News Highlights: Somalia rejects mediation amidst tensions with Ethiopia, Phantom boats at sea, Starvation in Tigray

In this week’s News Highlights: Somalia rejects mediation over dispute Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU; IGAD Summit discusses Sudan and Ethiopia/Somalia tensions; Arab League and PSC discuss Ethiopia-Somalia tensions; Sudanese VP Malik Agar visits Eritrea;  Russian military base at Dahlak Islands in Eritrea; Clashes at Melbourne Eritrean festival; Displacement in Sudan reaches 7.7 million; Ethnic targeting of people suspected of spying in Sudan; World Heritage under threat in Sudan; Explosions and remote violence increase in Sudan; Starvation sets in in Tigray as Federal government denies looming famine; Fano warns citizens not to attend Timket celebrations in Amhara; Protests erupt in Tunisia as 37 people still missing at sea; Court hearing about reception centres begins in Albania; Boats disappear and wrecks go unreported in the Mediterranean; European Parliament votes to withhold funds from Hungary; Law passed to overcome UK Supreme Court block of Rwanda deal;  Five people dead after failed crossing of Channel; German Parliament votes to make deportations easier; Protest against French immigration law; and Crossings at highest level since 2016, says Frontex.

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Horn of Africa

Somalia/Ethiopia: Somalia rejects mediation over dispute Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU
Somalia rejected mediation over the dispute with Ethiopia until Ethiopia withdraws from Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Somaliland, according to a press statement by the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An Ethiopian Airlines aircraft heading to Hargeisa city in Somaliland was denied entry to Somali airspace by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday. The aircraft was reportedly carrying a high-level Ethiopian delegation. Due to the lack of authorisation for landing in Hargeisa by Somali authorities, the aircraft was redirected and returned to Addis Ababa. Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed is said to be planning to visit Somaliland, to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called on Somalis to “prepare for the defence of our homeland” on Sunday. A senior advisor to President Mohamud stated that Somalia is ready to go to war to prevent Ethiopia from recognising Somaliland. Somalia rejected mediation over the dispute with Ethiopia until Ethiopia withdraws from Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Somaliland, according to a press statement by the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An Ethiopian Airlines aircraft heading to Hargeisa city in Somaliland was denied entry to Somali airspace by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday. The aircraft was reportedly carrying a high-level Ethiopian delegation. Due to the lack of authorisation for landing in Hargeisa by Somali authorities, the aircraft was redirected and returned to Addis Ababa. Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed is said to be planning to visit Somaliland, to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called on Somalis to “prepare for the defence of our homeland” on Sunday. A senior advisor to President Mohamud stated that Somalia is ready to go to war to prevent Ethiopia from recognising Somaliland.

Horn of Africa: IGAD Summit discusses Sudan and Ethiopia/Somalia tensions
The 42nd Extraordinary Summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) took place in Kampala, Uganda. The leaders issued a communique urging the parties in the Sudan war to engage in constructive dialogue, with a meeting between RSF and SAF leaders within two weeks, and called for ceasefire.  The MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland was also included on the agenda. The summit took place without participation of the Sudanese and Ethiopian delegations. Sudan suspended its engagement over peace mediation efforts with IGAD on Tuesday. Last week, IGAD invited Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti), chief of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to the summit. Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is loyal to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chief of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), stated that IGAD violated Sudan’s sovereignty by adding Sudan on the agenda of the IGAD meeting and inviting Hemedti to the summit without any consultation. The Sudanese anti-war coalition, the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqadum), confirmed the presence of their delegation at the IGAD summit. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Ethiopia will not be participating in the IGAD meeting in Kampala due to previously scheduled commitments that overlap with the summit. 

