Today marks exactly 25 years since Eritreans woke up to the radio announcement of the closure of the free press, as well as the arrests of high-ranking officials and ten private media journalists between September 18 and 23, 2001. Held incommunicado without due process, charge, or trial, their whereabouts remain unknown even to their immediate families.
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Meron Estefanos
@Meron@dair-community.social
mastodon 4.7.3Human Rights Defender, journalist and researcher at DAIR Institute .
Dyslectic/Authistic
#Refugees #HumanRights #FreeEritrea #FreeSudan #FreeCongo
#FreeAfrica #FreePalestine #WithTheOpressed
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Joined November 18, 2022
CPJ 2026 International Press Freedom Award to the Eritrea 16.
This September marks the 25th anniversary of the silencing of independent Eritrean media and the arrest of some of the world’s longest-detained journalists.
This was the most personal interview I had ever done. https://narratingthenation.com/estefanos
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Poland urges EU to deny asylum to migrants who violently cross its borders – Poland wants the European Union to deny the right to asylum for people who cross EU borders in “organised, aggressive groups”, just as Poland has itself done on its border with Belarus.
Fears of pushbacks as Malta remains silent over three migrant rescue cases – A cluster of unexplained incidents in Malta’s search and rescue zone over the past four days has reignited concerns among observers that people fleeing Libya are being left in limbo or returned to danger rather than brought ashore, as the Armed Forces of Malta remained silent on Friday [4 September] over questions about at least three separate cases.
Cabinet unsuccessful in court again: No asylum applicants back to Italy – The Netherlands is still not allowed to send asylum applicants back to Italy. The court in The Hague rules that, despite the European Union’s new migration pact, the Netherlands cannot guarantee the living conditions of returned asylum applicants in Italy.
SPAIN Government approves decree that guarantees universal public health care to foreigners without legal residence – At the proposal of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the government has approved a regulation that recognises the right to health protection and health care from public funds for foreigners who are in Spain without proper documentation.
https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20260310/decreto-garantiza-sanidad-publica-universal-extranjeros-sin-residencia-legal/16973272.shtml
Far-right triumph in eastern Germany leaves migrants questioning their future – Mamad Mohamad watched with mixed emotions as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) swept to a historic victory on Sunday evening [6 September] in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Barrister to raise concerns about EU Migration Pact’s protection of trafficking victims – A new pact introduced across Europe to tackle migration raises concerns about protecting trafficking victims, an Irish human rights barrister will tell an international conference on Tuesday [8 September]. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41907829.html
On Lithuania’s border, Europe is chipping away at refugee rights – People began entering the EU from Belarus in the summer of 2021. They were soon routinely subjected to pushbacks – and that has continued ever since.
Frontex announces apps and chatbot for migrant "returns": Fears of profiling and "self-deportations" following US model
https://digit.site36.net/2026/04/28/frontex-announces-apps-and-chatbot-for-migrant-returns-fears-of-profiling-and-self-deportations-following-us-model/
There is something wrong with the asylum process for LGBTQ+ people – but it’s not fake claimants – An undercover investigation by BBC News has found evidence of people falsely claiming to be gay to gain asylum in the UK. The findings are concerning. But rather than assume this means all asylum applicants are lying, it’s worth asking why people might be drawn to this route.
The EU is working on a new directive intended to combat smuggling networks more effectively, the so-called Facilitation Directive. However, a lack of clarity in this directive could criminalize providing assistance to victims of human smuggling. (Dutch)
https://www.groene.nl/artikel/kwetsbaarheid-is-een-businessmodel
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Home Office could face hundreds of claims over asylum families in single rooms – The Home Office could face legal action from hundreds of asylum-seeking families stuck in single rooms in hotels after a judge criticised the “extraordinarily stressful” conditions in which they are expected to live.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/20/home-office-asylum-families-single-hotel-rooms-court
Death in Darfur: 3 days of horror caught on camera 💔 https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/sudan-politics-darfur-commanders/
A ten-year residency requirement within the country cannot be imposed for the purpose of granting an income support allowance, as this “constitutes indirect discrimination against beneficiaries of international protection”. This was ruled by the Court of Justice of the EU, which, in its judgment, rejected the Italian system, and specifically the citizens’ income scheme introduced by the Conte I government to combat poverty.
Migrants rush to apply under Spain’s new mass legalization program – Undocumented people in Spain on Monday [20 April] began applying in person to legalise their status after the Southern European nation launched an amnesty measure that could affect hundreds of thousands of people living and working in the country without authorisation.
