In this week’s news highlights: Italian interior minister Marco Minniti defends his strategy of making deals in Libya to stop migration; the European Court of Justice throws out complaints of Hungary and Slovakia against mandatory relocation of refugees; Eritrean rebels fear the support of Gulf states to Afewerki’s regime; Ethiopia’s drought situation declared major issue by UN; warnings about Cholera in Sudan; Libya’s fragmentation and deals with EU member states are analysed; and Human Rights Watch report states United Nation should start an investigation on torture as possible Crime Against Humanity in Egypt.
Europe
Italy: interior minister defends controversial deals in Libya
The Italian interior minister Marco Minniti defended his strategy toward controlling the migration flow from Libya in an interview. The strategy involves, among others, an agreement that Italy signed with major tribes in the south of Libya in order to stop migrants at the border.
Hungary and Slovakia: EU Court dismisses complaints over refugee quota
The European Court of Justice rejected the complaints of Hungary and Slovakia against mandatory relocation quotas for refugees. The court also concluded that the limited effectiveness of the relocation policy was due, in particular, to the lack of cooperation from certain member states.
European union: EU strategy to stop migration from Africa
A Washington Post analysis article is looking at the European Union’s strategies for stemming migration from Africa. Some, such as Catherine Woollard, secretary general of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, express the view that the EU is taking the wrong approach and may end up supporting groups linked to human rights abuses.
Greater Horn of Africa
Eritrea: rebels fear the Arabic Gulf states supporting Eritrean regime
A video report from Aljazeera TV shows how Eritrean rebels in Ethiopia opposing Afewerki’s regime are finding the struggle for their political and human rights more difficult since the Gulf Countries increased their support the regime.
Ethiopia: drought priority for UN food agencies
The heads of the United Nations food agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP) have declared Ethiopia’s drought situation a priority issue after a four-day visit to assess the situation. According to FAO the death of much livestock in Ethiopia has caused a breakdown in pastoral livelihoods, contributing to soaring hunger levels and alarming increases in malnutrition rates.
Sudan: ‘Cholera epidemic has spread to Darfur’
Independent journalist Eric Reeves, accuses the Sudanese regime of keeping a Cholera epidemic under wraps by referring to cases as “Acute Watery Diarrhea”. On Reeves account the situation remains extremely serious and may evolve into a major problem.
Sudan: story of a war refugee from Sudan in Australia
Ayik Chut, a Sudan war refugee who fled the country in 1996 after several month of detention, recounts his history. Once he arrived in Australia he obtained political asylum and that was the start of his second life, until he again came face to face with his war memories.
North Africa
Libya: EU member state deals with Libya over migration could cause further destabilisation
EEPA looks back at the recent history in Libya to recall how it became one of the main points of operation of human smuggling and trafficking networks. It also looks at the recent attempts of EU member states France and Italy to make peace and stop migration – but on different sides.
Egypt: Human Rights Watch report urges for investigation of possible crime against humanity
The United Nations should open an investigation into the torture practices used under President al-Sisi against political opponents. Human Rights Watch states that the practices may amount to a crime against humanity. The organisation conducted its investigation by interviewing former detainees and analysing reports about the torture.