Horn of Africa: Arab League and PSC discuss Ethiopia-Somalia tensions
The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) held a discussion on the escalating situation between Somalia and Ethiopia on Wednesday. The AU PSC urged both countries “to exercise restraint, de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue toward finding a peaceful resolution of the matter”. The Arab League (AL) denounced the Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU during an extraordinary meeting held on Wednesday. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, AL Secretary General, called it  “a clear violation of international law”. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the statements of the AL calling them “unacceptable”, said Addis Standard.  Somaliland also rejected the statement by the Arab League. The US denounced the MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland, claiming that Somalia’s territorial integrity must be supported. The MoU may threaten the counterterrorism endeavours in the fight against Al-Shabaab and may lead to instability, according to John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications for the US National Security Council.US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, is travelling to  Kampala, Uganda and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 17 and 24 January and attended the IGAD summit. Hammer will discuss peace mediation efforts on Sudan as well as implementation of Cessation Hostilities Agreement in the Tigray region.  The AU Commission appointed a high-level panel to facilitate the peace mediation process in Sudan. The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) held a discussion on the escalating situation between Somalia and Ethiopia on Wednesday. The AU PSC urged both countries “to exercise restraint, de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue toward finding a peaceful resolution of the matter”. The Arab League (AL) denounced the Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU during an extraordinary meeting held on Wednesday. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, AL Secretary General, called it  “a clear violation of international law”. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the statements of the AL calling them “unacceptable”, said Addis Standard.  Somaliland also rejected the statement by the Arab League. The US denounced the MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland, claiming that Somalia’s territorial integrity must be supported. The MoU may threaten the counterterrorism endeavours in the fight against Al-Shabaab and may lead to instability, according to John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications for the US National Security Council.US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, is travelling to  Kampala, Uganda and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 17 and 24 January and attended the IGAD summit. Hammer will discuss peace mediation efforts on Sudan as well as implementation of Cessation Hostilities Agreement in the Tigray region.  The AU Commission appointed a high-level panel to facilitate the peace mediation process in Sudan.

Eritrea: Sudanese VP Malik Agar visits Eritrea
Vice-president of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, travelled to Eritrea for a bilateral visit with Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki on Wednesday. Among others, they discussed “the issue of security and stability of the eastern states neighbouring Eritrea and the strategy we are taking to avoid the spread of the war to these states,” stated Agar.

Eritrea/Russia: Russian military base at Dahlak Islands
Russia will reportedly establish a military base at the Dahlak Islands of Eritrea. The islands are located in the Red Sea  between Eritrea and Yemen and Saudi Arabia. This is reportedly an outcome of the visits of Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki to Moscow in May and July 2023. The plan was first announced in 2018 by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Soviet Union had a military base in the Dahlak Islands during the reign of Mengistu 1975 to 1991.

Eritrea: Clashes at Melbourne festival
Clashes broke out between pro-democracy Eritreans and pro-regime Eritreans at an Eritrean festival in Melbourne, Australia. 10 people needed to go to the hospital for injuries. Pro-democracy Eritreans had called for the festival to be cancelled and had called for a peaceful protest. Legal charges have been filed after clashes at an Eritrean event organised by supporters of the Eritrean regime in Stuttgart, Germany, in September 2023. Charges were filed against a 26-year old protester who is accused of among others disturbing the peace and attacking police officers. 

Sudan: Displacement in Sudan reaches 7.7 million
7.7 million people have been displaced since the start of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023 with 6 million displaced internally and 1.7 million crossing borders, according to the new statistics by the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix. IOM Director General, Amy Pope, urged the international community to ramp up the funding for 2024 and not turn the back “on the suffering of millions of people affected by such devastating conflict”. IOM launched an appeal for  $307 million in support of affected communities. Essential aid is not reaching people in Sudan due to impediments such as excessive bureaucracy for humanitarian supplies reaching Port Sudan, fighting in essential hubs such as Wad Medani and attacks on aid workers and drivers, states UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths.Thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have entered Kassala and Gedaref states, where the humanitarian situation is challenging, states Médecins Sans Frontières. Refugees fleeing the Sudan conflict are dying during their attempt to cross into Egypt through the Sahara Desert. Over 378.000 people are known to have arrived from Sudan, according to UNHCR. Most of the refugees are using smuggling networks to enter Egypt through dangerous routes as the visa application process for asylum seekers takes at least two months.

Sudan: Ethnic targeting of people suspected of spying
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has been targeting civilians on ethnic grounds, accusing them of spying for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, leading to arrests, torture, and killings, witnesses state. The military intelligence officers have been conducting dragnets across the country, subjecting people to enforced disappearances and torture without presenting any evidence against them. Dozens of people have been extrajudicially executed. RSF has also committed similar crimes on a large scale. The army is mainly targeting people from the Kordofan and Darfur regions, seen as RSF strongholds. This has heightened ethnic tensions and raised fears of a fracture within the military along ethnic lines. 

