News Highlights: Israel cancels deportation plan, Human Trafficker ‘The General’ still free, Criticism on EU and UK cooperation with Sudan

In this week’s highlights: Israel states that the deportation plan is cancelled; Swedish documentary on human trafficker ‘the General’; criticism for EU and UK cooperation with Sudan; South Sudan seeing more attacks on health facilities; Meron Estefanos on the tragedy of refugees; documents no longer needed for Eritrean family reunification in Sweden; report on EU support for authoritarian states; EP backs regulations on asylum; and AU presents progress in European Parliament.

EP DEVE Committee hosts AU: Cooperation progress going well but African Union stresses its funding gaps

On the eve of the negotiations for a Post-Cotonou Agreement, which will manage the relations between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states after the Cotonou agreement expires in 2020, discussions between the stakeholders areintensifying. On 24 April 2018 the Development Committee (DEVE) of the European Parliament (EP) held a joint sitting with the Delegation to the ACPGroup of Statesto discuss the reform of the African Union.Their progress for reforming the African Union was described as good, however the speakers focused on theirfunding gaps, and asked for the assistance of the EU as their “major partner”.

News Highlights: Port dispute Somaliland, Sarkozy accused of receiving funds from Gadhafi, EU-ACP talks for Post-Cotonou

In this week’s news highlights: Many arrested afterupheavals in Eritrea following death of respected elder; Port dispute between Somaliland and Somalia may cause conflict, Somaliland minister warns; Eritrea accused by Ethiopia over security destabilization; Amnesty International protestsSouth Sudanese men sentenced to death; Former French President Sarkozy faces accusations of illegal campaign funding from Gadhafi; Talks between EU and ACP on Post-Cotonou agreement; EU to provide further training to Libyan coastguard; Human Rights Watch says Libya is not ready for elections.