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South African jurist and human rights advocate Navi Pillay, 85, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, announced on Friday, 9 October, in Oslo, Norway, in recognition of her contributions to peace, international justice and accountability for serious human rights violations.
According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the award recognises the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for her longstanding commitment to defending victims of conflict, combating impunity and promoting international law.
The Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, highlighted Pillay's role in ensuring accountability for international crimes.
"This year's laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are brought to justice," he said.
The committee also praised Pillay's courage and integrity, describing her career as a demonstration of unwavering commitment to fundamental rights, from the struggle against apartheid in South Africa to her involvement in major international judicial proceedings.
Of Indian descent, Pillay began her legal career during South Africa's apartheid era, defending political activists, including Nelson Mandela, and helping secure fundamental rights for political prisoners.
She later established herself in international justice, serving as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she participated in proceedings relating to the 1994 genocide.
Between 2008 and 2014, Pillay served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, working to promote and protect human rights across different regions of the world.
More recently, she chaired the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which in 2025 accused Israeli authorities of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel rejected the commission's findings.
The announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize prompted messages of recognition from international institutions.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights welcomed the award, describing it as a reminder of the importance of protecting fundamental rights at a time of international conflicts and human rights violations.
"It is wonderful to see this distinction awarded to Navi Pillay. It demonstrates, more than ever, the need for and value of human rights in this world," said Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Pillay, highlighting her work in defending persecuted people.
Upon learning of the award, Pillay responded with humour, making a reference to US President Donald Trump.
"If you applaud a little louder, perhaps I'll share the prize with Trump," she joked during an event in Nuremberg, Germany, according to a recording shared by Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard.
The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize carries a monetary award of 12 million Swedish kronor and will be presented in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
In 2025, the prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her work in defending democracy in Venezuela.
The Maputo Juvenile Court is scheduled to hear the case of a 13-year-old boy accused of killing his 12-year-old neighbour, known as Edy, in the Militar neighbourhood of Maputo, on Thursday, 15 October. Under Mozambican law, children under the age of 16 cannot be held criminally responsible, although they may be subject to educational and corrective measures.
Mozambique's National Communications Institute (INCM) has expressed concern over the growing number of companies and individuals providing parcel and correspondence delivery services without the required licences, at a time when only 38 postal operators are legally authorised to operate in the country.
Annual shrimp catches in Mozambique's Sofala Bank have fallen by 40%, from approximately 2,500 to 1,500 tonnes, a decline that authorities link to illegal fishing, violations of the closed fishing season and the destruction of mangroves, all of which threaten the sustainability of fisheries resources in the region.
Mozambique and Tanzania have agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation by adopting joint strategies to combat terrorism, organised crime and other cross-border threats that pose risks to the stability of both countries.
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