International Law in Brief


International Law in Brief (ILIB) is a forum that provides updates on current developments in international law from the editors of ASIL's International Legal Materials.
French Court of Cassation Rules on Functional Immunity and International Crimes
| By: Özge Karsu : October 29, 2025 |

On July 25, 2025, the France’s highest court delivered its judgment dismissing an appeal of a former Syrian Minister of the Economy and Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, who were indicted in France for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The appellant argued that, under customary international law, state officials enjoy functional immunity for acts committed in the exercise of sovereign functions, even when such acts are alleged to constitute serious international crimes. He claimed that the investigating chamber erred in denying him that immunity.

The Court rejected...

African Commission Adopts Resolution on Extractive Industries and the Elimination of All Forms of Exploitation in International Economic Relations of Africa
| By: Özge Karsu : October 29, 2025 |

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) adopted Resolution 634 during its 83rd Ordinary Session—May 2-22, 2025. The resolution constitutes a significant development, as it links Africa’s structural economic challenges—including resource exploitation, debt, and inequitable financial relations—to the rights of peoples to development and to freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The resolution grounds its reasoning in Articles 21, 22 and 24, which guarantee peoples’ rights to freely dispose of...

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda Sign a Peace Agreement
| By: Özge Karsu : October 29, 2025 |

 

 

Photo by Paul Kagame, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

On June 27, 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda signed the “Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda” in Washington, D.C., witnessed by the United States. The agreement represents a major diplomatic effort to restore peace and ensure regional stability in the region.

The Peace Agreement reaffirms both countries’ commitment to the Declaration of Principles of April 25, 2025, based on respect for sovereignty,...

The European Commission Preliminarily Finds TikTok and Meta in Breach of the Digital Services Act
| By: Özge Karsu : October 29, 2025 |

On October 28, 2025, the European Commission announced preliminary findings that TikTok and Meta (for both Facebook and Instagram) breached their transparency and user-protection obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The findings remain preliminary and do not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

As a key transparency obligation, the DSA requires providing researchers with data access. However, the findings of the Commission include failures to grant researchers adequate access to public data.

Further, regarding Meta, the Commission’s preliminary assessment...

The European Commission Preliminarily Finds TikTok and Meta in Breach of the Digital Services Act
| By: Özge Karsu : October 29, 2025 |

On October 28, 2025, the European Commission announced preliminary findings that TikTok and Meta (for both Facebook and Instagram) breached their transparency and user-protection obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The findings remain preliminary and do not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

As a key transparency obligation, the DSA requires providing researchers with data access. However, the findings of the Commission include failures to grant researchers adequate access to public data.

Further, regarding Meta, the Commission’s preliminary assessment...

ICSID Advances Efficiency and Transparency in 2025 Report
| By: Brianne Blain : October 28, 2025 |

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the world’s leading institution for resolving international investment disputes, released its 2025 Annual Report. The report highlighted significant progress in efficiency, transparency, and global collaboration. Over the years, ICSID restructured its administrative processes to improve case management, enhance tribunal timeliness, and reduce costs.

The annual report emphasized ICSID’s commitment to procedural fairness and transparency, including detailed statistics on third-party funding disclosures, security...

ECtHR Rules on Degrading Detention Conditions of an Asylum Seeker
| By: Ylian Gassmi : October 28, 2025 |

On October 14, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered its judgment in the Case of B.F. v. Greece. The case concerned an Iranian asylum seeker detained in Greece who complained about the unlawfulness of his detention, the lack of effective remedies, and the absence of substantive judicial review.

The Court unanimously found that Greece violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights due to the applicant’s degrading treatment while detained for two months and eighteen days at the Kolonos police station, a facility lacking the amenities...

Israel Approves Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange Plan
| By: Brianne Blain : October 28, 2025 |
Photo by Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa), in contract with APAimages. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.   Israel has approved the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war against Hamas in Gaza, establishing a ceasefire and a framework for the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian hostages.

Ceasefire terms call for Israeli forces to withdraw from frontline positions to a designated redeployment line within Gaza. Five border crossings are to reopen, allowing humanitarian aid to enter the territory amid...

Mali Files an Application with the ICJ Concerning a Dispute with Algeria
| By: Brianne Blain : October 28, 2025 |

On September 16, 2023, the Republic of Mali filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Algeria, concerning the alleged destruction of a Malian military reconnaissance drone by Algerian Defense Forces while it was conducting a surveillance mission over Malian territory. Mali characterized this as a “premeditated destruction” of its military equipment.

Mali alleges that Algeria’s actions were intended to obstruct Mali’s ongoing military operations against armed rebel groups and that the drone’s destruction constitutes a hostile act in violation of the...

ICJ Delivers Advisory Opinion on Israel’s Obligations in OPT
| By: Özge Karsu : October 24, 2025 |

On October 22, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered an advisory opinion, following a request from the United Nations General Assembly concerning Israel’s obligations with respect to the activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third States in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly the Gaza Strip.

The Court unanimously found that it has jurisdiction under Article 96 of the UN Charter and Article 65 of the Statute of the Court. It rejected arguments that the opinion would prejudge the South Africa v. Israel case....

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