By Benoit Lannoo* ANTWERP, Belgium | 23 July 2026 (IDN) — It was a remarkable meeting at the Vardavar celebration – the 14th Sunday after Easter – in Etchmiadzin. Armenian Apostolic Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan was blessed by Catholicos Garegin II in the mother-cathedral of this autocephalous (independent) Eastern Church. ‘Blessing with lots of water’ plays a […]
EEPA reports on RSF responds to peace proposal
BRUSSELS | 16 July 2026 (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Sudan, Ethiopia, Company operating RSF supply aircraft linked to US and migrant boat capsizes in the Mediterranean. Situation in Sudan (per 16 July) Military sites and an electricity substation in Al-Dabbah, in Northern State, were targeted by a drone […]
EEPA reports on World Refugee Day highlights protection gaps
BRUSSELS | 25 June 2026 (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on World refugee day, Sudan, Ethiopia and The United States military resuming its operations against Al Shabab in Somalia. Migration and refugee situation (per 25 June) Libya’s eastern-based government in Benghazi has issued a decree barring entry to Sudanese, Eritrean, […]
From Bani Walid to Zwolle: The Smugglers Are Now in the Dock
By Cedric Stephany and Mirjam van Reisen | BRUSSELS, Belgium | 12 June 2026 (IDN) — A pro forma hearing against the alleged human trafficker called Kidane, took place last month in Zwolle in The Netherlands, marking another step in what has become one of the most significant human trafficking prosecutions in European legal history. […]
Post-war Business of Eritrean Refugees in Post-War Tigray: Emergence of new Human Trafficking Routes
By Daniel Tesfa, Shim Masha, Bereket Tsegay, Kristína Melicherová, Makeda Saba, Filmon Gebremikael and Mirjam van Reisen | MEKELLE, Ethiopia | 11 June 2026 (IDN) — New routes evolving human trafficking for ransom are emerging following the signing of the cease-fire agreement between Tigray and the national government of Ethiopia, involving refugees fleeing Eritrea. Mekelle, […]
EEPA reports on flights suspended from cities in Tigray
BRUSSELS | 11 June 2026 (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Ethiopia, Sudan and Egyptian organised talks with Eritrea, TDF, SAF and Ethiopia’s FANO militia. Situation in Ethiopia (per 11 June) Flights to and from cities in Tigray have been cancelled due to escalating tensions. A draft Tigray proclamation has […]
EEPA reports on dozens of Orthodox Christians killed in Oromia
BRUSSELS | 3 JUNE (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and the EU’s pact on Migration and Asylum. Situation in Ethiopia (per 4 June) Voting in some parts of Ethiopia was extended up to midnight on 1 June due to long queues, while security incidents […]
Situation Report: Ethiopia to hold elections on 1 June; Forced conscription of youth in Tigray; EU deportation bill breaks down
No. 731 – 28 May 2026 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 […]
EEPA reports on Kenya-US health deal to proceed
BRUSSELS | 21 May 2026 (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on the region and how the EU and the UN view it, Ethiopia, Sudan and the regufee and migration situation International and regional situation (per 21 May) Kenya’s Court of Appeal lifted an order blocking implementation of a medical cooperation […]
EEPA Reports on Sudan accusing Ethiopia and UAE of drone attack
BRUSSELS | 7 May 2026 (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on the region and how the EU and the UN view it, Ethiopia, Sudan and the refugee and migration situation. International and regional situation (per 7 May) Sudan accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of coordinating drone strikes […]