targeted Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, causing the complete destruction of one building and significant damage to other buildings and commercial shops.

Meanwhile, sources at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City reported the killing of 10 Palestinians in airstrikes on several areas in the Strip.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported the killing of four Palestinians and injuries to others in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle carrying civilians near the Al-Sahaba Medical Complex in central Gaza City.

The correspondent explained that this shelling occurred in an area crowded with displaced people, close to the popular Al-Sahaba market, leading to panic among citizens, especially children and women.

Similarly, a medical source at Al-Shifa Complex reported the killing of a Palestinian man, his wife, and three of their children in a drone strike that targeted their tent in the Ard al-Shanti area north of Gaza City. The family had reportedly been displaced from their area due to continuous shelling and sought refuge in a small before it was struck.

According to the Civil Defense, the Israeli occupation has shelled 60 homes, including dozens of apartments and hundreds of families, in less than 48 hours in Gaza City and the northern Strip.

Resistance Operations

On the other hand, the Israeli army stated this evening that it detected several rocket launches towards the Gaza envelope that landed in open areas. This came after sirens sounded in sites in the southern Gaza envelope.

For its part, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, announced via Telegram that it shelled a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers and vehicles with mortar shells in the vicinity of the Customs Police checkpoint area located in the southeast of Khan Yunis city.

The Brigades also broadcast footage of planting and detonating a high-explosive barrel bomb on an Israeli military vehicle during its incursion east of Khan Yunis.

Earlier, footage was broadcast showing the booby-trapping and detonation of a house fortified by an Israeli force east of Al-Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City.

For its part, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas, announced that its fighters “confirmed – after returning from the front lines – trapping an Israeli infantry force in a tight ambush in the Atatrah area of Beit Lahia”, located in the northern Strip, last Tuesday.

The Brigades also stated that their fighters engaged the same Israeli force at point-blank range with light weapons, leaving them between dead and wounded.

The Israeli army stated that it attacked dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, including buildings it claimed Hamas operatives worked from, in addition to reconnaissance and sniping points. It also announced that a paratrooper force engaged and ‘eliminated’ four armed Palestinians and destroyed explosive devices.

The Israeli army launched a new military operation on May 18, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots,” as part of the ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

These new Israeli plans include the complete occupation of the Palestinian Strip, according to statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of committing war crimes in Gaza.

(AJA, PC, Telegram)

ISIS, CIA and the GHF: Israel’s New Frontier of Control Through Hunger

May 30, 2025

Gaza aid center was overrun by starving crowds. (Photo: video grab)

By Robert Inlakesh

Again, this plan will likely fail. But the mere fact that there is an active effort to launch this initiative represents a whole new level of depravity.

The Israeli-backed Gaza aid distribution plan, now being implemented in the besieged coastal territory, is a sinister plot. It not only privatizes humanitarian assistance during a genocide, but the more that emerges about the shady Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the more horrifying its prospects appear.

What has been revealed as the brainchild of the Israeli military, which began developing following October 7, 2023, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is a recipe for utter disaster.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office chose the private company, while a US official speaking to France 24 labelled the whole project “very much an Israeli idea”.

Not only has every major humanitarian organization, in addition to the United Nations’ various organs and experts, either refused to work with or openly condemned it, its Executive Director Jake Wood resigned from the project only a day before it began operating.

Wood, who is a former US Marine sniper and entrepreneur, explained his decision to jump ship at the last moment in an official statement:

“It is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon.”

Reading in between the lines here, it is very likely that Wood began to detect signs of the inevitable catastrophe that would befall his career if he was going to continue down the path he was headed. In addition to the blood that would be on his hands.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was first registered in Switzerland in February, by David Papazian, formerly with the Armenian National Interests Fund; Samuel Marcel Henderson; and David Kohler. None of them have experience in the humanitarian aid field.

Then the GHF was registered again in Delaware, by American lawyer, James Cundiff, who also registered the private military firm called Safe Reach Solutions. This military contractor firm is run by a former CIA paramilitary chief, Philip P. Reilly, who also has a past of working with Constellis; the rebranded version of Blackwater.

