Joe Penney

Dec 18, 2024 | passblue.com | Joe Penney

Yerevan, ARMENIA — The International Criminal Court’s first prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, is best known for prosecuting national criminals like the ex-Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir. A 2022 movie about Moreno Ocampo’s work in Argentina prosecuting former junta leaders was nominated for an Oscar. Although these days he is a researcher at São Paulo University, in Brazil, he is often found in Yerevan, Armenia. Why?

Sep 30, 2024 | passblue.com | Joe Penney

A major theme of the recent United Nations General Assembly opening session was reforming the Security Council and including a permanent seat for Africa. The Pact for the Future states the UN’s commitment to “redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority,” while United States envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced that “the United States supports creating two permanent seats for Africans on the Council.” Yet, she dismissed the veto power going to new permanent members.

Sep 27, 2024 | passblue.com | Joe Penney |Banjo Damilola

American officials have told the embattled Sudanese President and head of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan that they will pressure the United Arab Emirates to stop providing weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The rebels are accused of committing genocide in their fighting in the country’s civil war. In response to a question from PassBlue after a press conference held at the Sudanese mission in New York City on Sept.

Sep 25, 2024 | passblue.com | Joe Penney

Ukraine: Harsh Words for China and Brazil Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded his case to world leaders to support his country’s continuing defense against Russian aggression until “a just peace” — or the total restoration of Ukrainian territory — during his speech in the General Assembly on Wednesday.

Feb 13, 2024 | passblue.com | Banjo Damilola |Fawzia Koofi |Florence Syevuo |Dan Perell |Arthur Bassas |Jessica Le Masurier | +1 more

The leader of the United Nations' primary relief agency in Gaza says that its humanitarian aid operations will face serious shortfalls by mid-March if the 17 countries that paused funding do not reverse course in the coming weeks. In an interview with Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works agency ( UNRWA), he told PassBlue on Feb. 9 that the agency was expecting the Gulf countries to increase their donations.