Just this week, notorious warlord Nkunda was arrested in Rwanda by authorities, in a surprising act of seeming cooperation between Rwanda and the DRC. This article wonders about the potential cost to the DRC of this, especially its relations with Rwanda and what it might gain from this. This also describes the unease felt by some in eastern Congo over the collaboration with Rwanda.

Finally, a NY Times article looks into whether Nkunda is really going to be punished or if he's just being kept under wraps in Rwanda temporarily. The warlord, whose close ties to Rwanda are clearly mentioned, may be too close an ally to be disposed of by handing him over to Congo or international authorities.

One of world's longest conflicts possibly coming to end

By the above title, I am referring to the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka which is possibly coming to a close soon as the government's army has won a series of crucial victories over the rebel Tamil Tigers to push them into only a single remaining stronghold. Having been going on for over two decades, with intermittent periods of peace in between, the recent fighting should be really important news, as it seems the government is close to defeating one of the most feared, well-organised and enduring rebel organizations worldwide.

Of course, with much focus on the fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, there hasn't been much mention of the Sri Lankan conflict though there are regular news reports recently. This Toronto Star commentary focuses on the fighting there, describing and alleging significant abuses in place such as the banning of media from war zones by the government.

While military defeat in this conflict will not necessarily mean the total destruction of the Tamil Tiger organization, it will deal a serious blow to them, forcing them into operating almost entirely as a guerilla force and not having any more territory or strongholds to control as they did with parts of the north and the east. The Tigers' defeat also won't erase their cause which is ostensibly that of protecting the rights and safety of the Tamils and fighting for a separate homeland separate of majority Sinhalese dominance.