It was also reported that unnamed firms linked to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have direct ties to Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Even worse for the project’s PR is the fact that Israeli Knesset member, Avigdor Lieberman, claimed that the dark money funding the GHF was coming from the Israeli government.

“The money for the humanitarian aid is coming from the Mossad and the Defense Ministry”, Lieberman asserted. While noting that he did not have conclusive proof, the Israeli opposition official claimed: “You have a foundation that appeared out of nowhere, and a company operating without a background or experience…It seems obvious”. 

“Even if they’re US-registered, the entity that initiated and pushed for the operation is Israel or parties acting on its behalf”, Lieberman said. He also qualified his assertions by stating that “It’s being done in a blatant and clumsy way,” which Haaretz claims would cost a minimum of 140 million USD per month to finance.

The idea here is not only to establish a number of aid distribution points that will be managed by private military contractors, but to force the population of Gaza – through the weaponization of hunger – to relocate towards militarized concentration camps.

When they arrive at the distribution points, as we have repeatedly witnessed, they are herded like cattle and threatened by ex-American soldiers who carry automatic weapons and hand grenades.

Keeping all of this information in mind, former private military contractor (PMC) for the infamous firm Blackwater, Morgan Lerette, told the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft that “Aside from the danger, putting armed US civilians in an active battlefield to feed locals, is reminiscent of Somalia in 1993. We can only hope it doesn’t end in a similar fashion”.

Lerette was referencing the infamous ‘Black Hawk Down’ incident, which led to the mass slaughter of innocent civilians. 

I would also personally posit that the situation we are seeing develop, assuming this continues along its current trajectory, will unleash another Nisour Square massacre situation.

The Nisour Square incident is one of the most notorious civilian slaughters carried out at the hands of Blackwater PMC’s, which came to represent the catastrophic failure of the US Iraq invasion and subsequent “nation building” project.

Back to Jake Wood, it is likely that he saw what was coming, given the evident logistical nightmare afoot and decided to save himself before everything started. As we saw on day one of the aid distribution in Rafah, starving civilians in Gaza began rushing towards the aid supplies, causing American military contractors to run in fear as Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds.

It is perfectly obvious that more serious horrors are lurking in the near distant future and that when a major incident occurs, the GHF will end up being the scapegoat. Blackwater, for all its horrors, was the convenient outlet for the US military to share the blame for their war crimes in Iraq to a private company. 

This ended up taking its CEO Erik Prince, from the star-child right hand man of the US army and CIA, to a man that is still desperately trying to claw his way back to prominence with a highly tainted past, often driving away potential business partners. At least this was the predicament of Prince until the Trump administration returned to power.

Ethnic Cleansing and Israel’s ISIS-linked Militias

If you thought things couldn’t get worse, the plot again thickens. Israel is now backing ISIS-linked criminals, drug lords and murderers, who they have been working alongside in the southern Gaza “buffer-zone” after their invasion of the area on May 6, 2024.

These gangsters, many of whom had escaped from Hamas-run prisons after Israel bombed the entrances to Gaza’s jails, banded together in groups of hundreds and began looting aid. Led by ISIS-linked warlords like Yasser Abu Shabab and Shadi al-Sufi, hundreds of armed criminals – who formerly belonged to groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and/or were jailed for narcotics smuggling, murder and theft – exploited the suffering population of gaza.

These fanatical gangsters have worked in the “buffer zone” that is considered a “kill zone”, where no civilian can enter without being murdered by Israeli strikes and even aid/medical workers have been killed there. Their job is simple, under the watchful eye of Israeli drones, they demand a fee be paid by any aid organization transferring humanitarian goods into Gaza.

Even when humanitarian organizations have paid these fees, these gangsters still launch armed ambushes on aid convoys, hoarding goods and even taking aid workers hostage. Storing the aid in warehouses, positioned in some cases only hundreds of meters away from Israeli forces, they slowly drip feed the aid to sellers on the black-market.

This practice continued up until the Gaza ceasefire was declared on January 19. Even during the ceasefire, the gangs made trouble, but when Israel decided to violate the agreement with Hamas and return to bombarding the besieged territory and deprived it of all aid for 80 days, they began working again.

