More than 4 million refugees have fled #Sudan civil war, #UN says

The number of people who have fled Sudan since the beginning of its civil war in 2023 has surpassed four million, U.N. refugee agency officials said on Tuesday, adding that many survivors faced inadequate shelter due to funding shortages.

"Now in its third year, the 4 million people is a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis at the moment," U.N. refugee agency spokesperson Eujin Byun told a Geneva press briefing.

More than 800,000 of the refugees have arrived in Chad, where their shelter conditions are dire due to funding shortages, with only 14% of funding appeals met, UNHCR's Dossou Patrice Ahouansou told the same briefing. "This is an unprecedented crisis that we are facing. This is a crisis of humanity."

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/more-than-4-million-refugees-have-fled-sudan-since-war-began-un-says-2025-06-03/

#Ethiopian Airlines considering order for at least 20 regional jets, CEO says

Ethiopian Airlines is looking to order at least 20 regional or small narrowbody jets as it moves to expand its domestic fleet and replace some ageing aircraft, the airline's chief executive told Reuters on Monday.

“We are evaluating three aircraft models, the E-2 from Embraer, the A220 from Airbus, and the 737 MAX 7 from Boeing,” CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele said in an interview. He added that the final order quantity will depend on the type chosen. Boeing's 737 MAX 7, which has a larger seating capacity and sits at the bottom of a larger category than the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-2, “is yet to be certified.”

“We are receiving airplanes from both Boeing and Airbus, but deliveries have been delayed, some by three months, some six months, some more,” Mesfin said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopian-airlines-considering-order-least-20-regional-jets-ceo-says-2025-06-02/

#Ethiopia: Federal High Court revokes bail for ex-State Minister Taye Dendea; lawyer alleges secretive hearing, absence of legal counsel

The Federal High Court Lideta Branch, has revoked the bail previously granted to former State Minister of Peace, Taye Dendea, and ordered his continued detention as proceedings continue, his lawyer told Addis Standard. The decision came after Taye was brought before the court at noon on Tuesday, 03 June.

According to the lawyer, Taye was “clandestinely presented” to the court. “He was presented without a lawyer,” he said. “Such high-profile cases can only proceed either with the presence of the defendant’s lawyer or with a public defender assigned by the court — but this requirement was bypassed.”

He also questioned the timing of the session, saying it was held “during the lunch break,” which he described as “a time not typically used for court proceedings.” He said the hearing appeared to be arranged “specifically to suspend his bail in secrecy.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50668

#Kenya dispatches technical team for 200MW #Ethiopian power import

Kenya is set to import an additional 200 MW of hydropower from Ethiopia to address a 283 MW supply shortfall during peak hours, as a technical team from Kenya Power and the Ministry of Energy travels to #Addis_Abeba to negotiate an expanded Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

The planned import builds on a 25-year agreement signed in 2022, under which Ethiopia supplies 200 MW at 6.5 US cents per kWh—lower than Kenya’s thermal generation costs, which reach up to 20 US cents.

The delegation is expected to discuss tariff rates, delivery timelines, and grid stability, with the goal of finalizing terms by mid-2025. The additional electricity is anticipated to come from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), aiming to support Kenya’s reserve margin, which currently stands at 9 MW—below the 20–35 percent buffer recommended by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

https://www.kdrtv.co.ke/news/kenya-dispatches-technical-team-for-200mw-ethiopian-power-import/

#Ethiopia: Over 8,000 displaced due to flooding in South Omo, Dasenech; officials warn Omorate town ‘at risk of submersion’

More than 8,000 people have been displaced following flooding triggered by the overflow of Lake Turkana and the Omo River in Dasenech district, South Omo Zone of the South Ethiopia Region, according to Umer Nakuwe, Deputy Administrator of the district and Head of the Peace and Security Administration Office.

Umer told Addis Standard the flooding began on Sunday, 02 June 2025, affecting five kebeles surrounding Omorate town. He said the displaced residents “are currently sheltered in a highland area known as Bufbuf.” Umer recalled that in earlier years, the Omo River “used to overflow only once a year,” but noted that since 2020, “it has been overflowing up to three times annually,” altering its course and repeatedly flooding the area. He partly attributed the expansion of the flood to the area's fertile soil, which he said “creates favorable conditions for water to spread.” Umer warned that “if this continues, Omorate town is at risk of being completely submerged.”

