News Highlights: Eritrean troops digging in, Asylum seekers pushed back to Greece in boat prisons; EU migration policy criticised

force’ in Sudan’s Darfur; Internal memo advises EU operation to continue amidst Libya instability; Report states asylum seekers in the EU are illegally pushed back in prisons below deck; New Frontex director pledges end to pushbacks; EU foreign council meeting on 23 January;  Report states Russia might ‘weaponise migration’; and EU migration policy a “cruel, myopic shambles”, states The Guardian.

News Highlights: Heavy weapons hand-over starts in Tigray, Alleged Eritrean trafficker appears in court, Italy’s decree could cause more deaths at sea

In this week’s News Highlights: TDF starts hand-over of heavy weapons; Presence of Eritrean troops continues in Tigray; German and French Foreign Ministers visit Ethiopia; Fighting escalates in Oromia; Ethiopian airlines restricts passengers flying between Addis and Mekelle; Alleged human trafficker Kidane arrested in Sudan; Final round of talks between military and civilian leaders in Sudan; Three aid workers and 11 civilians killed in South Sudan; Over 1000 migrants and refugees already returned to Libya this year; HRW warns that Italy’s anti-rescue decree risks more deaths at sea; Human trafficking suspect Welid appears in court in the Netherlands; UNHCR urges EU to treat all refugees equally; EU provides additional EUR 25.5 million to address food crisis in Africa; and German ruling published states Eritreans should not be forced to embassy for papers. 

News Highlights: Peace talks tackle aid and disarmament, ICC works on justice in Libya, Italy and France clash over disembarkation

In this week’s News Highlights: Talks between Ethiopia and Tigray in Nairobi extended amongst difficult discussions; Eritrean forces continue attacks, as Ethiopia/Tigray ceasefire holds; HRW calls for strong monitoring; Eritrea reacts to peace agreement; Civilians in Tigray waiting for aid and medicines; Heavy fighting in Oromia; BBC analyses a video of a mass killing; Eritrean refugees in Tigray in dire need, says UNHCR; Bombing in Somalia kills 5; Trilateral Mechanism in Sudan sees glimmer of hope as draft constitution accepted; Police accountability in Sudan lacking; ICC speaks from Libya about achieving justice for abuses; Italy and France clash over disembarkation; EU asylum agency warns for increase in arrivals, as frameworks for distribution not in place; ECRE warns of deadly combination of migration deals and rescue obstruction; and Spain asked to explain deaths at its border.