This prompted Hamas to form the Arrow Force, consisting of Gaza’s remaining police and security services, who were tasked with cracking down on black-market trade, violent crimes, assaults on security personnel and looting by these criminal elements.

Suddenly, as aid began entering Gaza in very small portions, these gangsters emerged again, but this time they were wearing brand new tactical vests, Palestinian flag patches and had badges reading “Anti-Terror Services”.

According to various sources, in addition to Israel’s own proposals from last year, these gangsters are being prepared as an opposition force that is being used to create “Hamas free zones”. They are even said to be preparing to work with the American private military contractors who lead the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

They have now undergone a makeover and claim to be victims of Hamas, alleging that they are the ones who are securing the aid. This fits into Israeli propaganda that blames Hamas for the looting. However, the UN, in addition to all the rights groups and humanitarian agencies who have commented on the issue, state that there are no recorded cases of Hamas looting and instead it is the gangs.

Inside Gaza, there is also a problem with collaborators who are helping to push an anti-Hamas narrative to the benefit of the gangs – which have clear links to ISIS in the Sinai – which occurred recently when civilians stormed a World Food Program warehouse. One man in the video made a statement against Hamas, making it seem like the Palestinian group was hoarding aid and the warehouse being stormed belonged to them. This was then shared on Israeli government pages across social media, as “proof” that Hamas is looting aid.

Evidently, the warehouse in Deir al-Balah had nothing to do with Hamas, but the Israelis are attempting to latch on to anything in order to push their narrative.

While most Palestinians in Gaza are aware of the gangsters and their agendas, they are now being heavily backed by Israel to carry out specific tasks. In addition to this, Israel is constantly bombing Palestinian security forces and police officers who are trying to tackle the gang problem, while also pushing anti-Hamas propaganda and even offering financial rewards to desperate civilians who are willing to help them.

The evidence is all there and the conclusion is obvious. Israel is trying to replace the Palestinian security apparatus that is under the current rule of Hamas, with an ISIS-linked movement of gangsters who they have given a makeover to and are presenting them as a legitimate opposition force. In other words, it is a civil war strategy.

If the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation plot succeeds at taking over all aid distribution, it would force the civilian population into concentrated areas where the US military contractors and gangsters, alongside the Israeli army, would maintain de facto control of their lives. Although this is unlikely to work the way they are planning, this is a clear agenda that is being hatched and all the evidence points towards this being the case.

Just to be clear, Hamas has spent nearly two decades fighting against Al-Qaeda linked groups, and ISIS, when it hatched its Gaza wing in 2015. Israel is empowering these individuals, along with common criminals. A strategy of forcing these gangsters upon the people of Gaza through the weaponization of mass starvation.

If all of the indications noted in this article end up leading to their natural conclusions, then it is safe to say that this GHF plot is one of the most sinister agendas in modern history. Unfortunately, almost none of these crucial issues have been addressed and there is no transparency with what is unfolding under the new Gaza aid distribution scheme. There is also an evident desire from at least a segment of the Israeli leadership that seeks to use this plot as a means to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip.

Again, this plan will likely fail. But the mere fact that there is an active effort to launch this initiative represents a whole new level of depravity. The worst part, this is all privatized, meaning that people are profiting off of the ongoing genocide.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

Gaza Ceasefire – Full Translation of Hamas’ Response to Witkoff Proposal

May 31, 2025

File photo of prisoner exchange deal during the January ceasefire. (Photo: via social meida, QNN)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Al-Jazeera Arabic website says that it had “obtained a copy of Hamas’ response to the proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and prisoner exchange.”

A short time ago, the Palestinian Resistance movement announced that it had delivered its response to mediators today, Saturday, aiming for a “permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and guaranteed aid flow to our people in the Strip.”

Hamas’ response includes the release of ten living Israeli prisoners and 18 bodies in several phases. In exchange, an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners would be released during a 60-day ceasefire, during which negotiations would take place to end the war and ensure Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Below is the text of Hamas’ response, submitted on May 31, according to the document published by Al-Jazeera.

