The prominent Libyan human rights activist Salwa Bugaighis has been shot dead at her house in Benghazi by hooded men wearing military uniforms, shortly after she had returned from voting. Bugaighis was one of the few people who continued to challenge Islamist militias despite the danger. She also stood up to Muammar Gaddafi’s tyranny. Her husband, who was at home during the attack, has been reported missing.
Central African Republic's interim president, Catherine Samba-Panza, formally asked the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into the terrible crimes committed in the country during the past year of fighting. In doing so, she acknowledged that Central African courts are not in a position to carry out the necessary investigations.
Iraq has confirmed that Syria has carried out air strikes on ISIS militants inside Iraqi territory. Nouri Maliki told the BBC that Syrian jets bombed militant positions near the town of Qaim on Tuesday. While Iraq did not ask for the raid Maliki said it "welcomed" any such strike. There are also growing concerns that children are being used as fighters.Member states of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) should press Venezuela to protect the rights of protesters. Unasur has attempted to promote dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition since massive demonstrations broke out in February, but it needs to go further.
This month, Yemen's government began raids on "torture camps" where human traffickers hold migrants in an attempt to extort money from their families. They released 92 migrants and arrested 16 traffickers. Now it's time to take on complicit government officials.
