The rival leaders of Libya, a departure point for thousands of refugees to Europe, agree to election plan

In a summit in France on Tuesday the 30th of May, the rival factions of Libya, a country with an estimate of 43,113 refugees according to the UN from which 90 percent cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, agreed to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. The summit was hosted by the French president Emmanuel macron, who called the summit ‘historic’. However, others raised critical questions about the breakthrough of the conference.

Switzerland may return Eritreans, MEPs call on Member States to focus on migration, EU Council conclusions on South Sudan

In this week’s news highlights: Switzerland assessing 3,200 Eritreans for possible deportation; European Parliament talks about migration policy reform; Macron proposes new EU fund for migration; EU Council conclusions on South Sudan; Accusations of NGO aiding human trafficking in Italy continues; Somalia retains another UAE plane; In-depth articles on youth in the Horn of Africa; Refugees International publishes report on Libya; Captive Eritreans in Israel released; And abuses of African refugees in Yemen.

by K. Smits
Posted on August 31, 2017August 31, 2017
Eritrea

In this week’s news highlights, the policy direction of the European Union becomes increasingly clear as several EU countries promise to held Chad, Niger and Libya increase their border protection; processes to return asylum seekers to Greece have started despite doubts over conditions of reception; the International Organization on Migration and Reporters Without Borders remind us of the damage of disappearances; and a prominent human rights activist is pardoned and freed in Sudan, but others are still being held.