News Highlights: UNICEF and MSF report, EU-North Africa cooperation, Eritreans held ransom

In this week’s news highlights we will share with you: the latest MSF report on the situation of Eritrean refugees and the UNICEF report documenting the situation of refugees on the Mediterranean route. Latest news of this week covers Europe’s increasing cooperation with African countries. News highlights concerning the Horn of Africa include recent developments in Sudan and South Sudan.

Heavy protest in German cities against mass deportations to Afghanistan

Last Saturday, 11 February 2017, several thousand people took to the streets in 13 German cities to protest against mass deportations of Afghan asylum seekers. The demonstrations criticised the current accelerated return operations of Afghan refugees that are denied asylum status in Germany. What could not be foreseen by then was that their protests would be challenged the following Monday, 13 February 2017. On that day the European Council announced to sign another agreement on partnership and development with Afghanistan in Bavaria’s capital city Munich the upcoming Friday. The agreement seeks inter alia “joint management of migrations flows” and supports return and readmission operations.

Bread for the World criticises asylum centre plans in Libya

Translation of the interview with migration and development expert Sophia Wirsching, first published in German at domradio.de.

“Creating safe reception facilities in transit countries” is a goal of SPD faction leader Thomas Oppermann. Hence, he encourages cooperation with Libya. The charity Bread for the World deems this questionable under international law.