News Highlights: Journalists in danger in the Horn, Frontex director resign after accusations, Deaths at sea rise in the Mediterranean

In this week’s News Highlights: TPLF states a general was murdered in Ethiopian federal prison; Somali region of Ethiopia has not seen rain since 18 month; Dozens of resistance committees members arbitrarily held in Sudanese jail; Al-Shabaab strikes on Somalian African Union base; Ethiopia as ‘worst jailers of journalists’ on the continent; Video allegedly shows abuses by the Ethiopian army towards ethnic Tigrayan boy; US Chargé d’Affaires calls for an immediate protection of journalists in South Sudan; New investigation strategy on crimes against humanity by the ICC in Libya; Eritrean refugees detained and pushed back by Egyptian authorities; Frontex director resigns after accusations of illegal pushbacks; UNHCR calls for urgent state action as deaths at sea rise in the Mediterranean; 547 migrants and refugees crossing the Channel in two days; Migrant and refugee camp attacked in Paris; Erdogan’s project of voluntary return for one million Syrian refugees; public seminar on Libya at the European Parliament; Alleged human trafficking network dismantled in North Wales; 20th World Press Freedom Index reveals ‘polarisation’ of journalism.

Ecological and political factors are stacking the deck against the population in Ethiopia amidst severe drought

On 19 April, the World Food Program announced that the number of people pushed to hunger by the severe drought in the Horn of Africa could rise from the current 14 million to 20 million by the end of the year. This is the latest in a long list of warnings from various international organisations that have been drawing attention to the agropastoral and food crises caused by this drought since 2020. But contrary to the 2016-2017 drought in the Horn, sufficient measures have not been put in place upstream, organisations warn. Although the whole region faces alarming consequences, with for example half a million already starving people in Kenya, Ethiopia is currently the most affected country with more than 7 million people already affected by famine. This is due to various climatic, but also political circumstances.

Horn Highlights: Former Tigrayan officials arrested, Estimates of half a million dead, Fast action on drought-related starvation needed

In this week’s Horn Highlights: Former Tigrayan officials arrested in Ethiopia; US committee Chair calls for genocide assessement in Ethiopia conflict; Ethiopian court extends journalist detention; Estimates that war killed 500.000 in Tigray; WHO says it is awaiting permission to ship 95 tons of aid into Tigray; MSF wants clarity on killings of its staff in Tigray; Mercy Corps urges rapid action on drought-related starvation in Horn; China envoy to the Horn announces peace conference; Eritrea arrests 29 evangelists; Eritrean refugees detained and fined in Sudan.