IJR News — today's news from every sideMaya Lindstrom The US risks looking heavy handed by linking a UN visa directly to one leader's stance on a 90 day truce. Marcus Bell Holding arms suppliers accountable is the only way to ease pressure on the 14 million displaced by this war. British Arms Brokers Jailed 16 Years Over Warzone Deals — Sep 23, 2026David Greenhalgh, 68, and Greek national Christos Farmakis, 48, were jailed for 16 years in London for orchestrating tens of millions of pounds in illegal arms deals, including ex-Soviet fighter jets and missiles to war zones such as Sudan, South Sudan and Libya, between 2009 and 2016. Farmakis was tried in absentia after fleeing the UK, while Greenhalgh faced sentencing in person, with prosecutors noting forged end-user certificates to disguise weapon destinations.
Sam Okafor These arms dealers fueled conflicts in Sudan and Libya for years, so 16 years behind bars is a fair outcome for the damage caused.Derek Foss Focusing on the worst off makes sense but half rations will only stretch so far in this crisis. Dana Whitfield The jump to 55,000 arrivals already shows this crisis needs real action from donor countries now. Sudan's war-damaged grid failure drives families to costly solar power — Sep 6, 2026With Sudan’s war-damaged electricity grid, capacity has plunged from about 4,400 to roughly 1,100 megawatts and billions in damages, leaving millions facing outages that disrupt education, health, and daily life. In response, households increasingly turn to rooftop solar—yet a typical 10-kilowatt system can cost around $5,000, a barrier for many amid soaring needs and a sun-rich environment that could power a broader shift if affordability improves.
Priya Raman With that much sun, Sudan should be a solar success story, not a cautionary tale about who can afford electricity.UN report finds foreign mercenaries, drones fueling Sudan's civil war — Sep 3, 2026A United Nations-backed investigation found that transnational networks have recruited and supplied the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF with weapons, drones, training, and personnel, dramatically expanding the fighting’s reach and civilian harm. The report, citing up to 2,000 Colombian contractors among others, calls for accountability, strict enforcement of arms embargoes, and urgent action to stop illicit support that funds and prolongs the conflict.
Marcus Bell Colombian contractors flying drones in Sudan's war shows how far these mercenary networks reach now, way beyond old-school arms deals.
