SITUATION REPORT – HORN OF AFRICA & NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
No. 693 – 8 January 2026
A pro-Eritrean government group referring to the ‘Fourth Front’ or 4G has announced a demonstration in the Netherlands on 16 October to “take revenge and be compensated for our disrupted festivals,” as announced in a message on Facebook. Eritrean refugees and diaspora members fear that this demonstration in fact refers to a military action, and that it means the opening of the ‘fourth front’ in the Netherlands, which they fear could lead to threats or worse. In Israel, where the ‘fourth front’ first become well-known, two Eritreans have died so far in attacks by Eritrean regime supporters.
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.