Editor’s Note: The document was produced in Arabic by Al-Jazeera and translated by the Palestine Chronicle below. Therefore, please note that the English translation provided here is not the official response from Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

Framework for Negotiating a Permanent Ceasefire Agreement

Duration: A 60-day ceasefire. President Trump guarantees Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire during the agreed-upon period.

Release of Israeli Prisoners and Bodies: 10 living Israeli prisoners and 18 bodies will be released. This includes 4 living prisoners on day one, 2 living prisoners on day 30, and 4 living prisoners on day 60. As for the bodies, 6 will be handed over on day 10, 6 on day 30, and 6 on day 50.

Aid and Humanitarian Situation: 

Aid will enter Gaza immediately upon approval of the ceasefire agreement, according to the humanitarian protocol stipulated in the January 19, 2025 agreement, through the United Nations, its agencies, and other organizations, including the Red Crescent.

Rehabilitation of infrastructure (electricity, water, sanitation, communications, and roads) and entry of necessary materials, including construction materials. Rehabilitation and operation of hospitals, health centers, schools, and bakeries in all areas of the Strip.

Allowing residents of the Strip to travel to and from the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing without any restrictions, and the return of goods and commercial traffic.

During the negotiation period, arrangements and plans for the reconstruction of homes, facilities, and infrastructure destroyed during the war, and support for war-affected groups, will be finalized. The implementation of the Gaza Strip’s reconstruction plan will begin for 3 to 5 years under the supervision of several countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.

Israeli Military Activities: All Israeli military activities in Gaza will cease upon the entry into force of this agreement. During the ceasefire period, aerial activity (military and reconnaissance) in the Gaza Strip will cease for 10 hours daily, and for 12 hours during prisoner and detainee exchange days.

Israeli Forces Withdrawal: On day one, 4 living Israeli prisoners will be released. Israeli forces will withdraw to their positions prior to March 2, 2025, in all areas of the Gaza Strip, according to the maps stipulated in the January 19, 2025, agreement.

Negotiations: On day one, indirect negotiations will begin under the sponsorship of the mediating guarantors for a permanent ceasefire, covering the following topics:

Keys and conditions for the exchange of all remaining Israeli prisoners for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Declaration of a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

(After agreement on the exchange of remaining prisoners and bodies, and before the handover procedures begin, a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip will be announced).

“Day After” Arrangements in Gaza:

An independent technocrat committee will immediately begin managing all affairs of the Gaza Strip upon the start of this agreement’s implementation, with full powers and responsibilities.

Cessation of mutual military (hostile) operations between the two parties for a long period (5-7 years) guaranteed by the mediators (United States, Egypt, Qatar).

Presidential Support: The President is serious about the parties’ commitment to the ceasefire agreement and insists that negotiations during the temporary ceasefire, if successfully concluded with an agreement between the parties, will lead to a permanent resolution of the conflict.

Release of Palestinian Prisoners and Bodies: In exchange for the release of the 10 living Israeli prisoners and 18 bodies, an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and bodies will be released. Living prisoners and bodies will be released simultaneously and according to an agreed-upon mechanism.

Status of Prisoners and Detainees: On day 10, Hamas will provide information on the number of living and dead among the remaining prisoners held by Hamas and Palestinian factions. In return, Israel will provide full information on all living and dead prisoners captured from the Gaza Strip’s residents since October 7, 2023. Hamas commits to ensuring the health, care, and security of Israeli detainees immediately upon the ceasefire. In return, Israel commits to ensuring the health, care, and security of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention centers according to international law and norms.

Release of Remaining Prisoners: Negotiations regarding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza should be completed within 60 days. Upon agreement and after the declaration of a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the remaining prisoners (living and dead) from Israel’s provided list of 58 will be released in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners.

Guarantors: The mediating guarantors (United States, Egypt, Qatar) guarantee the continuation of the ceasefire for 60 days and guarantee the continuation of negotiations until a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached, with the cessation of military operations and the entry of humanitarian aid.

Envoy to Head Negotiations: Special Envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff will come to the region to finalize the agreement. Witkoff will head the negotiations.

