Iran: five days of mourning for president
On 21 May Iran began five days of national mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi, as it grappled with the news of his sudden death at a time of heightened regional tensions and domestic uncertainty. Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others were killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of the country on 19 May. The shock incident wiped out two of the country's key political figures, raising questions about what the future might be after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Thousands of mourners gathered for the first funeral event; the next day, declared a national holiday, a funeral was held in Tehran, with high-ranking foreign dignitaries attending. Funerals were held in two more cities on 23 May, and Raisi will be laid to rest in his hometown Mashhad on 24 May. However, many Iranians have celebrated the president’s death, with fireworks set off in several cities and people dancing in the streets. Raisi’s hardline administration was characterised by brutal punishments and a harsh crackdown on female dress codes. See
Israel / Hamas leaders: ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants
On 20 May, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced plans to seek arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers, and also for three senior Hamas officials. Hamas is charged with atrocities on 7 October and mistreatment of hostages, while Israel is accused of the starvation of Gaza's civilians. Khan, known for his conservative approach, has said that he has not seen compelling evidence that Israeli courts were probing alleged violations of international law). There have been predictable responses from supporters of both sides, but there is a long history of war crime charges facilitating peace by marginalising hardliners. That might help to advance the frustratingly stalled ceasefire negotiations. Within Israel, whose officials’ conduct in Gaza has increasingly made it a pariah state in the minds of many worldwide, the proposed charges will strengthen the movement for a leadership change. Far from an impediment to a ceasefire, Khan’s actions could be a spur.
Myanmar: growing resistance to the junta
On a scorching day in Karenni state, from a hilltop overlooking an army base, former army captain Nay Myo Zin uses loudspeakers to address soldiers loyal to Myanmar's ruling military aiming to persuade them to defect, claiming that the regime's fall is imminent. The country is at a critical juncture, with the junta’s brutal repression being challenged by ethnic groups and a new generation of insurgents. Over the past seven months, the resistance has made significant gains, capturing up to two-thirds of the country. Since the 2021 coup, which ousted the elected civilian government and imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi, tens of thousands, including many children, have been killed, and 2.5 million displaced. This is an under-reported conflict, not only because of the world’s focus on Ukraine and Gaza, but also because there is no press freedom and foreign journalists are rarely admitted to the country.
South Africa: has the ANC lost its way?
For years, the African National Congress (ANC) stood as a beacon of hope in South Africa, dedicated to ending white minority rule and championing democracy and equality. Revered under Nelson Mandela, the ANC's transformation from a liberation movement to a ruling political party brought high expectations. However, thirty years later, many South Africans feel disillusioned, believing it has failed to fulfil its promises. Former president Jacob Zuma, ousted in 2017 due to corruption allegations, has returned with a new party, uMkhonto weSizwe, criticising his successor Cyril Ramaphosa, but his disqualification from a parliamentary run due to a criminal conviction has heightened political tensions. The 29 May elections see the ANC struggling to maintain its majority and possibly facing having to form a coalition government - which would mark the most significant political shift since the end of apartheid in 1994.
