After months of US-led negotiations, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (known collectively as the Quad) issued a "roadmap to peace" in Sudan, starting with a push for a three-month "humanitarian truce." However, despite the agreement with the main regional backers of the two sides in the war, fighting continues between the Sudanese armed forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On Sept. 19, a week after the "roadmap" was announced, an RSF drone strike on a mosque in  El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur state, left more than 70 people dead. (TNH, BBC News)

Youth-led protests demanding better education and healthcare in Morocco escalated into violent clashes with security forces on Sept. 30, the fourth consecutive day of angry demonstrations across several cities. The protests were organized online by a loose network calling itself "GenZ 212," after Morocco's country code. In the southern cities of Tiznit, Inzegane and Ait Amira, as well as the eastern city of Oujda and Temara near the capital Rabat, hundreds of protesters hurled stones at security forces attempting to disperse the gatherings. On Oct. 2, at least two protesters were killed when police opened fire in Lqliaa, near the coastal city of Agadir. Authorities said the troops fired to prevent protesters from storming a police station. (Reuters, BBC News, NYT, PRI)

Amnesty International on Sept. 25 urged Indian authorities to promptly and independently investigate the use of live fire during protests in Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh, one day after at least four people were reported killed and more than 50 injured.

Aakar Patel, chair of the board of Amnesty International India, called for de-escalation and respect for the right to peaceful protest, stating: "Any use of firearms in the context of an assembly must be an absolute last resort… The indiscriminate use of firearms against protesters is always unlawful."

Protests in Nepal turned violent Sept. 8, as security forces opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in at least 19 deaths and over 400 injuries. Young activists had been taking to the streets to voice their frustrations over government corruption and a recently imposed social media ban. The repression only enflamed the situation, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from his post the next day. His resignation marks the end of a political career with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) that saw him hold office from 2015-2016, 2018–2021, and again from July 2024 until his exit this week.

Future plans for the Gaza Strip currently circulating among United States government officials call for for the relocation of the entire population to make way for construction of tourist resorts and tech industry hubs under a decade of US administrative control, according to a Washington Post exclusive published Aug. 31. The 38-page document obtained by the newspaper includes full-color artist renderings of the envisioned "Riviera of the Middle East." The prospectus, yet to be officially approved, would see the US take the Strip under trusteeship for at least 10 years, overseeing "voluntary departures" of the residents to third countries or into "restricted" zones within the territory. A "Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration & Transformation Trust" (GREAT Trust) would be established to coordinate the effort.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Aug. 15 condemned the five-year prison sentence handed down to Remi Rowhani, a Baha'i religious dignitary, following a months-long trial by Qatari authorities. Rowhani was charged for promoting an ideology that casts doubt on the foundations of Islam, an accusation stemming from several social media posts by members of the Qatari Baha'i community. The court cited article 259 of the Penal Code—which states that whoever casts doubt on the tenets of Islam, or "calls upon, or favors or promotes another religion," faces a maximum of five years in prison.

The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry on Aug. 14 reported that the wave of violent attacks that engulfed coastal and western central Syria in March may constitute war crimes, and urged accountability to restore public confidence in the authorities.

Prominent Moroccan feminist Ibtissam "Betty" Lachgar was arrested by the kingdom's Judicial Police Aug. 10 after posting a photo of herself on X (Twitter) wearing a t-shirt with the word for God in Arabic (Allah) followed by the English words: "is a lesbian." This reference to the international feminist catchphrase "God is a lesbian" won her "blasphemy" charges from the Rabat prosecutor's office. The charge carries penalties ranging from six months to two years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 dirhams (approximately $20,000). The penalty can be increased to five years if the offense is committed publicly or electronically.