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📰 U.S. travel bans frustrate UN diplomacy

📰 U.S. travel bans frustrate UN diplomacy

and Xi continues military purge

Billy Robinson & Ross Crabtree
June 30, 2025

Hello and welcome back.

The UK has joined NATO’s nuclear sharing mission with its purchase of F-35A fighter jets, signalling heightened deterrence concerns. Meanwhile, deadly unrest continues in Kenya, where police have killed several protesters and civil society groups urge dialogue.

Today’s main story turns to Washington, where Rwanda and the DRC sign a controversial peace accord as President Trump hails U.S. mineral access.

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇵🇸 Legal experts call for cumulative civilian harm framework in Gaza war crimes assessment: More than 54,000 Palestinian people—over 15,000 of them children—have been killed since October 2023, and the destruction in Gaza has devastated every facet of civilian life. Medical infrastructure is nearly obliterated, with only 20 of 36 hospitals partially functioning and over 1,000 children reportedly requiring amputations. But deaths alone fail to capture the full scope of harm. Legal scholars now argue for a “cumulative civilian harm” framework to assess Gaza’s suffering—one that recognises layered, intersectional, and sustained violations, especially against women and children. This approach challenges traditional laws of war that treat attacks as isolated, instead urging accountability for their compounding effects. It reframes forced displacement, malnutrition, trauma, and infrastructure collapse not as collateral, but as systematic tools of domination with serious implications for command liability under international humanitarian and criminal law.

2️⃣ 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Russia unleashes largest aerial bombardment of Ukraine since start of war: Russia launched its most intense air assault on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, firing over 500 aerial weapons overnight. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting the majority of 477 drones and 60 missiles, but strikes still killed two people and injured at least 12, including children. The bombardment targeted sites far from the frontlines and coincided with President Putin’s claim of readiness for renewed peace talks, which Kyiv dismissed as insincere. President Zelenskyy reiterated the need for robust Western air defences, noting that Russia launched over 2,400 air weapons in the past week alone. Meanwhile, Ukraine confirmed the death of a fighter pilot who downed seven Russian targets before his F-16 was hit. Kyiv also announced plans to withdraw from the global landmine ban, citing Russia’s continued mine use and battlefield realities.

3️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇺🇸 U.S. travel bans hamper UN diplomacy: President Trump has reinstated sweeping travel restrictions, barring entry from 12 countries and partially limiting seven more—mainly from Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. While exemptions apply to UN staff and G4 visa holders, diplomats from targeted countries report delays and denials that hamper participation in UN work. Legal experts warn this violates the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which obliges the U.S. to grant access to accredited diplomats. Past cases—like the denial of Yasser Arafat’s visa—set precedent, but tensions have surged under Trump. Critics say these bans undermine multilateral diplomacy and restrict countries’ abilities to engage on technical and policy issues. Despite diplomatic protests and committee pressure, enforcement continues. The UN has softened its response, avoiding confrontation, but the bans remain a flashpoint in host-country relations.

4️⃣ 🇨🇳 President Xi removes top military official amid widening PLA corruption purge: China’s top naval political commissar, Admiral Miao Hua, has been dismissed from the Central Military Commission (CMC) as part of President Xi Jinping’s expanding anti-corruption campaign. Miao, who was suspended last year for “serious violations of discipline,” is among the highest-ranking CMC members purged since the Mao era. His expulsion follows similar removals of defence ministers, rocket force leaders, and senior procurement officials, suggesting a deepening investigation into corruption in China’s military-industrial apparatus. The crackdown is politically sensitive, especially as many ousted figures were appointed by Xi himself. As Beijing aims to project global strength, the wave of dismissals risks unsettling that image. Military dialogue between China and the U.S. remains limited, raising concerns amid tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Miao’s removal underscores both Xi’s control and the decay within China’s armed forces.

