The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 17 February to 23 February 2025. Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
21 February 2025
UN Security Council urges Rwanda to stop supporting M23 in eastern DR Congo
The UN Security Council demanded that the M23 immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from all areas that it controls, “and fully reverse the establishment of illegitimate parallel administrations in the DRC territory.” The 15 members called on the Rwanda Defence Forces to stop supporting the armed group and immediately withdraw from Congolese territory “without preconditions.”
The UN Security Council reiterated their urgent appeal for all parties to conclude an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as called for by leaders from East and Southern Africa. They strongly urged the DRC and Rwanda “to return without preconditions to diplomatic talks as a matter of urgency to achieve a lasting and peaceful resolution of the protracted conflict in the region.”
21 February 2025
The Netherlands will return 113 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The Netherlands will return 113 Benin Bronzes from the Dutch State Collection to Nigeria. A press statement from the Dutch government stated that the decision was made by Eppo Bruins, Minister of Education, Culture and Science at the request of Nigeria. The announcement also acknowledged the items had been looted by British soldiers in 1897 from the Kingdom of Benin, sold, and eventually ended up in the Dutch State Collection.
Olugible Holloway, Director-General of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments, called the repatriation from the Netherlands “the single largest of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition. We thank the Netherlands for their cooperation and hope this will set a good example for other nations of the world in terms of repatriation of lost or looted antiquities.”
20 February 2025
UN Special Envoy says creating an inclusive Syrian government could help lift sanctions
According to the UN Special Envoy to Syria, creating an inclusive government in Syria in coming weeks will help determine whether Western sanctions are lifted as the country rebuilds after the ouster of former President Bashar Assad.
The U.S. and European countries have not lifted sanctions that were imposed on the Syrian government under Assad’s rule, which the new authorities have said is handicapping their ability to rebuild the country after nearly 14 years of civil war and restore essential services like state electricity. Officials from some Western countries have said they want to see if the interim rulers will follow through on their promises of inclusive governance and protecting minorities.
18 February 2025
Israel PM Netanyahu orders immediate enforcement of law banning UNRWA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed authorities to begin the immediate enforcement of a law banning the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees. The UNRWA law was passed by the Knesset with broad support, and prohibits the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and bars Israeli authorities from any contact with the agency.
UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler described the situation as an “unprecedented” challenge to multilateral humanitarian operations. “We are being evicted, declared persona non grata, and forced to relocate despite international law recognizing East Jerusalem as occupied territory,” Fowler stated. He warned that the legislation could severely impact the agency’s ability to continue providing aid, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.
18 February 2025
ICC invites Italy to provide an explanation regarding its failure to surrender Libyan general Osama Najim al-Masri
The ICC announced that Italy had until 17 March 2025 to respond to its request for explanation regarding its failure to extradite the Libyan general Osama Najim al-Masri. Al-Masri is accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity, and implicated in the mistreatment of migrants during his time in Libya.
In a document issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber I titled “Invitation to the Italian Republic to provide submissions concerning its failure to surrender Osama Elmasry / Almasri Njeem to the Court following his arrest”, the ICC formally notified Rome of the start of an official inquiry into what it considers Italy’s “non-compliance” in failing to transfer the Libyan general to The Hague. However, the Italian government's response, expected in the form of a legal memorandum, remains uncertain.
The Ministry of Justice had already been working on a document highlighting a series of inconsistencies in the procedures surrounding the arrest warrant for the Libyan commander, meaning that Italy's strategy, analysts believe, could still be undecided.