President Trump: President Trump will personally announce the ceasefire agreement. The United States and President Trump are committed to working to ensure that negotiations continue seriously until a final agreement is reached.

(Al-Jazeera Arabic – Translated by The Palestine Chronicle)

‘We Must Not Fail’: Gaza Tribunal Urges End to Genocide, Zionism, Impunity

May 31, 2025

A public session of the Gaza TribunaL in Sarajevo. (Photo: via International University of Sarajevo)

By Romana Rubeo  

In its final declaration, the Gaza Tribunal in Sarajevo outlined a comprehensive call for global accountability, resistance, and the dismantling of systems that sustain the oppression of Palestinians.

In a sweeping and uncompromising final declaration, the Gaza Tribunal convened in Sarajevo condemned the “continuing genocide in Palestine,” holding Israel responsible for a wide range of crimes including apartheid, settler colonialism, and systematic extermination.

The Gaza Tribunal was formally launched in London in November 2024 by a coalition of academics, intellectuals, human rights advocates, and representatives from civil society organizations.

Led by Richard Falk, international law expert and former UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, the Gaza Tribunal aims to provide a platform for the “comprehensive examination of legal, ethical, and geopolitical dimensions” of the “ongoing crises” in the Gaza Strip “through the lens of international law and human rights,” according to a media statement.

“We, the members of the Gaza Tribunal, having gathered in Sarajevo from 26 to 29 May 2025, declare our collective moral outrage at the continuing genocide in Palestine,” the declaration opened, affirming solidarity with the Palestinian people and a commitment to end impunity for “perpetrators and enablers.”

The declaration leveled fierce criticism at the Israeli regime, accusing it of “decades-long policies and practices of settler colonialism, ethno-supremacism, apartheid, racial segregation, persecution,” as well as “forced starvation” and “extermination.”

The tribunal called for the “immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces and an end to the genocide, to all Israeli military action, to forced displacement and expulsions, (and) to settlement activities.” 

It also demanded “the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners, including the thousands of Palestinian women, men and children held in abusive Israeli detention facilities.”

The declaration did not spare the international community, denouncing a “historic scandal of inaction” and urging governments and international organizations “to uphold international law, to hold perpetrators to account, and to provide immediate relief and protection to the people of Palestine.”

Western governments, media outlets, and academic institutions were all named as complicit in enabling Israeli crimes or suppressing dissent. 

The declaration condemned the “wave of persecution and crackdowns on human rights defenders, peace activists, students, academics, workers, professionals, and others,” while affirming the right to speak out and resist oppression without retaliation.

In a forceful assertion, the Tribunal declared: “We reject the unjust tactic of smearing as ‘antisemites’ or ‘supporters of terrorism’ all those who dare to speak up and act to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and to condemn the injustices and atrocities of the Israeli regime.”

Addressing the ideological underpinnings of the Israeli state, the Tribunal openly rejected Zionism, calling it “the official state ideology of the Israeli regime… of the forces that colonized Palestine,” and demanding its replacement with “a dispensation founded on equal human rights for Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others.”

The right of Palestinians to resist was upheld in terms aligned with international law.

“We recognize the right of the Palestinian people to resist foreign occupation, colonial domination, apartheid… including through the use of armed struggle, in accordance with and as recognized in international law and as affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly.”

The Tribunal praised the efforts of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in pursuing accountability for Israeli leaders, welcoming the ICJ’s “landmark advisory opinion” and urging implementation of all provisional measures in the genocide case brought by South Africa.

It also called on all states to “end all arms trade with and implement sanctions on the Israeli regime,” and to support universal efforts for “boycott, divestment, sanctions, a military embargo, (and) suspension from international organizations.”

The declaration closed with a solemn call to action for global civil society:

“We are convinced that the challenge of justice now falls to people of conscience everywhere, to civil society and to social movements, to all of us. As such, our work in the coming months will be dedicated to meeting this challenge. Palestinian lives are at stake. The international moral and legal order is at stake. We must not fail. We will not relent.”

