News Highlights: IS Attacks Libya, UN and NGOs report on Eritrea, EU’s new budget could strengthen rule of law

In this week’s news highlights: Human Rights Watch and Human Rights Concern Eritrea report on Eritrea; US Congressman calls for cooperation with Eritrea; UN calls on Eritrea to respect media freedom; South Sudan continues to be supported by Egypt, el-Sisi assures; Humanitarian staff in Somalia dead and injured; Ethiopian and Eritrean ex-officials debate blame for border issues; Deaths and injuries after IS attack in Libya; Mogherini reassures EU’s willingness to support Somalia; EU’s new budget to strengthen rule of law.

Rising tension in Horn of Africa region

In the initial weeks of 2018, the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir announced the closure of the border with Eritrea which was was followed by the deployment of militia forces to the bordering regions. The reason for the border closing has not officially been made clear and Sudan has denied tension between the two countries. This manoeuvre comes just after the declaration of a six-month state of emergency in the Sudanese regions of Kassala and North Kordofan. The official motivation given for the state of emergency was the Sudanese campaign against the trafficking of human beings, weapons, and drugs and in those border regions.