Month: December 2017

News Highlights: Dutch parliament motion to close Eritrean embassy, businesses shut down in Asmara, EU divided over relocation

In this week’s news highlights: Dutch parliamentarians express their concern over the influence of the Eritrean regime and ask the government to close the Eritrean embassy; European Union sets June 2018 deadline for divisive relocation quota vote if no compromise is found; migration needs long term solutions, says European Commissioner; businesses in Eritrea close in what activists say is a move to control people; Human Rights Watch fears mistreatment of activists in Sudan; more clashes in the Oromia region of Ethiopia; and UN Refugee Agency wants to move 5.000 – 10.000 people out of Libyan detention centres in 2018.

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Dutch parliament demands closing of Eritrean embassy

In a debate in the Dutch parliament on Wednesday 20 December, a motion has been issued by parliament members to close the Eritrean embassy. The Dutch parliament and government have debated multiple times in the previous years over intimidation, threats, 2% diaspora tax and the role of the embassy and Eritrean government in the Eritrean diaspora community in the Netherlands. The recent report on the 2% diaspora tax in Europe has further fueled the concerns, and it is now supported by recordings from the Dutch radio programme Argos that show the coercion in action. 

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News Highlights: Dutch Professor wins YPFDJ court case, Eritrea after Akria protest, EU discusses migration

In this week’s news highlights: Dutch Professor wins Court appeal against ex-chair of Young PFDJ; a look at Eritrea’s Akria district one month after the protest; UK-Sudan trade deal raises concern; Ethiopian Government spying on diaspora activists through Israeli spyware; EU announces Horn of Africa funding of projects worth 174.4 million; Donald Tusk’s plan on migration described as ‘anti-European’ by EU Commission; EU Council to discuss on migration this week; November Frontex report analyses numbers; Amnesty International firmly opposing EU migration policy regarding Libya.

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