Sudan: World Heritage under threat in Sudan
Fighting between RSF and SAF is approaching the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra, located in the Nile province of Sudan, warned the Regional Network for Cultural Rights. The remains of the ancient Kingdom of Kush is a complex of historical pyramids, temples and dwellings. Al-Burhan and Hemedti must stop fighting in order to terminate the “endless cycle of violence” in Sudan, urged Radhouane Nouicer, UN expert on human rights in Sudan.

Sudan: Explosions and remote violence increase
From 25 November 2023 to 5 January 2024, ACLED recorded over 640 political violence events and 720 reported fatalities in Sudan, of which the majority were recorded in Khartoum state with over 440 events and 315 deaths. The second-highest number of recorded events took place in Al Jazira state in Sudan, where 70 events and 110 deaths were recorded. ACLED noted a 56% increase in explosions and remote violence in Sudan. At least 33 civilians were killed at the end of last week in Khartoum. 23 people were killed in a bombardment of South Khartoum’s Soba district and 10 people were killed in artillery strikes, stated the Emergency Lawyers group. Seven civilians were killed in bombardments by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in the White Nile state village of Al-Qutaynah, a resistance committee stated. Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly shot down a SAF Mohajer-6 armed drone with a man-portable air-defense systems. The incident raises questions about where RSF is obtaining such advanced military equipment. From 25 November 2023 to 5 January 2024, ACLED recorded over 640 political violence events and 720 reported fatalities in Sudan, of which the majority were recorded in Khartoum state with over 440 events and 315 deaths. The second-highest number of recorded events took place in Al Jazira state in Sudan, where 70 events and 110 deaths were recorded. ACLED noted a 56% increase in explosions and remote violence in Sudan. At least 33 civilians were killed at the end of last week in Khartoum. 23 people were killed in a bombardment of South Khartoum’s Soba district and 10 people were killed in artillery strikes, stated the Emergency Lawyers group. Seven civilians were killed in bombardments by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in the White Nile state village of Al-Qutaynah, a resistance committee stated. Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly shot down a SAF Mohajer-6 armed drone with a man-portable air-defense systems. The incident raises questions about where RSF is obtaining such advanced military equipment.

Tigray/Ethiopia: Starvation sets in as Federal government denies looming famine
More than 200 people have died from starvation in Edaga Arbi town in theTigray region, with an additional 16 deaths in nearby Adwa town, local officials state. Officials warn of an impending famine on a scale not seen since 1984. The Federal government denies that famine is looming. Medics and humanitarians argue that the aid is not arriving fast enough, resulting in preventable deaths. The crisis is particularly severe in Tigray, which is still recovering from war, displacement, and drought. People in many villages in Tigray are desperately waiting for aid. The little aid that has come in has focused on Internally Displaced Persons from outside of the villages, states a reporter for DW. The reporter visiting the Tigray region saw starving people and people who had not eaten for days, stating that the starvation is obvious as soon as you leave the capital of Mekelle.

Amhara/Ethiopia: Fano warns citizens not to attend Timket celebrations
Fano militia warned citizens of Gondar not to attend public celebrations of Timket on Saturday, several sources report. Fano accused the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of collecting money which it then passes on to the ruling Prosperity Party. Gondar’s mayor refuted Fano’s warning and announced that public events will take place. Reports came in that 2 bombs exploded near the main churches in Gondar during the night. There were no injuries or deaths, so observers have interpreted the attacks as a warning. Most of the local administrations in Amhara have disappeared or have joined Fano, sources note. In some places there is no administrative presence at all from either Fano or the Ethiopian government. In Oromia, most of the roads are still blocked due to the conflict between the OLA and ENDF.

North Africa

Tunisia: Protests erupt as 37 people still missing at sea
A boat carrying 37 refugees and migrants has gone missing off the coast of Sfax in Tunisia. Contact was lost since the night of 11 January. The passengers, who range in age from 13 to 35, are mostly from the village of El Hancha. Contact with the boat and its passengers was lost shortly after they set out to sea. The families of the missing migrants staged protests due to the lack of information by authorities in relation to the progress on search and rescue attempts. The Tunisian National Guard, along with Maltese and Italian units, are involved in the search. 

