Refoulement: France returns an Eritrean woman to Eritrea

The prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales (South-West of France) deported an Eritrean national to her country of origin on 6 June 2019. According to RFI Africa, the French prefecture arrested the young woman on 8 May at the Spanish border with a “counterfeit” residence permit. The French newspaper Le Figaro explains that the young Eritrean woman filed an asylum application with the administrative court and appealed to the jurisdiction, unsuccessfully, after being placed in a detention centre in Toulouse by the French authorities. It is the first return from France to Eritrea and can be considered refoulement, due to the fact that the woman is likely to face persecution and human rights abuses in Eritrea.

News Highlights: NGO demands Libya war crime investigation, UN condemns Italy’s rescue fines, EU elections key for migration policy

In this week’s news highlights: UN and NGOs condemn Salvini’s rescue fines; France continues deporting Sudanese nationals; Activists protest EU cooperation with Eritrea; Federica Mogherini visits Horn of Africa; Frontex starts first operation outside EU territory; Testimony of a Ugandan woman on the Greek island of Samos; Amnesty states war crimes may have been committed in Libya; UN envoy warns international community to stop arms flow;  Khalifa Haftar refuses ceasefire; Christians in Eritrea arrested ahead of independence day; Concern for IDPs in Ethiopia; Eritrean President meets with Transitional Military Council in Sudan; Sudan protesters call for strike; South Sudanese Government is sued by civil society over unity delay.

News Highlights: Fine for rescues in Mediterranean Sea, Footage shows attack on refugees in Libya, Sudan negotiations suspended amid tension

In this week’s news highlights: Rescue operations in Mediterranean may soon be fined €5500 per rescued person; NGOs appeal in case of France-Libya support; Conditions in centre in Germany exposed; Footage of detention centre shooting in Libya; Organisations urge IOM to stop returning Eritreans; Pan-African parliament holds session on refugees; Foreign military activity on the Horn increases; Sudan talks stall amid protests; Giffas in Eritrea increase; US deports more than half of Eritrean refugees; Eritrean Catholic Church representatives express concern; social networks shut down in Eritrea; and court case reveals tensions Qatar-Eritrea.