News Highlights: NGOs raise alarm over Mediterranean rescue and returns, Ethiopia joins AfCFTA, expert panel Sudan mandate extended

by K. Smits
Posted on February 8, 2019February 8, 2019
European Union

In this week’s News Highlights: Ethiopia joined the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Agreement); UNSC expert panel mandate for Sudan extended; Sudanese women’s role in the protests; EU High Representative to visit Horn of Africa; Israel continues to impede refugee rights, say activists; more than 50 organisations express concern to EU leaders over rescue and return; Oxfam Italia and Sicilia Borderline publish a report on Italy/Libya deal; new border management agreement between Europe and Montenegro; COC Netherlands published a report on LGBTI asylum policy in the Netherlands; Libya to tighten its southern borders with EU cooperation; and conflict in Libya’s oil fields.

News Highlights: European Parliament condemns al-Bashir in resolution, New refugee proclamation in Ethiopia, Refugees in Libya starve as clashes erupt

In this week’s news highlights: European Parliament condemns al-Bashir in resolution on Sudan protests; Ethiopia ratifies new refugee proclamation; terrorist attack in Kenya; Four commercial checkpoints to open along Ethiopia/Eritrea border; Resilient smuggling networks are still active between Sudan and Eritrea; Eritrea attempts to intimidate BBC; refugees without food and water after clashes in Libya; European Parliament debates asylum and migration policy; Switzerland concludes return agreement with Ethiopia; EU increasingly relying on “informal” migrant returns to Sub-Saharan Africa: report; OECD report about economic chances of migration; and Merkel says EU Turkey deal is dysfunctional. In other news: new report on human trafficking for ransom and protests in Zimbabwe.