European diplomats, led by Germany, have reportedly been discussing plans to work with dictatorships around the Horn of Africa – the easternmost extension of the continent home to Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia – in order to stop the flow of migrants to Europe.
Minutes taking during EU meetings in March obtained by German newspaper Spiegel reportedly provide the first concrete plan for £40million to be handed out to eight African countries over three years.
The border protection project will also provide equipment to the countries in question.
The EU’s multimillion action plan for the troubled area of Africa will give emergency funding to eight countries – including conflict-ridden Sudan.
Sudan is part of a key route for refugees from Eritrea, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic who then head to Libya to take boats to Europe.
Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir, who seized power in the midst of a 21-year-year civil war, is accused of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against the Sudanese leader, while Amnesty International claims the Sudanese secret service has tortured members of the opposition.
The US also accuses Sudan of providing financial support to terrorists.
Documents relating to the EU project in Africa suggests Europe wants to send cameras, scanners and servers for registering refugees to the Sudanese regime in addition to training their border police and assisting with the contribution of two camps and detention rooms.
Concern over how the equipment could be used has already been expressed within the EU.
The “risks” listed in the action plan highlights equipment funded by the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund could be abused by repressive regimes in the oppression of the civilian population.
There are also concerns about to what extent al-Bashir is prepared to take action against people smugglers, with the Human Rights Watch claiming the Sudanese regime works with criminal networks.
A report by the human rights group accused the police and military of selling refugees to human traffickers.
The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has confirmed that action plan is binding, although no concrete decisions have yet been made regarding its implementation.
Marina Peter, an expert on the Horn of Africa region, said: “A regime that destabilised the region and drove hundreds of thousands of people to flee is now supposed to stem the refugee problem for the EU.”
express.co.uk/
Khalid May 15, 2016
“A report by the human rights group accused the police and military of selling refugees to human traffickers.”
The above statement is true.
The police and Military in Eastern Sudan hand over refugees to Rashaida human traffickers, and share money collected from relatives of victims.
But the worst group in this criminal network is Higdef, they are business partners of Rashaida. The latter bring in consumer goods from Sudan and sell it to Higdef, and kidnap refugees who try to escape from the regime.
Fisehaye May 16, 2016
Exactly that is right.
Almaz May 16, 2016
Khalid,
loss translation of the Amharic proverb says “need two hands to clap” so, to have a low level “HIGDEF” criminal, it requires someone who is welling to offer inducement (to oil the machine.) I might ask who are these group/individuals? US the people in diaspora. You want your sister/brother to run away from the legal national service you colloid with the criminals (financial poor bureaucrats at best corrupted — we have full of them in the government sector.) It make sense for western nations to stop the flow of economic refuges and those who use the National service as a visa.
happy 25th.
Almaz.
AHMED SALEH !!! May 17, 2016
What percentage of Eritrean refugees population had close relatives in
diaspora except the few that have family moral and financial support ?
This kind excuses of HGDF tactics to blame outside forces influence
for Eritreans crises doesn’t convince me because everybody knows the
burden it creates when your brother or sister fled to seek refugee in
neighboring countries . It seems easy task if you didn’t experience it.
And do not forget that living in diaspora has never been desirable place
comparing to live in your own country among your own people .
Failed Nation May 16, 2016
Khalid /kalighe/Hagerawi ,
You are absolutely right the pioneer of this and more profeeters are higdef, shame ,shame ,shame
kerenlaelay May 16, 2016
Sudan is deporting Eritrean to the hell country Eritrea , yesterday they deport 140 women,children, men Khartoum in cooperation with Eritrean embassy
.
Almaz May 16, 2016
Okay,
I lost you man, going back to your birth place is “hell” give-us-a-break
sidi abdu May 16, 2016
Sudan! Sudan, I hope it breaks into pieces, which I am pretty sure it will eventually. The Europeans are spineless thieves who eat their own children if they have something to gain, will make a deal with the devil to suit themselves. Oh Eritreans: If we want to be free, we have to take it upon ourselves to get rid of the scabs that are in power in Eritrea. However, I am not optimistic about this knowing our cowed people.
AHMED SALEH !!! May 17, 2016
To wish for Sudan to break in pieces is completely wrong . It is not
the general public faults when corrupted government system refuse to
follow rule of law . At the same time we had unstable country Somalia
that brought chaos in our region and we can not afford to have another
Somalia .
Wish them well like we wish better future for ourselves .
Berhe Tensea May 20, 2016
The EU has no choice but to protect their regional interest. The EU can’t handle wave after wave of refugees, and it natural and expected to do something about it.
Eritrean refugees who make up more than 805 of the African refugees are the largest and their flow seems unstoppable unless drastic measures are taken.
We must solve our internal problem caused mainly by our worshiping of the Tembein Satan than to cross deserts, and seas.
I believe it is easier to fight and risk your life for your dignity than to risk your life in desert and sea and then end up a burden on other states.
Hypocrite refugees must be handed or deported to the loving hands of Iseyas.
Berhe Tensea May 20, 2016
The EU has no choice but to protect their regional interest. The EU can’t handle wave after wave of refugees, and it natural and expected to do something about it.
Eritrean refugees who make up more than 805 of the African refugees are the largest and their flow seems unstoppable unless drastic measures are taken.
We must solve our internal problem caused mainly by our worshiping of the Tembein Satan than to cross deserts, and seas.
I believe it is easier to fight and risk your life for your dignity than to risk your life in desert and sea and then end up a burden on other states.
Omer Albeshir is also no better than Iseyas and will do anything to get millions of dollars.
Death to African dictators.
Hypocrite refugees must be handed or deported to the loving hands of Iseyas.