Europe

Albania/Italy: Court hearing about reception centres begins
A court hearing has started in Albania to decide whether Italy can use Albanian territory for reception centres for asylum seekers entering the EU by sea. The deal between Albania and Italy, made in November 2023, would see the country eventually hosting up to 36.000 refugees and migrants rescued at sea. The hearing will determine whether the deal violates Albania’s constitution, as critics state that Italy would essentially have to claim a portion of Albania’s territory in order to have jurisdiction. Critics also worry about the possibility of deteriorating asylum standards if the process is taken beyond European Union borders. The court has until 6 March to make a decision, but it could be taken much sooner than that, given the high stakes. 

Mediterranean: Boats disappear and wrecks go unreported
The NGO Sea-Watch is searching for a boat with around 40 people on board that disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea after being spotted by a surveillance aircraft. The boat was also reported by the Alarm Phone assistance platform for refugees and migrants at sea. Despite search efforts by European coast guard agency Frontex and Italian authorities, the boat and its passengers have not been found. NGOs warn of the existence of “phantom” boats, which they lose contact with while at sea, leaving refugees and migrants at the mercy of bad weather. The phenomenon of “phantom” boats has increased due to a law that requires NGO ships to proceed to the port of disembarkation immediately after a rescue, leaving less ships to patrol the sea, NGOs warn. These shipwrecks often go unreported by authorities, leading to discrepancies between NGO and official reports of migrant deaths and disappearances.

EU/Hungary: European Parliament votes to withhold funds from Hungary
Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, stated that the European Union will not be able to force the country to change its policies on asylum and LGBTQ rights by withholding funding. This statement was made following the European Parliament’s approval of a resolution calling for the withholding of funds until Hungary meets all criteria for upholding the rule of law. The resolution is nonbinding. €20 billion of EU funds is currently already frozen; however, €10 billion was earlier unfrozen by the European Commission, to the outrage of many European Parliament members, who threatened to take the Commission to the Court of Justice for the move. 

UK: Law passed to overcome UK Supreme Court block of Rwanda deal
UK lawmakers have passed a bill to overcome a UK Supreme Court block to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a ‘rebellion’ within his own Conservative Party, as some conservatives thought the bill was not strong enough. The bill still faces political and legal challenges. The UN Refugee Agency stated this week that the Rwanda deal is not compatible with international refugee law. Sunak claims the controversial immigration policy will deter risky journeys across the English Channel and break the business model of people-smuggling gangs. The bill will now proceed to the House of Lords, where it may face further opposition.

UK/France: Five people dead after failed crossing 
Five people have been found dead in the English Channel as they attempted to cross from northern France to Britain. The boat carrying refugees and migrants was spotted in difficulty off a beach in Wimereux, France, and several vessels and a helicopter were employed in the search. However, five bodies were later recovered from the sea or were washed up on the beach.

Germany: Parliament votes to make deportations easier
The German parliament approved legislation aimed at making deportations of asylum-seekers easier. The new laws include increasing the maximum length of pre-deportation custody, facilitating the deportation of members of criminal organisations, and authorising residential searches for identity documentation. The legislation also removes the obligation to give advance notice of deportations in some cases. Additionally, the parliament is set to vote on legislation that would ease citizenship rules to aid immigrant integration and address the shortage of skilled workers in the economy.

France: Protest against French immigration law
Thousands of people in France participated in rallies against a controversial immigration law ahead of the Constitutional Council’s decision on 25 January. Critics of the law have dismissed it as anti-social and racist. The law, which restricts social aid payments to foreigners and introduces migration quotas, has been denounced as regressive and a threat to rights and freedoms. Protests against the law are expected to continue, with a boycott of the Paris Olympic Games being threatened if the law is passed, as many of the undocumented migrants affected by the law are working in construction linked to the olympic games. Further demonstrations are planned for 21 January.

EU: Crossings at highest level since 2016, says Frontex
A rise in arrivals via the Mediterranean region in 2023 has led to the highest number of irregular crossings into Europe since 2016, according to Frontex. This amounts to a total of around 380.000 crossings.