Spain’s ‘humane migration policy’ is ‘model for Europe’, minister says – Spain’s Migration Minister defended the country’s migration approach in an interview with Euronews amid criticism from EU leaders on plans to regularise an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants.
Nearly one in four EU asylum applicants in 2025 were children – A total of 158,400 first-time asylum applicants registered in EU countries were minors – defined as under 18 – representing 23.7% of all first-time applications, Eurostat reported on Wednesday [29 April].
https://www.brusselstimes.com/2104317/nearly-one-in-four-eu-asylum-seekers-in-2025-were-children
UK Home Office use of AI in asylum cases could be unlawful, legal experts warn – The Home Office’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in processing asylum claims could be unlawful, legal experts have warned, opening up the possibility of court action against the government.
Sudanese asylum seekers challenge – Two Sudanese asylum applicants are challenging a central element of Labour’s plans to strip refugees of basic rights, rejecting the home secretary’s accusation that they are “asylum shoppers”.
Dutch cabinet pushes new law to criminalize undocumented stay – The Dutch government is drafting new asylum legislation to revive controversial migration measures rejected by the Senate, while Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink told a United Nations meeting in New York that return policies must become “an essential part” of international migration policy.
https://nltimes.nl/2026/05/07/dutch-cabinet-pushes-new-law-criminalize-undocumented-stay
Most Dutch municipalities back asylum distribution law but resist implementation – Most municipalities in the Netherlands say they will comply with the national asylum distribution law, but often without enthusiasm and with strict conditions, according to an analysis of the first 212 coalition agreements formed after March municipal elections, NOS reports.
https://nltimes.nl/2026/06/20/dutch-municipalities-back-asylum-distribution-law-resist-implementation
Boat with Sudanese migrants capsizes off Libya, leaving at least 17 dead, UN says – A boat carrying 33 Sudanese people capsized in the Mediterranean Sea near the eastern Libyan town of Tobruk, leaving at least 17 dead and nine others missing, UN officials said Thursday [30 April]. 💔
https://www.newarab.com/news/migrant-boat-disaster-libya-kills-17-sudanese-un-says
Saving lives on hold: Inside the legal battle keeping rescue ships off the Mediterranean – The detention of the Humanity 1 exposes a deep conflict between Italian regulations and international maritime law, showing how national administrative measures can obstruct life-saving operations at sea.
https://voxeurop.eu/en/migration-mediterranean-legal-battle-rescue-ships-humanity1/
Merz says Weber ‘bears responsibility’ for far-right EU vote – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Manfred Weber “bears responsibility” after reports that centre-right and far-right lawmakers may have coordinated on a migration vote in the European Parliament.
https://www.euractiv.com/news/merz-says-weber-bears-responsibility-for-far-right-eu-vote/
‘Same as Trump’: Outcry over Belgium continuing court-suspended asylum policy – Belgium’s Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) has found herself in the middle of a storm in recent days after continuing the country’s new strict asylum policies despite the Constitutional Court’s recent suspension of the rules.
https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2016858/same-as-trump-outcry-over-belgium-continuing-court-suspended-asylum-policy
‘Basta’: German vessel defies order blocking it from landing people in Sicily – A German humanitarian vessel carrying 57 people, many of them sick and exhausted, declared a “state of necessity” before defying Italian authorities and docking Wednesday [18 March] at a Sicilian port.
Norway urged to release migrant rights activist Tommy Olsen, block extradition to Greece – Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday [21 March], urged authorities in Norway to release human rights defender Tommy Olsen and block his extradition to Greece. The rights organisation warned that extraditing Tommy Olsen could expose him to serious violations and undermine Norway’s obligations to protect activists.
Germany moves to end funding for independent asylum counseling – Germany’s interior ministry has signalled it will stop funding independent asylum counselling services starting next year. Opponents warn that ending the programme could undermine legal safeguards for people on the move and slow down asylum procedures.
Portugal
Constitutional Court again rejects loss of nationality for crimes committed – The decree, approved only by the right wing, has returned to court for a second time, again at the initiative of Socialist Party (PS) deputies. Judges admit that loss of nationality is only issued to people who commit crimes of terrorism or against the security of the State.
https://expresso.pt/politica/2026-05-08-tribunal-constitucional-volta-a-chumbar-perda-de-nacionalidade-por-crimes-cometidos-77f4550b
Fundamental rights at risk in the EU: the European Parliament sounds the alarm – The 2024–2025 Rule of Law Report highlights a democratic backsliding and inadequate implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, calling on Member States to protect the most vulnerable.
Migrants in hiding as Mauritania pushbacks drastically cut Europe arrivals – Following an EU deal, Mauritanian authorities have rounded up and deported thousands of people to Mali and Senegal.
