News Highlights: Sudanese militia demands EU compensation, UNSC plans sanctions against traffickers, Ethiopia’s maritime access

In this week’s news highlights: Sudanese militia RSF demands EU compensation for guarding Libya border; The development nexus in Sudan; Ethiopia’s challenges with port access; UN Security Council considers sanctions for inviduals involved in trafficking and smuggling to Libya- publishes names of six people; Smugglers in Niger do not regret their actions; Prevention and trauma treatment important to decrease humanitarian costs of conflict and insecurity, Dutch minister says; Eritreans and Sudanese second on the list of refugees’ nationalities coming to Europe via Italy; British Official condemns Eritrean religious persecution; French Interior Ministry announces clearing of Paris refugee camps.

News Highlights: UN official: no improvement in South Sudan; Amnesty International condemns EU; Eritrea accuses Sudan, Ethiopia, Qatar

In this week’s news highlights: New data protection regulation; UN official says things in South Sudan are getting worse; Eritrea accuses 3 countries of supporting opposition Jihadist groups; UN and human rights groups support Noura Hussein; EC calls for further work on immigration; Amnesty International criticize the EU’s support to Libya; Report describes IDPs in Africa; New Greek Bill for Asylum seekers; Eritreans plan rally in Switzerland for asylum rights; Eritreans’ demonstration in Egypt.

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”.