News Highlights: EU migration deals with Sudan, Eritrea responds to dismissal official, Post-Cotonou discussion in EU

In this week’s news highlights: Eritreans and Ethiopians increasingly trapped in Sudan, while EU funds authorities; Africa Monitors reports on effects border closure; EU ambassadors react to Sudan arrests; Kenyan and Ugandan arms prolong South Sudanese civil war, says UN official; Eritrea responds to dismissal of official by Dutch government; Head of Eritrean church in US urges Israel to stop deportations; four stories of Eritrean refugees; EU discusses Post-Cotonou agreement and human rights in ACP countries; EU puts fighting smuggling over helping victims of trafficking; demonstration against deportations from Israel; and Libya testimonies.

European Parliament discusses human rights in ACP countries

On January 24, the European Parliament Committee on Human Rights (DROI) had an exchange of views on human rights in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries.The speakers discussed the Cotonou Agreement that governs the relations between the European Union (EU) and the ACP countries, and which expires in 2020. In the coming two years, a new text will be negotiated including changes and new additions to make it more applicable to the current ever-changing state of play.

With 2020 deadline Approaching, EU Institutions initiate talks for a post-Cotonou Agreement

Since 2000, the relations between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have been largely governed by the Cotonou Agreement. This agreement aims at reducing and eventually eradicating poverty and, at the same time, contributing to sustainable development and to the gradual integration of ACP countries in the world economy. The Agreement is set to expire in 2020 and the EU institutions have initiated discussions on how to formulate a post-Cotonou Agreement that will address the possible gaps of the already existing document and will renew the relationship between the signatories.