News Highlights: Abiy visits Europe, undocumented deaths on refugee routes in Africa, Eritrean accused of aiding kidnappers on trial in Germany

In this week’s news highlights: At least 18,400 migrants died in Africa since 2014, says AP; Eritrea accuses Germany of “meddling” in its affairs; Sudan and Eritrea to normalize relations: report; social media manipulation could threaten African democracies; trial against alleged Eritrean trafficking gang member; Danish Refugee Council denounces EU-Libya cooperation on migration; almost 100,000 migrant boat arrivals in 2018; Austria not to sign global migration compact; de facto leader of Eritrean church says Patriarch “lost faith”; Germany and the Netherlands to finance Nigerien border force; and French-Italian rivalry could harm Libyan peace process.

News Highlights: EU Sanctions Regime in development, Eritrean regime infiltrates Norwegian churches, France/Italy border tension

In this week’s news highlights: Ports at the Red Sea disputed in regional rivalries; Russia intensifying it ties with Eritrea; Ethiopian government and rebel group sign peace treaty; new direct flights from Asmara to Europe; Berhane Abrehe’s son speaks out; criticism about EU’s collaboration with Egypt; criticism of Global Migration Compact; border tensions between France and Italy after migrant pushback; MEPs back Dutch proposal for new sanctions regime; Eritreans in Norway afraid of Eritrean regime in churches; Tusk discards mandatory quotas for refugees in EU; Libya’s foreign minister opposes EU migration centres in Libya; and aiding migrants criminalized in Morocco.

News Highlights: Eritrea wants to join UN Human Rights Council, Plea to aid Libya refugees, Displacement in Ethiopia

In this week’s news highlights: Opposition to Eritrea’s bid for membership in UN Human Rights Council; ethnic violence in Ethiopia causes internal displacement; South Sudan joins 1951 Refugee Convention; suicide attack in Mogadishu on Italian military vehicle; media freedom threatened in Africa, says article; Hungary opposes UN Migration Compact; Human Rights Organisations want Aquarius to continue rescue mission; Human Rights Organisations urge international community to aid refugees trapped in Libya.