ICERAS

 this week’s News Highlights: Visit of Ethiopian PM in Eritrea; Eritrean president travels to Sudan; Amnesty international concerned about political detainees in Ethiopia; Ethiopian and Eritrean government accused of plotting against Tigray political party; Lack of funding for COVID-19 response in Ethiopia; Refugees from East Africa recruited to work in military camps in Yemen; Teenage pregnancies on the rise amid pandemic in Kenya; IOM response to Euronews investigation of returns; Greece prepares for higher number of refugees amid Turkey tension; Conference calls for better prosecution of human traffickers; Number of refugees in French informal camp increases; Protest of Sudanese asylum seekers in the Netherlands; COVID-19 affects mixed migration routes in North Africa; And health center for refugees and migrants re-opened. 

Greater Horn of Africa

Eritrea/Ethiopia: Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed visits Eritrea
On 18 and 19 July, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accompanied by a delegation, travelled to Eritrea for an official diplomatic visit to the neighbouring country. According to Yemane G. Meskel, Eritrean Minister of Information, leaders of two countries met in order to strengthen ties, strengthen regional cooperation and reflect on the progress made since the signing of the peace declaration, reports AfricaNews. Alongside his visit to Asmara, Abiy Ahmed also visited the military camp Sawa, normally closed to visitors, accompanied by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. President Isaias was accompanied by his son. The Sawa camp is known for basic military training of young national conscripts in Eritrea’s indefinite military service. The visit has raised questions of what both leaders are trying to reach, amid heightened tensions towards the Tigray region in Ethiopia. In addition, Eritrean delegations have visited Egypt and Ethiopia in the last months, and the visit of PM Abiy to Eritrea was immediately followed by a visit by an Eritrean delegation to Khartoum, Sudan.

• Eritrea: What are the Leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea up to?
• Ethiopia – Eritrea peace deal reviewed as Abiy visits Afwerki
• Tweet of Ghideon Mussa
• Is Isaias looking for a final confrontation with his Tigrayan enemies?

Eritrea/Sudan: Three-day visit of Eritrean President to Sudan
President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea visited Sudan amid rising tensions over the Nile Dam. Details reported by Eritrea’s national press revealed little of what was discussed, beyond strengthening bilateral ties and regional issues. Security and defense were high on the agenda. Unconfirmed Tweets raised speculation about an agreement between Sudan and Eritrea to station an Eritrean army in Sudan, near Kassala. This has not been confirmed.

• Eritrea: President Isaias Afwerki Returned Home Concluding Working Visit to Sudan
• Unconfirmed : Eritrean government to station army, navy in Sudan
• Ethiopia’s Abiy hails ‘historic’ start of disputed dam filling

Ethiopia: Amnesty International expresses concerns over political detainees in Ethiopia
Amnesty International called on Ethiopian authorities to release arrested political prisoners who were detained after the protests following the killing of Oromo singer and activist, Hachalu Hundesssa. Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, expressed his concern over arbitrary arrests as well as unknown whereabouts of prisoners. Families of detainees are worried about “crowded, unsanitary conditions in places of detention amidst the COVID-19 pandemic”. 

• Ethiopia: Account for all people arrested after Hachalu Hundesa’s killing

Ethiopia/Eritrea: Tigray’s political party blames federal government of conspiracy
The political party of the Tigray region, Ethiopia, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), accused the Eritrean government and Federal Government of Ethiopia of conspiring against announced elections of Tigray region, reports Egeza. According to Debretsion Gebremichael, TPLF chairman, there have been noticeable activities around the border areas with Eritrea  of armed men “trying to mobilize the public to boycott the election”. He further denounced the state blockage of internet connection ordered by the federal government which can lead to negative economic impact. 

• TPLF Accuses Eritrea of Plotting to Disrupt Elections in Tigray Region

Ethiopia: UNHCR reports on shortage of funding and delayed procurement in Ethiopia
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed its concerns over the lack of funding in Ethiopia to face the emergency caused by COVID-19, reports CGTN. Out of total $34.7 million required for COVID-19 response plans, only $3.4 million has been received so far. Alongside the shortage of funding, lack of “Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), medicines and medical supplies are among the key challenges hampering the response efforts” according to UNHCR. 

• UNHCR faces funding shortfall to meet COVID-19 related needs of refugees in Ethiopia
• UNHCR COVID-19 Response Bi-monthly Update

East Africa/Yemen: Refugees on the frontlines amid COVID-19 trouble
Middle East Eye reports that refugees and migrants from East Africa, stuck in Yemen amid COVID-19 restrictions, are being recruited to work in military camps in Yemen. COVID-19 has caused a decrease in already meager livelihood opportunities for the refugees and migrants aiming to reach Saudi Arabia. The first diagnosed case of COVID-19 in Yemen was a Somali refugee, which has led to stigmatisation and exploitation. The UNHCR currently has recorded 281,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen, mainly from the Horn of Africa. 

• Destitute African refugees in Yemen recruited by warring factions
• Impact of COVID-19 on refugees and migrants in North Africa who have left or transited Ethiopia East Africa and Yemen

Kenya: Unintended teenage pregnancies in slums on the rise amid COVID-19
The organization Kamukunji Community Empowerment Initiative (KACEI) is concerned that many teenagers (ages 11-18) will fail to complete their studies due to unintended pregnancies resulting in early marriages in the Pumwani Majengo slum in Nairobi, Kenya. “What we have been seeing on the roadsides and alleys while heading home to beat the curfew time is really dreadful,” a KACEI official stated, in relation to the emerging threats of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of teenage girls. “Teenage girls and boys are engaging in sexual matters, which will affect them after the coronavirus pandemic is over. We are going to have a lot of early unintended teenage pregnancies and early marriages after this,” the KACEI official emphasizes. readmore