Mark Lattimer

"The body of evidence we collected ... leaves only one reasonable inference," said UN expert Mona Rishmawi. "The RSF acted with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Zaghawa and Fur communities in El-Fasher. These are the hallmarks of genocide."
reliefweb.int/node/4199260

Bound to be good!

Assassinating justice in Libya On 3 February, Libyan presidential candidate Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was shot dead by a team of four masked gunmen in Zintan. His killing cannot be read as an isolated security incident, nor as merely a...

Assassinating Justice in Libya

My latest piece for @ceasefirecentre.bsky.social

Read it here 👇🏽

www.ceasefire.org/assassinatin...

I sat in on the Defence Committee last week as former ministers were questioned about the MoD's Afghan data breach.

In my latest blog post for @ceasefirecentre.bsky.social, I consider what the data breach and superinjunction reveal about the culture inside the MoD and what needs to change.

Large pro-Kurdish demo outside U.K. Parliament just now. There’s a lot of concern that what happened in Suwayda is now unfolding in NE Syria.

Indeed
www.state.gov/u-s-support-...

Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United

“Contrary to the interests of the US”:
- Global Counterterrorism Forum
- International Law Commission
- Office of UN SRSG on violence against children
-Peacebuilding Commission
….
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Historic verdict: Roger Lumbala is found guilty of crimes against humanity in DR Congo..
Congratulations to all who made this happen - particularly to @mglattimer.bsky.social

Starmer tells Abramovich to 'pay up now' or face court The Prime Minister said Roman Abramovich should make good on his pledge that money from the sale of Chelsea FC would go to benefit Ukrainians

Good that the PM has intervened, but he is only repeating a threat that was first made by the UK gov 6 months ago.
Now is the time for action.
#reparations #Ukraine
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BREAKING 📣 Congolese warlord Roger Lumbala was convicted today for complicity in crimes against humanity committed during the Second #Congo War.

Minority Rights Group welcomes this decision to convict as a historic turning point for the #indigenous Bambuti.

BREAKING: Roger Lumbala found guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity
and sentenced to 30 years for operation Effacer le tableau in eastern Congo, just now at Cour d’Assises in Paris.
@minorityrights.bsky.social

Here with UN SR Francesca Albanese at @odi.global
“Absolutely Israel should pay reparations for the occupation — and those other countries who are complicit by sending arms.”

If, on the other hand, you want to know what more should be done to make sure the same mistakes aren’t repeated again and again, read the @CeasefireCentre report on strengthening UK military investigations:
ENDS
www.ceasefire.org/new-report-c...

The closure of the Iraq Fatality Investigations marks the end of 22 years of on/off investigations into British conduct in Iraq. Its final paragraph, declining again to make any recommendations, sums up the message from all those years:
6/7

Ex-soldier admits he tortured Iraqi prisoner to death for 'banter' The Black Watch private described the suffering he inflicted on the captive knowing he will not face further criminal investigation.

Five days later, Mr Mousa Ali, another civilian, was killed by the same unit. This is how the Daily Mail reported the testimony of one of the soldiers responsible:
5/7
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Despite finding that Mr Nama had been hooded, forced into stress positions and hearing from his family that his body was found bruised and bloody, the Inquiry “found no compelling evidence of ill-treatment or abuse” and concluded “Speculation about why Radhi Nama collapsed would serve no one.” 4/7

According to soldiers' testimony, Mr Nama was being questioned in an area known as “the cage”, when he asked for a glass of water and then suddenly "doubled over".
3/7

Iraq Fatality Investigations: Consolidated report into the deaths of Radhi Nama and Mousa Ali and the death of Ahmed Jabbar Kareem Ali This report records the ninth investigation into civilian deaths referred to the Inspector.

The Iraq Fatality Investigations, a judge-led inquiry, has finally concluded with almost no media coverage, despite a last shocking report into the deaths of 3 Iraqi civilians.
One of them was Radhi Nama, a 55 year old civilian. 2/7
www.gov.uk/government/p...

This is the letter received by an Iraqi family in Basra after their father was arrested. “British Forces have treated him in a good way according to the British Rules”, writes the commanding officer reassuringly.
In fact, as the officer knew very well, their father was already dead. SHORT 🧵

Special Forces heads suppressed SAS war crime evidence, inquiry hears An officer tells the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan UK Special Forces leadership was

Afghan Inquiry publishes redacted evidence from closed hearings in 2024 involving former Special Forces members, after refusing the MoD’s request to delay release.

Newly published docs reveal the Inquiry was told UKSF leadership suppressed evidence of possible war crimes.

OUT NOW: Our new report finds UK defence is ill-prepared to protect civilians from harm from UK military operations.

Full report: www.ceasefire.org/uk-defence-i...

Happening In Belfast tomorrow ⬇️
Please repost for colleagues in Northern Ireland!

EU set to endorse deal to turn frozen Russian assets into support for Ukraine The contentious proposal would see Kyiv receive €140bn (£121bn) worth of frozen Russian state assets currently held in Belgium.

"Ukraine reserved the right to decide how to allocate resources, Ms Mudra said, adding that some would have to go towards other sectors like reconstruction and victim compensation."
At least some of the "reparations loan" should be spent on #reparations for victims.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Full advisory opinion here:
www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...

Court says Israel blocked aid to Gaza for prolonged period & underlines Israel’s duty re. prohibition of starvation of civilian population as method of war. Wording reflects the GA's question, but will the Court adopt this saying-but-not-quite-saying approach in the separate genocide case? 2/3

Crushing opinion on Israel’s obligations just dropped from Intl Court of Justice. In findings that rely heavily on IHL, ICJ says that Israel’s duty under GCIV Art59 to facilitate relief schemes if the local population is inadequately supplied is *unconditional*, incl. relief provided by UNRWA.
1/3

In Honor of Françoise Hampson - Calibrating the Balance Between Military Necessity and Humanity in LOAC Practice - Lieber Institute West Point The relationship between humanity and military necessity in LOAC is often conceived and argued as a zero-sum game.

My latest on military necessity and humanity in the law of war, for @articlesofwar.bsky.social .
Check out the whole series, in honour of Françoise Hampson.
lieber.westpoint.edu/calibrating-...

Over 5,000 Ukrainians have been released from Russian prisons, many in appalling condition. They need immediate support. Don't let Merz spend the reparations loan all on weapons. 🔽

Thank you @icrc.org for your dedication and courage

The British Army did this when it sent 1 Para into Derry to police a civil rights March in 1972. Twenty-six civilians were shot and it’s still causing headlines over half a century later.
#BloodySunday