Europe External Programme with Africa is a Belgium-based Centre of Expertise with in-depth knowledge, publications, and networks, specialised in issues of peacebuilding, refugee protection, and resilience in the Horn of Africa. EEPA has published extensively on issues related to the movement and/or human trafficking of refugees in the Horn of Africa and on the Central Mediterranean Route. It cooperates with a wide network of universities, research organisations, civil society, and experts from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and across Africa. The Situation Reports can be found here. To receive the situation report in your e-mail, click here. You can unsubscribe at any moment through the link at the bottom of each e-mail.
Situation in Sudan (per 11 July)
- Humanitarian organisations in Sudan are being targeted both on the ground as well as on social media, states Insecurity Insight. Analysis showed over 340 posts circulating on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), disseminating false information about aid organisations in Sudan between April and May 2024.
- Some of the comments have been accusing organisations of collaborating with warring parties, others of fuelling the conflict. Hate speech against aid organisations has been a recurring issue across social media comments, labelling humanitarian workers as “criminals” or “traitors”.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) suspended their services in Turkish Hospital in Khartoum over continuous violent incidents, harassment, and threats against the lives of staff members. The MSF team has been evacuated from the hospital.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 11 July)
- Families of abducted university students are being extorted to pay ransom money for release of their family members who were kidnapped near Garba Guracha town in Oromia region last week. Kidnappers are requesting hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian birr which is too high a price for families to pay.
- Families also claim lack of support from the Ethiopian government. “We’ve been receiving phone calls from government officials, but until now, we didn’t see any action. Our only and best option appears to be raising funds and pay the money,” said one family member of a victim.
- The National Bank of Ethiopia (NEBE) launched a new monetary policy framework in an attempt to stabilise inflation and modernise its’ practices.
- New measures are introducing interest-rate based monetary regime setting interest rate at 15%. NEBE also plans to introduce an electronic system to facilitate easier exchanges among banks.
- 27 Tigray civil society organisations urged authorities to take immediate action against gender-based violence against women in the region.
- Calling on Tigray Interim Regional Administration (IRA), a joint letter demanded a transparent and accountable process of law enforcement institutions which would lead to preventing gender-based violence and bringing perpetrators to justice.
- The Second Strategic Review on the Implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement, facilitated by the AU, took place on Tuesday, covering topics of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration as well as return of internally displaced persons.
- The strategic meeting also discussed the need to address “concerns of the people severely affected mainly in Western Tigray”, reinstatement of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) party and the situation of Ethiopian refugees in Sudan, said Getachew Reda, head of the IRA.
Regional Situation (per 11 July)
- Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, met Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudanese Armed Forces Chief, during a visit to Port Sudan on Tuesday. It is the highest-level state visit since the start of the conflict in Sudan during which PM Abiy aimed to discuss re-establishment of peace and security in Sudan.
- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived on a two-day state visit in Eritrea on Monday meeting his Eritrean counterpart, Isaias Afwerki, discussing strategic partnership between two countries. The Somali President also visited the Somali National Army contingent which is receiving training in Eritrea.
- South Sudan needs to brace for a large-scale hunger crisis between June 2024 and January 2025 as experts predict the worst floods in 60 years. Save the Children warned that needs are expected to rise to record high levels due to the rainy season as well as influx of refugees from neighbouring Sudan.
- A special committee of African heads of state established by the AU’s Peace and Security Council in June convened its first meeting in Addis Ababa yesterday.
- The meeting was attended by about 20 Sudanese political groups, with some of the political movements and civilian groups not participating such as The Sudanese Civil Democratic Forces alliance (Tagadum).
International Situation (per 11 July)
- The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, urged South Sudanese leaders to take all necessary steps to carry out peaceful elections.
- “We urge the transitional government to start using public financial resources transparently for the good of all the people of South Sudan”, said Blinken in the statement on the occasion of South Sudan National Day celebrated on 9 July.
Refugee and Migration Situation (per 11 July)
- Externalisation of asylum procedures by EU member states to third countries risks undermining rule of law and the right to asylum in Europe, says a joint statement signed by over 90 organisations.
- Agreements of the EU with the third countries aiming to stop asylum seekers from reaching the EU borders are also paying minimal attention to human rights of migrants and refugees.
- The joint statement urges the EU and EU member states to uphold international refugee law and principles and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and stop wasting time and resources on proposals that go against those international legal instruments.
- Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees in Sudan that reside in Gedaref and Kassala states are at risk of mass arrests , violence or persecution amid ongoing conflict in Sudan, reports Human Rights Watch (HRW).
- “Without a clear protection or evacuation strategy, those in the camps could face violence or targeted attacks by warring parties,” writes Laetitia Bader, HRW Director for Horn of Africa.
- About 3,000 Sudanese refugees continue to live in an Ethiopian forest near the Ethiopia-Sudan border without any protection or access to basic services, after they were forced to flee attacks by gunmen on the Awlala and Kumer refugee sites, Amhara region, in May.
- Reports emerged that a mass grave carrying bodies of refugees and migrants was uncovered along the Libyan-Tunisian border. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the UN is following up on reports and urged both Tunisian and Libyan authorities to launch a thorough investigation.
- Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister of the UK, pledged to scrap the deal with Rwanda that outsources the UK’s asylum process. “The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started”, said Starmer adding that his party aims to find alternative solutions to address illegal migration.
Links of interest
Unsafe on the ground, Unsafe online: Humanitarian Workers in Sudan’s civil war – July 2024
MSF suspends delivery of care in Khartoum’s Turkish hospital
News: Families of kidnapped university students distressed by overwhelming ransom demands
Press Release: The National Bank of Ethiopia Announces the Launch of a New Monetary Policy Framework
News: Civil Society groups demand action on gender-based violence in Tigray, blame gov’t
X: Getachew K Reda
Ethiopian PM meets Sudan army chief in push for ‘peace and security’
South Sudan On The Brink Of Famine As It Braces For Worst Floods In 60 Years
African leaders committee to seek ceasefire in Sudan
South Sudan National Day
Joint Statement: The future EU must uphold the right to asylum in Europe
Refugees in Eastern Sudan at Risk
Sudanese refugees hiding in Ethiopian forest to escape bandits and militias
UN discovers mass grave of migrants along Libya-Tunisia border
Starmer confirms Rwanda deportation plan ‘dead’
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.