Articles

In the central Sahel, violent extremist organisations (VEOs) have solidified their presence in Mali, and are increasingly active in Niger and Burkina Faso. CIR's investigation indicates these groups have also penetrated further into coastal West Africa. As VEOs battle to consolidate their presence, it is civilians who pay the price.

As Sudan's civil war continues, Sudan Witness verified footage corroborating the reported killing of 31 people in Omdurman by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April, underscoring the continued threat of violence against the Sudanese population.

Several videos filmed by mobile phones and military drones appear to show individuals – alleged to be Palestinian – blindfolded, handcuffed, tied to vehicle bonnets and dressed in military attire.

With international media unable to report on the ground from Iran, social media and other open sources provide critical insight into the unfolding situation – but AI images and misinformation are also widespread.

On 13 April 2025, two Russian ballistic missiles struck central Sumy City in quick succession, marking the highest loss of civilian life in a single incident verified by CIR since October 2023.

CIR launched the Digital Investigation Academy in October 2024 to teach UK university students open source (OSINT) skills, open career pathways, and facilitate opportunities for real-world impact. Here we reflect on the inaugural programme.

Russia has occupied parts of Ukraine for over ten years. CIR and Detector Media explore the tactics used by the occupying authorities to mobilise and recruit.

CIR’s Sudan Witness project supported the New York Times with its reporting on the conflict in Sudan. Pulitzer’s recognition of the coverage shines a vital spotlight on one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

One month on from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, open source analysis conducted by Myanmar Witness reveals how the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) continued to conduct airstrikes in the earthquake’s aftermath, despite the State Administration Council (SAC) calling a temporary ceasefire and national mourning period.

After our recent videos on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Ethiopia were flooded with online hate speech, we decided to investigate what was being said, and why.

Driven to leave Ethiopia by relentless online abuse, wellness expert and influencer Lella Misikir’s story exposes the harsh reality of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Ethiopia.

In March 2025, a wave of extreme violence and revenge killings swept through Alawite strongholds of Syria. Unarmed civilians, including women and children, were among the victims.