EU MEPs vote to slap tariffs on countries that refuse to take back migrants – Countries that fail to take back failed asylum applicants and economic migrants face losing their right to trade tariff-free with the EU, under a new rule adopted by MEPs on Tuesday
UK agrees deal to ease migrant returns to Nigeria – Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a new agreement aimed at accelerating the return of Nigerians without legal status in Britain, including unsuccessful asylum applicants, visa overstayers and convicted offenders.
https://www.africanews.com/2026/03/20/uk-and-nigeria-agree-deal-to-speed-up-deportations/
Morroco and Spain cooperation reduces West African migration by 63 percent – Operational co-operation between Spain and Morocco has led to a significant reduction in migration along the West African route, with a 63% decrease in monitoring operations and a 17% drop in departures from Morocco, according to a report by the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA).https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/190114/morocco-spain-cooperation-reduces-west.html
NETHERLANDS (NL Times) Right-wing Cabinet’s €40 mil. asylum screening office closed after a year; 120 jobs cut – The Identification and Screening Service for Asylum Seekers (DISA), a special branch of the Ministry of Justice and Security, is being dissolved. The Cabinet has decided that the tasks of this agency will be transferred back to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
EU border patrol boat capsizes off Greek island with Estonian ambassador aboard – A European Union border and coast guard agency patrol boat carrying five people, including the Estonian ambassador to Greece, has sunk off Greece’s easternmost island, the Greek coast guard said Monday. Four injured people were airlifted to a hospital on the island of Rhodes.
Migration Minister Van Bossuyt challenges right of 13 Palestinian students to come to Belgium – Belgian Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt is opposed to allowing 13 Palestinians from Gaza to come and study in Belgium, despite the fact that they have been awarded a scholarship and a visa, she told VRT NEWS.
2 dead and 16 injured in attempted channel crossing from France to UK – A small boat carrying people trying to cross the English Channel ran aground on a beach in northern France, leaving two dead and 16 people injured, including three with serious burns, authorities said Sunday [3 May].
https://apnews.com/article/migrants-boat-france-uk-channel-dbe3697184bf0329bb02a3fa1683968a
The government wants to pay lawyers who can repatriate migrants – It is one of the most controversial provisions of the new security decree, but until now it had gone unnoticed.
https://www.ilpost.it/2026/04/19/decreto-sicurezza-rimpatrio-migranti-incentivo-economico-avvocati/
Italy expels 23 Egyptians under EU-Egypt migration cooperation – Italy has sent back 23 Egyptian nationals to Cairo on a charter flight coordinated with Frontex and Egypt. All 23 are said to have been expelled from Italy and had criminal records for offences against people and property.
CZECHIA (Seznam Zprávy) Following the example of Russia, Babiš’s advisor creates law against non-profit organisations with SPD deputies – Andrej Babiš’s freedom of speech advisor is quietly working with SPD and ANO MPs on a law aimed at non-profit organisations and inspired by the Russian model, a digital trail of a document obtained by Seznam Zprávy reveals.
ECJ limits detention for rejected asylum seekers to 18 months – The Dutch government’s plans to step up the deportation of rejected asylum applicants have been dealt a blow after European Court of Justice ruled they must be released from detention after 18 months.
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/04/ecj-limits-detention-for-rejected-asylum-seekers-to-18-months/
Finland moves to extend ‘pushback law’ law until 2028 – Finland’s government has launched plans to keep its controversial Border Security Act, widely known as the country’s “pushback law”, in force until the end of 2028, arguing that the threat of instrumentalised migration along its eastern border remains high.
https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/29046-finland-moves-to-extend-pushback-law-law-until-2028.html
First large-scale return case under EU asylum pact sparks concerns in the Canary Islands – Last week, a court in the Canary Islands authorized the detention and return of 82 Senegalese people who had reached the island of El Hierro as part of a group of 119 people in total on 23 June.
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/72221/spain-first-largescale-return-case-under-eu-asylum-pact-sparks-concerns-in-the-canary-islands
Cabinet approves reduced resources, expedited deportations, and longer detention periods for immigrants – Portugal will have a new law to expedite the deportation of undocumented people. The text of the proposed law was approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday [19 March] after undergoing public consultation.
Eritrean footballers missing after international match
Similar episodes have been recorded in the past. In 2019, several members of the under-20 team went missing during a regional tournament in Uganda. In 2015, a group of senior players did not return after a World Cup qualifier in Botswana. Earlier, in 2013, more than a dozen players and staff sought asylum in Uganda, while in 2009 nearly the entire senior squad failed to return following a trip to Kenya.