(The Palestine Chronicle)

UK Court Orders Police Return Devices to EI Journalist Asa Winstanley

Omar Karmi

27 May 2025

Asa Winstanley speaking at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign event in Newcastle last month. The journalist was raided by police in October 2024. (Sam Bacon/Canny Candid Photography)

A British court has ruled that UK police must hand back electronic devices seized from The Electronic Intifada’s Asa Winstanley in October 2024, in what lawyers have described as a “resounding victory for press freedom.”

All seven seized items were handed back on Tuesday, Winstanley confirmed in a statement.

The recorder of London, Mark Lucraft, London’s highest circuit judge, on 13 May ruled that a search warrant used by London’s Metropolitan Police to seize seven items from Winstanley’s home was unlawfully issued.

“I am very troubled by the way in which the search warrant was drafted, approved and granted where items were to be seized from a journalist,” Judge Lucraft wrote in his ruling.

The judge also denied the police’s request for a “production order,” a legal power that can be invoked in British courts to require journalists to disclose documents in limited cases.

“Any warrant seeking material in the hands of a journalist requires extremely careful handling,” Judge Lucraft noted.

Winstanley’s legal team was less circumspect. Jude Bunting KC argued that the police had provided “a case study in how not to apply” for a search warrant.

“Wrong statute, wrong court, too wide and unbalanced,” Bunting had said in a submission the judge ultimately agreed with. “As unlawful as a search warrant application can possibly be.”

Police seized the devices in an early morning raid on Winstanley’s North London home on 17 October 2024.

Some 10 officers served the journalist with warrants and other papers they claimed authorized them to search his house and vehicle for devices and documents.

A letter addressed to Winstanley from the “Counter Terrorism Command” of the Metropolitan Police said they were investigating “possible offenses” under sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act (2006). These provisions set out the purported offense of “encouragement of terrorism.”

The raid was widely criticized, including by the National Union of Journalists, which funded Winstanley’s legal team.

The “rising use” of counter-terrorism legislation, the union wrote in a statement, is being “used against journalists as an intimidatory measure harmful to public interest journalism and press freedom.”

To date, Winstanley has not been charged with any crime.

Resounding victory

In his first statement since the ruling, the journalist called on police to drop their investigation and pay compensation.

“I call on the police to drop their ongoing investigation into my tweets and to apologize for the unlawful raid on my home and seizure of my devices,” Winstanley wrote.

“They should provide compensation for the harm caused to me and my family, as well as for any detriment to my journalistic contacts and sources.”

Tayab Ali, Winstanley’s and The Electronic Intifada’s solicitor and a partner at Bindmans law firm, said:

“This ruling is a resounding victory for press freedom and the rule of law. The police’s actions – raiding a journalist’s home under the guise of counter-terrorism – were not only unlawful, they were an egregious abuse of power aimed at intimidating a journalist whose work challenged the political status quo.”

Winstanley is not the only journalist who has run afoul of the British police’s interpretation of counter-terrorism legislation.

Independent journalists Richard Medhurst and Sarah Wilkinson, both prominently associated with reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, were detained in separate instances in August 2024. Medhurst was questioned at the UK’s Heathrow Airport while Wilkinson’s home was raided.

“The Metropolitan Police must now undertake an urgent and transparent review of how they use terrorism legislation, especially against journalists,” Ali said in a statement to The Electronic Intifada.

Winstanley’s case, he added, “highlights a deeply concerning trend: counter-terrorism powers being weaponised against critics of government policy and defenders of Palestinian rights.”

Students Continue Israeli Divestment Campaign on US Campuses

Nora Barrows-Friedman 

The Electronic Intifada Podcast 

29 May 2025

Two significant US campus divestment victories were hard-won by students and community activists in San Francisco, California, and in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

On 19 April, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Graduate Student Union democratically adopted a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for the MIT community to cut all research and financial ties with the Israeli military.

According to the MIT Coalition for Palestine, along with BDS Boston, the Industrial Liaison Program of MIT officially cut its ties with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.

After a sustained six-month campaign against the program, which included disrupting the liaison program’s conferences both in the US and in three countries in Asia, the coalition says that it sets the stage for future wins against Elbit and the Israeli military complex in the US and around the world.

