Rising tension in Horn of Africa region
11 Jan 2018

Rising tension in Horn of Africa region

by | posted in: Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Horn of Africa region, Yemen | 0

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.

News Highlights: EU engagement Eritrea failing, leaked document EU-Ethiopia repatriation, EP resolution Sudan
7 Dec 2017

News Highlights: EU engagement Eritrea failing, leaked document EU-Ethiopia repatriation, EP resolution Sudan

by | posted in: African Union, EEPA news and activities, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Politics, European Union, Horn of Africa region, Human Trafficking, Libya, Migration, Refugees in the EU, Sudan, United Nations, Weekly news highlights | 0

In this week’s news highlights: EU attempts at engagement with Eritrea “producing little[…] in terms of tangible results”; concern over 700 people that may soon be deported from the United States to Eritrea; Ethiopia and EU may soon sign a deal on repatriation, according to leaked draft document; EU-AU summit ends without agreement on forced returns statement; European Commission sets out key points for combatting human trafficking; EU Parliament adopted a resolution on freedom of expression in Sudan; Amnesty International press release on Libya; and some German pilots refuse to repatriate Afghan people.

Eritrean organisations concerned over Eritrea repatriation policy developments
6 Dec 2017

Eritrean organisations concerned over Eritrea repatriation policy developments

by | posted in: African Union, EEPA news and activities, Eritrea, European Union, Horn of Africa region, Human Trafficking, Migration, United Nations, United States | 0

A statement published on The America Team for Displaced Eritreans’ web page foresees the ‘imminent’ deportation of 700 Eritrean refugees from the United States to Eritrea and furthermore it warns of the concrete possibility of torture and executions awaiting the refugees once deported. Under US pressure, the Eritrean regime has agreed to issue travel documents that make deportation possible. The first case is currently being processed, and the outcome of this process might have wider implications if other countries take example, including in Europe.