Ethiopia Insight published on 16 May 2025 a commentary titled "Ethiopia on the Brink" by Abraham Sahilu Abegaz, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Amsalu Lemlemu Adane, Anadolu University in Turkey.
The authors concluded that Ethiopia is facing a growing crisis of governance that calls into question its continued ability to function as a state under international law.
The Washington-based New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy published in June 2024 a 120-page report titled "Genocide in Tigray: Serious Breaches of International Law in the Tigray Conflict, Ethiopia, and Paths to Accountability." The Washington Institute for Education and Research funds the New Lines Institute whose president and founder is Ahmed Alwani, a businessman based in northern Virginia.
The document concludes there are multiple, widespread and credible independent reports that the conduct throughout Ethiopia of the federal Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) on behalf of Ethiopia, Amhara regional armed forces and/or Fano militia and loyal groups, the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF), as well as the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Tigray Defence Forces (TPLF) and those loyal to them, violated international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
There is reasonable basis to believe that such violations amount to the commission of war crimes and/or crimes against humanity. The report also concludes there is a reasonable basis to believe that members of the ENDF, the Amhara Special Forces, and the EDF committed genocide against Tigrayans.
Dereje Tessema, author of Demystifying the Nile, organized on 29 April 2023 a conference at Georgetown University that focused on the Nile Basin and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). It included a panel session lasting one hour and 15 minutes moderated by Won Kidane, Seattle University School of Law, and the following speakers: Seleshi Bekele, Ethiopian ambassador to the United States, Seifeselassie Lemma, Washington-based attorney, and me.
The panel session provided an update on the status of the GERD (now 90 percent complete), the regional and international geopolitics of the dam, and a discussion of international water law.
Foreign Policy published on 21 April 2023 an analysis titled "China's Space Dream Is a Legal Nightmare" by Benjamin Silverstein, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Early this year, Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group, a Chinese company, signed an agreement with Djibouti to build a rocket launch facility in the country. The author suggests this deal may an effort by China to evade international space law as Djibouti has not signed and is not subject to the Outer Space Treaty.
Just Security published on 20 April 2023 a commentary titled "The Fighting in Sudan Is an Armed Conflict: Here's What Law Applies" by Jelena Pejic, Lieber Institute at West Point.
The author describes the fighting in Sudan as a non-international armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). Sudan is party to the main IHL treaties. It could be argued that the Rapid Support Forces is a dissident force under IHL.
Lawfare published on 13 April 2023 an analysis titled "Wagner, PMSCs, and the Limits of Transnational Governance" by Kuzi Charamba, University of Hong Kong, and Frederic Megret, McGill University.
The authors conclude that the disconnect between antiquated international law sources, developing but largely voluntary transnational corporate practice, and the reality of amorphous entities such as the Wagner Group creates opportunities for regulatory escape. As a sprawling network of shell companies and individuals, the Wagner Group has turned out to be particularly elusive.
Lawfare published on 19 May 2022 an analysis titled "Power Trials Commence at GERD Despite Stalled Negotiations and Regional Tensions" by Steve Floyd, Georgetown University.
The author reviews the background of the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and provides a status report on the current situation.
The Conversation published on 13 April 2022 a commentary titled "Russia's War in Ukraine: How South Africa Blew Its Chance As a Credible Mediator" by Laurie Nathan, University of Notre Dame.
South Africa abstained on 3 UN General Assembly resolutions that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. South Africa emphasizes its neutrality as a credential for serving as a mediator. The author argues that mediators must be willing to follow international law, which Russia clearly violated, and South Africa now seems biased against following international law. In the eyes of Ukraine, therefore, South Africa is not viewed as impartial.
Responsible Statecraft posted on 4 March 2022 a commentary titled "Kenyan Diplomat's Criticism of Russia Highlights a Double Standard in Africa" by Alex de Waal.
While most countries agree that the multilateral world order, among other principles, is being challenged by Russia in Ukraine, the author argues that much of Africa is engaging in a double standard. Citing recent military coups in Africa and the muted response from African leaders and the African Union, the author suggests that the leaders and the AU are turning their backs on a basic principle of international law.
The Council on Foreign Relations posted on 3 March 2022 a commentary titled "Analyzing the Russia-Ukraine Conflict from an Africa Standpoint" by Ebenezer Obadare.
The commentary looks at the varying motivations of African countries as they take sides on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The New Arab published on 25 February 2022 an article titled "Libya Foreign Minister Decries Russia's Ukraine Invasion as 'Violation of International Law'."
The foreign minister of Libya's UN-backed Government of National Unity strongly condemned Russia's military attack on Ukraine, which she called a violation of international law.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 15 October 2021 an analysis titled "UN Court Decision a Fresh Test for Kenya-Somalia Ties" by Meron Elias.
An ICG expert discusses the potential impact on Kenya-Somalia relations of the recent International Court of Justice decision that upheld Somalia's claims of a long-running maritime border dispute between the two countries.
The Washington Post published on 12 October 2021 an article titled "U.N. Court Rules in Favor of Somalia over Kenya in Long-running Maritime Dispute" by Rael Ombuor and Rachel Chason.
The International Court of Justice ruled this week that Somalia, not Kenya, should control most of the triangle of water in the Indian Ocean over which Kenya has maintained sovereignty since 1979. The maritime zone is believed to contain oil and gas and is important for fishing.
CNN published on 6 October 2021 a report titled "Ethiopia Used Its Flagship Commercial Airline to Transport Weapons During War in Tigray" by Nima Elbagir, Gianiuca Mezzofiore, Katie Polglase, and Barbara Arvanitidis.
The article documents several flights by Ethiopian Airlines in November 2020 that transported arms from Asmara and Massawa in Eritrea to Addis Ababa. The airline previously denied that it had transported weapons. Legal experts say the flights would constitute a violation of international aviation law, which forbids the smuggling of arms for military use on civil aircraft.
The South Sudan News Agency published on 25 April 2021 an analysis titled "Analyzing the Struggle over the Nile River: The Need for a New Legal Flexible Agreement" by Peter Reat Gatkouth.
The author argues that the Nile River basin's existing legal framework is inadequate to meet the needs of the Nile Basin countries. The focus of the article is on the upstream states and the need for a Nile treaty that provides a fair distribution of water rights.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 27 November 2020 a plea titled "Avoiding a Bloodbath in Ethiopia's Mekelle."
As fighting between central government forces and the TPLF nears Mekelle, the capital of Tigray Region, the ICG urges Addis Ababa to pause hostilities while all sides minimize harm to civilians and the African Union steps up efforts to avert further bloodshed.
