Situation Report: RSF and SAF fighting over control of Babanusa in West Kordofan, Kidnapping for ransom in Oromia, IDPs protest in Mekelle

Three days of severe fighting has been reported from Babanusa in West Kordofan, where Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a military offence against Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in order to capture their headquarters; An increasing number of people are kidnapped for ransom in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Victims are tortured until family members pay the ransoms; Internally displaced persons in Tigray held a peaceful protest in Mekelle yesterday calling for withdrawal of foreign forces from Tigray so as to be able to safely return to their home; and more.

News Highlights: Ethiopia signs MoU with Somaliland, Impunity fuelling abuses in the Horn, EU increasingly relying on external solutions

In this week’s News Highlights: Ethiopia signs MoU with Somaliland causing tensions across the Horn and beyond; Al-Burhan rejects ceasefire proposal from Taqadum civilian coalition; Sudan’s Resistance committee members targeted; Humanitarian conditions worsen amidst conflict and cholera outbreak in Sudan; Urgent assistance required for drought-affected areas in Ethiopia; UN helicopter stuck in Al-Shabaab territory in Somalia; Testimonies from Eritrea’s prisons; Pro-democracy Eritreans warn about upcoming festival in Australia; Warrap State in South Sudan approves shoot-to-kill law; Impunity fuelling abuses in the Horn, states HRW; Rights of migrants and refugees being harmed in Tunisia; More legal migration necessary, says European Commission; EU increasingly turning to external solutions to migration; At least three people dead following shipwreck off Greece; Tusk states Poland will not accept relocation of asylum seekers; and Number of deaths on routes to Spain almost tripled, states NGO. 

News Highlights: Concern over large-scale fighting in El Fasher, 12,500 intercepted by Libyan coast guard, EU criticised over increase in drownings

In this week’s News Highlights: US warns of imminent attack by RSF on El Fasher; RSF captures Balila airport in West Kordofan; Hamdok to lead Sudanese civilian leadership body; One year after the Cessation of Hostilities agreement; Ongoing violence and displacement in Amhara and Oromia; Meta accused of fuelling ethnic violence during Tigray war; EU concerned about the situation in Eritrea and Ethiopia; Violence hampers aid delivery, as South Sudan sinks into deep crisis; Emergency level hunger and floods in Somalia; UNSC extends UNSOM mandate; UNHCR reports 12,500 refugees and migrants have been intercepted by Libya; Report shows sharp increase in drownings after EU’s NGO crackdown; European Commission wants to step up surveillance and deportation; Critical report on violations against asylum seekers in Belgium; Austria and UK deal to cooperate on third-country deportation; and MSF warns that violence and pushbacks have become normalised in Greece.