Petition and letter to free five Eritrean refugees detained in Egypt after peaceful protest

Letters by Human Rights Concern Eritrea and Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights ask for the immediate release of five detained Eritreans in Cairo, Egypt. The five were arrested on July 21, 2019, and are held in an undisclosed location without access to legal representation. The detained are part of a group of around 500 Eritreans who demonstrated peacefully against alleged mismanagement and corruption by Cairo’s UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) office. Their trial is set today (7 August 2019).

News Highlights: Eritrea round-ups of youth increase, reports of Sudan troops in Libya, deadly shipwreck at Libyan coast

In this week’s news highlights: Round-ups (Giffas) of youth for national service in Eritrea; Eritrean catholic church disputes government claims over health clinic seizure; Concerns over stalled Eritrea/Ethiopia trade; School students killed in Sudan protest; 115 people feared dead in Libyan shipwreck, survivors returned to Libya; Sudanese militia reportedly deployed in Libya; Refugees remain in detention after protest Egypt; UK detained victims of trafficking; 5 EU countries agree to resettle 116 stranded refugees and migrants; and law professor argues why ICC should move to prosecute the EU.

News Highlights: EU migration project in Sudan suspended, Eritrean Patriarch removed, Refugees arrested in Egypt

In this week’s news highlights: EU migration project in Sudan suspended since mid-March; “Solidarity mechanism” approved by 14 European ministers, Italy not included; €2 million for UNHCR in Libya from Germany; Critical report on EU migration policies; Italy wants to raise fines for NGO rescue operations; Band-sponsored rescue mission announced; Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch accused of heresy is removed from Church; IMF reports “disastrous” economic situation of Eritrea; Sudan Military announces failed coup attempt; Negotiations Sudan postponed; NGOs ask ACHPR to investigate human rights violations in Libyan detention centres; Tunisia unable to bury corpses of drowned refugees and migrants.