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 Sudan (per 25 July)
- 750 have died and more than 4,700 people have been injured in El Fasher, North Darfur, since the fighting resumed in May and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) besieged the city, said Ibrahim Khater, Director General of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur.
- The US has invited the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF to peace mediation talks in Switzerland with the Swiss government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as co-hosts. The talks are to commence on 14 August if both parties agree.
- The peace process, overseen by the AU, UAE, UN and Egypt, aims to establish “nationwide cessation of violence, enabling humanitarian access to all those in need, and develop a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure implementation of any agreement”.
- The RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) agreed to participate in the talks while the head of SAF, Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, is yet to respond to the invitation.
- Recently manufactured weapons and ammunition fueling the war in Sudan are being imported to the country in large quantities from several countries including China, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, UAE and Yemen, reports Amnesty International.
- Amnesty urged to reevaluate the arms embargo on Sudan which is currently imposed on the Darfur region only. “It is clear that the existing arms embargo that currently applies only to Darfur is completely inadequate, and must be updated and extended to cover the whole of Sudan”, says Amnesty.
- Fighting escalated in Sennar state, with the RSF claiming to have captured El Souki town yesterday.
- Civilians have been facing indiscriminate violence by both SAF and RSF since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan due to “a collapse in the protection of civilians”, says a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 25 July)
- Gofa zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State witnessed landslides on Sunday and Monday causing at least 257 casualties. Landslides were caused by heavy rain and flooding affecting the region in recent months and leaving over 15,000 people in need of evacuation.
- Rescue operations are still ongoing and the number of victims is expected to rise to up to 500 people, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
- 16,868 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned back to Raya Alamata, southern Tigray, and nearby areas in Waja and Timuga, confirmed Haftu Kiros, administrator of the Southern Tigray Zone. IDP returnees include militia and former police officers.
- Despite ongoing repatriation process, fear and insecurity reportedly remains in the Raya Alamata area, according to witnesses.
- A new task force has been established to implement the law enforcement campaign in Tigray with the aim to strengthen rule of law and improve security in the region.
- Tigray Interim Regional Administration announced that there were several arrests, including some officials, carried out under this campaign.
Situation in Eritrea (per 25 July)
- The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority announced suspension of Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea effective from 30 September 2024. The Ethiopian Airlines, which are currently seeking more clarification on the suspension of flights, had been operating flights to and from Eritrea since 2018.
- Eritrea claims that decision is based on “consistent and persistent malicious trading practices pursued by Ethiopian airlines in general and systemic and organized passengers’ luggage theft, […] coupled with unjustified and unwarranted price hikes and other irregularities witnessed”.
Situation in Kenya (per 25 July)
- Kenyan President, William Ruto, appointed four opposition members to a new Cabinet. The nominees who are allies of Ruto’s main opposition leader, Raila Odinga, will take up ministries of finance, energy, mining and blue economy, and co-operatives and micro, small and medium enterprises development.
- This announcement comes two weeks after William Ruto dismissed most of the ministers of his Cabinet.
- Anti-government protests have continued within Kenya this week. There are reports of clashes erupting between anti-government groups and an emerging group of government supporters.
International Situation (per 25 July)
- South Sudan is considering a complete shutdown of oil exports through Sudan as the current revenues do not cover needed expenses nor salaries of civil servants who had been working already for 9 months without any pay.
- The EU Commission has proposed tighter Schengen visa rules for Somalia in order to encourage the country to better cooperate in accepting the return of its nationals who have entered the EU illegally and are staying there without proper documentation.
Refugee and Migration Situation (per 25 July)
- Sudanese refugees residing in Ethiopia will be relocated to a new location in the Aftit site in Amhara region, announced Ethiopian Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and the UNHCR,.
- The new refugee site will host about 12,500 refugees which were previously hosted in Awlala and Kumer camps as well as transit centres.
- The newly re-elected president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, aims to strengthen external EU borders as well as the role of the border agency Frontex. Von der Leyen further stated that she will propose to increase the number of coastguards by three times to 30,000.
- “More secure borders will also help us to manage migration in a more structured and fair way”, added von der Leyen in her statement in the European Parliament Plenary.
- About 1,200 Sudanese refugees are arriving daily in Libya through Kufra where local authorities and host communities try to provide basic assistance.
- There is a need to ramp up the humanitarian aid and coordination for Sudanese refugees in Libya, said Georgette Gagnon, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya.
Links of interest
El Fasher conflict death toll exceeds 470, health ministry official reveals
The US Invites the SAF and theRSF to Ceasefire Talks Co-hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland
Paramilitary RSF agrees to US-mediated talks on Sudan war
Sudan: Constant flow of arms fuelling relentless civilian suffering in conflict – new investigation
Fighting escalates in Sudan’s Sennar
MSF report reveals catastrophic toll of ‘a war on people’ in Sudan
Ethiopia: Flash Update #2 – Update on Landslide in Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia Region (As of 24 July 2024)
News: Fear, insecurity persists amid recent large-scale IDPs and militia return to Raya Alamata
በትግራይ ክልል በተጀመረ የሕግ ማስከበር ዘመቻ ባለሥልጣናትን ጨምሮ በርካቶች በቁጥጥር ሥር መዋላቸው ተገለጸ
Eritrea Suspends Ethiopian Airlines: A Deep Dive into Passenger Grievances and Ticket Price Hikes
Kenya’s Ruto adds opposition figures to cabinet as protests rumble on
Kenya’s turmoil widens as anti-government protesters clash with emerging pro-government group
South Sudan mulls total oil shutdown after deadlock with Sudan
EU Wants to Tighten Schengen Visa Rules for Somalia
Government of Ethiopia, UNHCR to relocate Sudanese refugees to a new site in Amhara region
European Commission President announces migration policy direction for new term
UN envoy calls for support for refugees in Libya
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.