5️⃣ 🇵🇬 🇳🇿 Bougainville and Papua New Guinea sign ‘Melanesian Agreement’ on independence pathway: Bougainville and PNG have signed the “Melanesian Agreement,” outlining steps toward resolving Bougainville’s bid for independence. Finalised during ten days of talks at Burnham Military Camp in New Zealand, the accord acknowledges the legitimacy of Bougainville’s 2019 pro-independence referendum while reaffirming that PNG’s parliament will make the final decision. To ease national concerns over autonomy demands from other regions, both sides agreed to a unique framework tailored for Bougainville. A bipartisan parliamentary committee will educate the public and MPs, while both governments work on a temporary sessional order to present the referendum results. If parliament does not approve, further talks will proceed on a defined timeline. The agreement also commits to institutional strengthening in Bougainville and includes options for international and UN-backed monitoring to ensure momentum and mutual trust are maintained.

Major Story

🇷🇼 🇨🇩 RWANDA AND DRC SIGN CONTROVERSIAL PEACE DEAL AS TRUMP TOUTS MINERAL GAINS

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have signed a peace agreement in Washington, aiming to end the long-running conflict in eastern DRC. The accord, mediated by Qatar and the United States, pledges a 90-day timeline for Rwandan troop withdrawal and the establishment of a regional economic integration framework. However, the deal has already sparked criticism over its opacity and perceived prioritisation of foreign economic interests—especially as Donald Trump used the ceremony to boast about securing U.S. mineral rights in Congo.

Security and Sovereignty on Paper

Signed by the two countries’ foreign ministers and overseen by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the agreement promises the disarmament of all non-state armed groups and upholds territorial integrity. Rwanda is expected to cease support for M23 rebels—accused of operating as Kigali’s proxy—and both parties agreed to the neutralisation of the FDLR, a Hutu militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. DRC’s foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, stressed that peace demands both responsibility and respect for sovereignty.

Mineral Motivations

In remarks before the signing, President Trump described the war in brutal terms and boasted that “we’re getting… a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo.” The deal’s economic section remains vague but signals significant U.S. interest in the region’s cobalt, tantalum, lithium, and gold reserves. While Washington frames this as part of a broader strategy to attract investment, critics argue it effectively rewards aggression with resource access.

Criticism from Human Rights Advocates

Nobel laureate Dr Denis Mukwege, renowned for supporting victims of sexual violence in DRC, condemned the accord for ignoring justice and reparations. He warned that the agreement could legitimise Rwanda’s actions and perpetuate resource plunder without addressing the root causes of violence. According to Mukwege, a fragile peace based on silence and surrender is no peace at all.

Conclusion

While the agreement marks a diplomatic milestone, its implementation and long-term viability remain in doubt—particularly as justice, accountability, and community recovery are largely absent from the deal’s foundation.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 🇳🇱 🇺🇸 UK joins NATO nuclear mission with F35A purchase amid deterrence concerns: The UK confirmed its acquisition of F35A fighter jets, likely signalling its intent to join NATO’s nuclear sharing programme. Unlike the UK’s existing F35Bs, the A variant is compatible with U.S. B61-12 nuclear bombs—suggesting that the UK may soon host U.S. weapons again, possibly at RAF Marham or RAF Lakenheath. Though framed as strengthening deterrence against Russia, critics argue the move adds little to the UK’s already robust Trident-based nuclear posture and could weaken sovereign control, as launch authority would remain with Washington. While this purchase symbolically aligns the UK more closely with the U.S., some defence experts warn it diverts resources from more urgently needed conventional capabilities like precision strike and air defence systems. Ultimately, this appears more a political gesture than a meaningful upgrade to Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

2️⃣ 🇰🇪 Police kill protestors in mass Kenya demonstrations, civil society groups call for dialogue: At least 16 people were killed and over 400 injured across Kenya during nationwide protests commemorating victims of last year’s deadly demonstrations. According to Amnesty International Kenya, most fatalities were caused by police. The march, which began peacefully, descended into violent confrontations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and other cities. TV stations were ordered to halt live coverage, with several taken off air. Outrage over police brutality has surged following the custodial death of teacher Albert Ojwang and the fatal police shooting of protester Boniface Kariuki. Demonstrators say their calls for justice are being met with further violence. “We pray for our nation, dialogue, and way forward from the political impasse facing Kenya," said civil society groups including the Law Society of Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group.