Europe External Programme with Africa is a Belgium-based Centre of Expertise with in-depth knowledge, publications, and networks, specialised in issues of peacebuilding, refugee protection, and resilience in the Horn of Africa. EEPA has published extensively on issues related to the movement and/or human trafficking of refugees in the Horn of Africa and on the Central Mediterranean Route. It cooperates with a wide network of universities, research organisations, civil society, and experts from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and across Africa. The Situation Reports can be found here. To receive the situation report in your e-mail, click here. You can unsubscribe at any moment through the link at the bottom of each e-mail.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 26 October)
- Tension escalated in the town of Moyale between leaders of Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions on 18 October amid allegations of the unauthorized raising of the Somali regional flag by its leaders. Moyale is jointly administered by the Somali and Oromia regions.
- Over 14,000 people have been displaced in the Moyale area since the fighting broke out on 22 October, with nine people killed between 22 and 23 October.
- Thousands of Ethiopian nationals have crossed the border into Kenya in order to escape fighting in Moyale. The Kenya Red Cross has begun providing displaced individuals with first aid essentials, while Kenya Defence Forces troops have been moved to the border with Ethiopia since tensions escalated.
- The ongoing clashes in Moyale have now spread to three additional districts in South Oromia, including Gumi Eldallo, Wachile, and Arero.
- Five people were killed and five others injured in a drone strike in Medebai Terrer, in northwestern Tigray on 22 October.
- Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces claim to have killed or wounded over 500 Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) soldiers during an attempted ENDF attack on Azeba, eastern Tigray, on the evening of 22 October.
- A drone strike hit an elementary school in Amhara’s South Gondar Zone, killing at least six children on 20 October. Another drone strike in southeastern Tigray hit a parked truck and killed four people while they were loading livestock.
- Security forces reportedly opened fire on protestors in Raya Alamata to disperse crowds on 23 October. The protestors had come to the streets to reject electoral activities taking place in the area.
- People living in Ethiopia’s Wag Hemra Zone, in Amhara, are facing a severe hunger crisis after a huge drought has affected 90% of their crops and livestock. The situation is further exacerbated by ongoing war in the country.
- Number of civilian casualties, displacements and abductions has been rising in four Ethiopian regions, including Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO).
- EHRCO urgently called on federal and regional authorities to protect the Ethiopian people, release those abducted, and provide humanitarian aid to those displaced.
- Redae Halefom Woldeselassie, an official of Tigray’s new caretaker administration, urged TPLF fighters to surrender and join a new disarmament programme. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Fisseha Kidanu, commander of the TPLF forces, called on local militias to oppose forces linked to the caretaker administration.
- Elections at woreda and kebele levels are being held across Tigray, overseen by the caretaker administration.
Situation in Sudan (per 26 October)
- Various drone strikes launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hit five power stations across the eastern states of Al-Jazira, Gedaref, and White Nile, causing widespread power outages on 26 October.
- Two miners were killed and three others injured in the collapse of a mine in Gedaref state of eastern Sudan on 25 October.
- The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) intensified their air attacks against RSF positions in Darfur and Kordofan states for the past two weeks. These strikes successfully hit RSF equipment, while also causing civilian casualties and damage to public infrastructure.
- The SAF retook two areas in the Blue Nile region, including Bukuri military base, on 22 October after intense fighting with the RSF and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). The RSF and SPLM-N alliance had previously seized the strategic military base in late August.
- Protests erupted in Atbara, River Nile State, due to extremely high transport fares caused by severe fuel shortages. This escalation follows months of deteriorating economic conditions in the country.
Regional and international situation (per 26 October)
- The UK announced sanctions against 15 senior commanders from the RSF and SAF for atrocities committed during the siege of El Fasher in 2025. The UK is also allocating 5 million pounds for the survivors of sexual violence and 10 million pounds to address Sudan’s humanitarian and famine crisis.
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk strongly condemned the recent surge in drone attacks across Sudan, which have killed at least 306 people and have injured hundreds more just in the first three weeks of October.
- Ongoing wars in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait are severely compromising the economy and security of the Horn of Africa, warned Ethiopian authorities, alongside UN and EU envoys, during the Tana Forum on Peace and Security held between 23 and 25 October.
- Sudan and Qatar’s Future Union Holding Company signed a memorandum of understanding to invest in Sudan’s livestock and fisheries sector in order to revitalize Sudan’s damaged economy.
- A series of “Mekhete” seminars were held for members of the Eritrean diaspora across various countries, aiming to strengthen the involvement of the diaspora in national activities. According to Eritrean media source TesfaNews over £275,000 was raised for “defence of the homeland” at the seminar in London.
- Ethiopian American civic organisations have sent a letter to US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, urging the US to adopt a balanced approach to Ethiopia and to condemn human rights abuses with targeted measures against those responsible for these abuses.
Links of interest
Hundreds of Ethiopians cross into Kenya to flee regional fighting
Leaders decry humanitarian crisis, insecurity along Kenya-Ethiopia border
Fighting in Ethiopia border town kills nine, thousands flee to Kenya
Army deployed in Moyale as Ethiopians flee tribal violence seek refuge
News: Fighting in border town Moyale spreads to three more districts, exchange of heavy gunfire
News: Rights Council reports alarming civilian deaths, abductions across four Ethiopian regions
Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels urged to disarm as commander vows to fight on
Local Elections Underway in Tigray as Caretaker Administration Call for Stability in Border Zones
Mass outages in Sudan after RSF drones hit five power stations
Two killed in gold mine collapse in eastern Sudan
Sudanese army intensifies airstrikes on RSF positions in Darfur and Kordofan
Sudanese army recaptures strategic military base in Blue Nile region from RSF alliance
Protests erupt in Sudan’s Atbara over soaring public transport fares
UN rights chief ‘strongly’ condemns surge in drone strikes across Sudan
Ethiopian, U.N. and EU envoys warn of Red Sea escalation fallout on Horn of Africa
Sudan and Qatari firm agree on livestock investment pact to boost economy
Eritrea: Seminars for Diaspora Nationals on Objective Situation
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.