Richard Solomon, an MIT doctoral student in political science and a member of the MIT coalition for Palestine, tells The Electronic Intifada Podcast that though the campaign against Israel’s technological relationship with MIT has been active for some time, the student and the community has accelerated their mobilization strategies.

“We don’t just send polite emails,” Solomon says.

“We show up to the office, we picket outside. We make the staff feel uncomfortable. We went to the MIT Museum, which is a public place tourists go, and we would have rallies there. We had waves of phone calls to the office. We went there several times. We know that Elbit itself has become a toxic asset globally.”

Solomon explains that though the university won’t admit it, the divestment was due to public pressure and growing revulsion at the genocide in Gaza.

“It’s the global awakening of public opposition to the genocide and to the aiding and abetting of that by the most prestigious and institutions in America – I think, that’s what’s doing it now,” he says.

He notes that it could have been not MIT’s, but Elbit’s own decision to “remove themselves from a community that’s extremely hostile towards it, and we would not have got to that point without the levels of mobilization we see now.”

It is only the first victory, he says, with more to come.

“We know that Elbit AI engineers continue to collaborate with MIT faculty on drone coordination projects. Those projects are often sponsored by the Israeli military itself directly. We know this violates MIT’s own rules on foreign engagements, it violates the rules of our own conscience, and it disrespects the majority mass opinion of students, faculty and people of conscience around the world.”

Liza Behrendt, an activist with BDS Boston, added that Elbit Systems is a company that they identified as a target on which to focus “both because of its particularly egregious role in violence and genocide and because of how important Elbit’s leaders see Cambridge and the surrounding Boston community … as part of their global strategy.”

Behrendt explains that Elbit “is Israel’s largest weapons dealer. They manufacture 85 percent of Israel’s military drones. Elbit describes its drones as the backbone of the Israeli [army]. And in addition, it supplies the Israeli military with tanks, munitions, surveillance towers – and being the largest weapons company that is based in Israel, it also plays a really key role in Israel’s economy, and the economy of the nation state as a whole that is continuing to inflict genocide.”

One lesson for activists, she says, is the importance of persistence.

That means “continuing to show up until we not only annoy the targets of our campaigns, but annoy people around them, so that folks who are in the general vicinity and might not be persuaded have their minds changed,” she adds.

“Despite the global upswell and support for Palestine, they may still want our targets to listen to us so that they can get some peace.”

University of San Francisco divests from four companies

Meanwhile, in California, the University of San Francisco announced plans to divest from four US weapons companies that contract with the Israeli military.

According to KQED news, “The school’s endowment fund will sell off its direct investments in Palantir, L3Harris, GE Aerospace and RTX Corporation by 1 June, the university confirmed. The four companies, which provide weapons technologies and military intelligence tools to Israel, had been specifically targeted by student activists.”

At the University of San Francisco, this divestment was won because of a similar “persistent, non-stop campaign by students, especially USF [undergraduate] students” over the last 19 months, says USF student Ani De Lira Lopez.

De Lira Lopez, a third-year undergraduate, took part in the Gaza encampments on campus.

USF is a private Jesuit institution, and is not mandated to publicly disclose its financial investments.

But the students’ demands for transparency and disclosure during the encampment protests has pushed the administration to start disclosing its investments related to Israel.

After October 2023, De Lira Lopez explains that there were rallies and protests on campus to demand that the university declare that what was happening in Gaza was a genocide – the institution still refuses to use the term, they say.

In a statement on 8 May, the university acknowledged those demands, but said that it “will not take an advocacy position.”

De Lira Lopez says that students have addressed the USF’s hypocrisy that it is a socially-conscious hub for students while it continues to invest in Israel’s atrocities.

“So we were able to educate other students on, hey, you know this school markets itself as being somewhere where you can come and change the world. Did you know that we are actively investing in genocide?”

That messaging, they say, has been “extremely powerful.”

“And I’m really proud of other students who have been able to get that messaging out there to local media, to other people in the Bay Area. And I think because we’re a Jesuit private institution, we’re in this very unique place where we’re able … to benefit off of their own messaging, the marketing that they chose to give to students in order to get them to pay $90,000 to go there,” they say.

Produced by Tamara Nassar