The Eritrean ‘Fourth Front’:  Festivals as a tool to control the diaspora

Riots broke out in The Hague on 17 February 2024. It is the latest in a string of clashes around the world involving pro-democracy and pro-government Eritreans. The latter group organises festivals, proclaimed to be cultural festivals, but which pro-democracy Eritreans state are in reality propaganda events; places were high-level Eritrean officials visit, where diaspora Eritreans go under pressure and threats, where military propaganda and hate speech are spread, and where Eritreans have to pay money to the Eritrean government. Now, a picture is emerging of a highly coordinated effort by the Eritrean government to control the diaspora, which it calls the ‘Fourth Front’, through militia-like structures, including Eri-Blood and Eri-Mekhete. 

News Highlights: Fighting in Amhara escalates, ‘Fourth Front’ Eritrean action in the Netherlands announced, Libyan coastguard rams boat

In this week’s News Highlights: Fighting escalating in Amhara region; Concerns over reports of Eritrean attacks and troops in Tigray; No motion for extension of ICHREE mandate; Chief of WHO was investigated by Federal Government of Ethiopia; At least 18 drought-related deaths in Amhara; Western Tigray banks administered from Amhara; Tigray Interim Administration accuses AU of absence in CoH implementation; New report on the operational status of healthcare facilities in Tigray; Detailed report of UAE’s secret support to RSF; Ethiopian embassy in Khartoum targeted; Humanitarian situation in Sudan worsened by underfunding; Two Eritreans killed in Israel by pro-government Eritreans; US imposes further sanctions on Sudan; EU to start funding again in Ethiopia after aid was previously suspended, despite Amhara escalation; Sea-Watch video shows Libyan coastguard collide into migrant boat; 271 refugees and migrants rescued off coast of Libya; “Fourth Front” announces a ‘revenge demonstration’ in the Netherlands; Poland and Hungary threaten veto as EU reaches an agreement on Crisis Regulation; Migration large part of the European Political Community Summit; EU criticised for lack of human rights in migration policy; and EU and Tunisia clash over funding on controversial EU-Tunisia Deal.

News Highlights: Eritreans deported from Ethiopia, UK Court deems Rwanda deportations unlawful, New patrol boats to Libya

In this week’s News Highlights: Violence against civilians and refugees; Public facilities attacked and aid restricted in Sudan; Two-day Eid ceasefire broken; Women and civil society urge for cessation of violence in Sudan; RSF releases 125 SAF soldiers; Displacements due to conflict and food insecurities in Sudan; Troika condemns violence in Sudan; Kenyan President Ruto say there are ‘signs of genocide’ in Sudan; UNSC talks about Sudan; Eritreans face forced return from Ethiopia; Tigray church calls for resume of food aid to Tigray as hunger related death toll rises; Study finds children in primary school experience high levels of trauma; Facilities in Oromia looted and destroyed; Tigrayans disappeared during war still missing; Officials removed in Puntland, Somalia; EU delivers patrol boats to Libya coast guard despite its links with militia groups; NGO vessel rescues 86 people off Libyan coast; Dozens missing and 3 dead off Tunisian coast; Frontex contacts Libyan coast guard for SaR operations; Tunisian model should be extended in other countries, says EU chief; Hungary and Poland block conclusions on migration at EU Summit; ECtHR rules in favour of 67 ill-treated migrants and refugees; Walid case continues in the Netherlands; Rwanda deportation plan deemed unlawful; UK says cost of transferring to Rwanda is in the hundreds of thousands; Greece to continue “strict but fair” migration policy after elections; Greek police and Spanish NGO rescue more than 300 migrants and refugees; Save the Children’s proposal for the protection of unaccompanied minors in Italy; Spain and Morocco under investigation for delayed rescue; and Amnesty accuses Spain and Morocco of Melilla cover-up.