AU-led review of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement; Sudan re-opens routes for aid delivery; Libyan coast guard blocks rescue operation

A strategic review of the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement led by African Union; Attack on high power transmission line causes outage in Amhara, Afar and Tigray; Supply routes in Sudan will be reopened for delivery of humanitarian aid; Continuation of Sudan’s conflict risks creating the world’s largest hunger crisis; The Libyan coast guard accused of interfering with and threatening the rescue ship in the Mediterranean sea.

Intense fighting in Amhara; Handing over refugees to Libya deemed unlawful by Italian court; Zalambessa residents plea for renewed infrastructure

Residents of Zalambessa, Tigray, urge authorities to rebuild important infrastructure of the town; Drought affecting agricultural and education sectors in Tigray; Intense fighting reported in Amhara; Somaliland Ministry for Foreign Affairs claims MoU with Ethiopia is consistent with international law; Handing over refugees to Libyan coast guard is deemed unlawful by Italian court; EU’s migration policies have been detrimental for safety and protection of refugees and migrants; The insufficient response for refugees fleeing the Sudan conflict to Chad and South Sudan.

News Highlights: RSF seize Wad Madani, EU agreement on Migration and Asylum Pact, 61 die off Libyan coast as boat sinks

In this week’s News Highlights: RSF seize capital of Al-Jazira state, Wad Madani; UN appoints Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to Sudan; Chad expels 4 Sudanese diplomats over RSF support allegations; Ethiopia’s credit rating falls further, as African Development Bank withdraws international staff; IDPs from Oromia ordered to leave Amhara IDP centre; Turkish BAYKAR drone CEO gets medal of honour from Ethiopia; European Parliament delegation visits Tigray; 4th round of GERD Dam talks fails; 10 years since outbreak civil violence in South Sudan; Senior al-Shabaab commander killed in Somalia; Boat sinks off the Libyan coast, 61 drown; EU negotiators agree on key regulations for migration pact; NGOs warn of dangerous principles that new migration pact will bring; EU systematically shares information with Libyan militia linked to human trafficking; Refugees and migrants without shelter and resources as the winter starts in EU; Central Mediterranean Route the most frequented migration route to Europe in 2023; Stricter immigration bill adopted by French parliament; and UK Government states need for credible Transitional Justice policy in Ethiopia. 

This is the last News Highlights of this calendar year. Publishing will return to the regular schedule in the week of 8 January 2024. Best wishes for the holiday season.