News Highlights: Eritrea-Djibouti tensions, global displacement, counter-terrorism in Sahel

In this week’s news highlights, the UN Refugee Agency published its annual report on global displacement, showing a continuing upward trend in the numbers of displacement; the tensions over migration between European Union member states continue; counter-terrorism force in Sahel region approved by UN Security Council; tensions between Djibouti and Eritrea rise, and fears grow that tensions between Arab allies may cause conflict in the Horn of Africa; and International organisations have not learned their lessons from previous engagements with the Eritrean regime.

UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea holds interactive dialogue in Human Rights Council

Geneva – at the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea held an interactive dialogue on the most recent report about the human rights situation in Eritrea. The Special Rapporteur, Sheila Keetharuth, confirmed that human rights abuses constituting crimes against humanity continue to be committed and that the Eritrean regime shows no signs of cooperation or improvement. Eritrea will still not allow access or cooperate in any way with the Special Rapporteur.

Two reports call for protection of refugees and migrants along Central Mediterranean Route

In the past week, two reports have highlighted the dangers faced by refugees and migrants on their route to Europe. A report by UNICEF highlights the dangers faced by women and children on the route from North Africa to Italy. A report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) highlights the desperate situation of many Eritrean refugees, criticising the EU for creating policies to keep them out, along with other migrants and refugees.