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: CoHA evaluation modalities agreed, Famine “fast approaching” in Somalia, Italy increases pressure on NGO rescues

In this week’s News Highlights: Tigrayan and Ethiopian negotiators reach agreement on CoH Agreement evaluation modalities; Ethiopians voice their fears and hope about peace; Urgent aid needed for Somalia’s rural communities; Somali troops return from Eritrea starts; Government forces continue offensive against al-Shabaab; Somali government orders media to submit content for approval; Sudanese security forces disperse pro-democracy protesters; al-Bashir admits role in 1989 coup; New expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan designated; Over 260.000 in need of humanitarian support in South Sudan; UN Special envoy for Libya warns of signs of partition; Irregular migration into Europe on the rise; Statement of the European Commission and High Representative on international migrants day; New rules to fight trafficking in human beings in the EU; New rules for private search and rescue operations in Italy; and Deglobalisation of food systems amidst worsening hunger crisis.