Gerrit Kurtz
@gerritkurtz.bsky.social
1K followers 210 following 310 posts
Researcher at German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP Berlin). Focus on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa (Sudan and Ethiopia). Own views. Retweets not endorsement. https://gerritkurtz.net
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gerritkurtz.bsky.social
ICC renders verdict against Ali Kushayb, one of the Janjaweed leaders active in the mass atrocities two decades ago: guilty of 27 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The sentence will be announced later. It is the first ICC judgement on #Darfur #Sudan
www.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul...
www.icc-cpi.int
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
The Emergency Response Rooms have been awareded the "Right Livelihood Award" (also known as the alternative Nobel prize). Wonderful recognition of their amazing civic activism. #Sudan
rightlivelihood.org/the-change-m...
Emergency Response Rooms - Right Livelihood
rightlivelihood.org
Reposted by Gerrit Kurtz
swp-berlin.org
Angesichts der Zuspitzung in Nahost ist eine Politik nötig, die „Jenseits der Staatsraison“ der historischen Verantwortung, den strategischen Interessen und den völkerrechtlichen Verpflichtungen Deutschlands gerecht wird", so Muriel Asseburg @swp-mea.bsky.social: www.ipg-journal.de/regionen/nah...
Höchste Zeit zur Kurskorrektur
Ein Plädoyer für eine deutsche Nahostpolitik jenseits der Staatsraison.
www.ipg-journal.de
Reposted by Gerrit Kurtz
criticalthreats.bsky.social
The RSF’s capture of el Fasher would consolidate its control over the majority of the Darfur region and likely lead to mass crimes against humanity, including acts of ethnic violence that may constitute genocide. (2/5)
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
In many African armed conflicts, estimates of fatalities differ widely, including in #Sudan and regarding the war in Northern #Ethiopia 2020-22. While numbers matter, it is important not to present sometimes mere guesses at the same level as mortality studies.
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Measuring mortality is getting even harder in Africa
One estimate puts deaths in the war in Tigray at 5,325; another at 600,000
www.economist.com
Reposted by Gerrit Kurtz
wlacher.bsky.social
The EU is doubling down on its migration policy in Libya, which is inextricably tied to the system of arbitrary detention.

But EU policy faces a public backlash in Libya; its softer components have reached an impasse; and the warlords Europeans are partnering with are escalating their demands.
The Political Fallout of European Migration Policy in Libya
Consolidating the Detention System, Empowering Warlords and Provoking Backlash from the Libyan Public
www.swp-berlin.org
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
So how many member states are going to exercise their right of reply to the speech by #DJT? Seems there could be quite a few if they wanted to. #UN80
Reposted by Gerrit Kurtz
aa-stabilisiert.bsky.social
Besondere Aufmerksamkeit galt Sudan: Die größte humanitäre Krise der Welt mit über 25 Mio. Hungernden erfordert starkes gemeinsames Handeln und eine entschiedene Ausweitung der humanitären Diplomatie und humanitären Hilfe. 3/3
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
The most popoulous landlocked country being Ethiopia. PM Abiy says that the country should no longer be a "prisoner of geography", spurring fears about war across the border in Eritrea.
Geography does not define a country's destiny, but what states make of it.
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
A major test for this whole #Quad process on #Sudan is the RSF siege on #ElFasher. Just today, the RSF massacred dozens of civilians in a mosque.
It just does not look like the Emirati minister is engaged "to press all parties to the conflict to protect civilians"
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/w...
‘Harrowing Beyond Description’: Dozens Killed While at Prayer in Sudan
www.nytimes.com
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
These advanced drones (likely of Chinese and Turkish origin, deployed by both sides respectively) captured in flight near #Elfasher indicate violations of the #UNSC arms embargo on Darfur.
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
"El-Fasher is falling", assesses Yale's HRL. The RSF have taken the last IDP camp there as well as the joint forces base of operations. A quarter million people remain trapped. The risk of further mass atrocities is very high. #Sudan #Darfur

files-profile.medicine.yale.edu/documents/45...
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
Great conference with civilian perspectives on peace and humanitarian action in #Sudan yesterday in Berlin. I had the honour to moderate the first panel, delving into political perspectives of prospectives for peace following the QUAD statement a week ago. Thanks for a great exchange during the day!
Reposted by Gerrit Kurtz
swp-mea.bsky.social
„Jede Diskussion über die europäische Migrationspolitik in Libyen sollte mit der [...] Tatsache beginnen, dass sich diese Politik in ihrem Kern auf die Internierungszentren & die Hinnahme der in ihnen begangenen Verbrechen stützt.“
So @wlacher.bsky.social hier👇
www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/...
Die politischen Kosten europäischer Migrationspolitik in Libyen
Konsolidierung des Internierungssystems, Aufwertung von Gewaltakteuren, Ablehnung durch die libysche Öffentlichkeit
www.swp-berlin.org
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
People trapped in the RSF siege of #ElFasher face "a dire set of choices. Stay, and risk being bombed or starved. Run, and risk being killed, robbed or sexually assaulted." #Sudan
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/w...
Starving Children Eat Animal Feed in Besieged Sudanese City
www.nytimes.com
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
Given significant defections, it is not clear how strong the SPLM-IO remains. There have already been significant clashes between government forces and IO forces in the past few months.
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
In #SouthSudan, Oyet Nathaniel Pierioni, the acting chairman of the SPLM-IO, called the government "illegitimate" and called on all citizens to "use all means available to regain their Country and Sovereignty", in reaction to charges brought against Riek Machar.
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
Imagine you go to a school, where no one manages to pass the final university entrance exams. That is the case at 1,249 schools in #Ethiopia.

Only 8.4% of students passed overall - an improvement compared to last year, but still dismally low.
borkena.com/2025/09/14/g...
Ethiopia's Ministry Of Education Reports Only 8.4 Percent Passed Grade 12 Exam
The Ministry of Education has announced result of the 2017 Ethiopian academic year grade 12 exam result. Only 8.4 percent passed. Read.
borkena.com
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
No, I don't, so I would treat it carefully. Hamas does have a long history with the Islamists in Sudan though, and the renewed cooperation with Iran (esp. on drones) is also clear.
gerritkurtz.bsky.social
According to this report, operatives of #Hamas and the #IRGC had been involved in #drone maintenance and operation near Omdurman #Sudan, before withdrawing to #Eritrea for fear of persecution by #Israel after its strike in Doha.

rakobanews.com/sudan-news/p...
rakobanews.com