A resident of the area, who requested anonymity, told Addis Standard that the current flood has “submerged nine kebeles, including areas that were previously not considered disaster-prone.” The resident stated, “this kind of disaster happens frequently,” recalling a major flood four years ago. He added that the Omo river and Turkana lake overflowed, “forcing the water to change direction,” and claimed that “more than 20,000 people have now been displaced.”

https://addisstandard.com/over-8000-displaced-due-to-flooding-in-south-omo-dasenech-officials-warn-omorate-town-at-risk-of-submersion/

#Egypt plans desert city supplied with diverted #Nile water

Egypt unveiled plans on Sunday to build a desert city that will see about 7% of Egypt's annual Nile River quota rerouted from fertile delta land to pass by upscale glass-fronted housing units and eventually a large agricultural project.

Egypt, facing mounting water shortages, power constraints, and a deepening economic crisis, wants the development to help increase the value of state assets and boost land prices through "non-traditional, innovative ideas," Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a statement announcing the project.

About 10 million cubic meters of Nile water will flow daily to the 6.8 million sq meter (2.63 sq mile) Jirian city, 42 km (26 miles) west of downtown Cairo, helping irrigate a 2.28 million acre New Delta agricultural project, developers said.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/egypt-plans-desert-city-supplied-with-diverted-nile-water-2025-06-01/

Escalating conflict in #South_Sudan forces many thousands to flee just as aid dwindles

The UN Refugee Agency (#UNHCR) said on Tuesday that more than 165,000 people have fled escalating violence in South Sudan over the past three months, citing ongoing political instability and hostilities between armed groups, particularly in Upper Nile state. According to UNHCR, around 100,000 of those displaced have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, including #Sudan, #Ethiopia, #Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reporting “insecurity, inter-communal violence, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions” as reasons for leaving.

Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR’s Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region, stated that “South Sudan cannot afford yet another crisis,” noting that the country is already hosting over 1 million people who have fled the war in Sudan. He added that “millions of its citizens continue to recover from years of conflict and crisis at home.” UNHCR further reported that humanitarian access to approximately 65,000 newly displaced people remains “significantly constrained” due to ongoing fighting and movement restrictions, hindering the delivery of essential items such as medicine and health services amid a rise in cholera cases.

Neighbouring countries, UNHCR noted, are struggling to absorb the influx. Sudan has received over 41,000 South Sudanese, including 26,000 in White Nile state, where existing refugee populations and limited services are under increased pressure. In Ethiopia’s Gambella region, UNHCR said new arrivals are being moved from makeshift shelters at the border to areas where assistance can be provided, though conditions remain difficult.

https://www.unhcr.org/news/press-releases/escalating-conflict-south-sudan-forces-many-thousands-flee-just-aid-dwindles

#Ethiopia: Court grants 8-day probe into Dr. Mahlet, seven others charged with “inciting riot and unrest”

The Federal First Instance Court Arada Bench has granted an additional eight-day investigation period into the case of Dr. Mahlet Guush, an anatomical pathologist, and seven others accused of “inciting riot and unrest” and “collaborating with anti-peace forces,” amid an ongoing nationwide strike by health professionals.

The decision was issued today, 04 June, following a police request submitted during a hearing on 02 June. A family member of Dr. Mahlet, who requested anonymity, told Addis Standard that police had requested “an additional 14 days” citing incomplete investigations, but the court approved only eight. The individuals were first brought before the same court on 21 May, when police were initially granted 12 days for investigation—bringing the total pre-charge detention to 20 days.

Dr. Mahlet was arrested on 19 May from her residence in Addis Abeba’s Bashawelde Condominium, located around 4 Kilo. Her family said she was taken by individuals they identified as “security forces.” Her detention followed her appearance on BBC Focus on Africa, where she said the healthcare system is burdened by “resource limitations” and highlighted chronic shortages in fields such as pathology and oncology.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50692

#Ethiopia: Ambassador Dina Mufti accuses Isaias Afwerki of promoting ‘Cushitic-Semitic antagonism’, interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs

Ambassador Dina Mufti, Member of Parliament and former spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has accused Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki of promoting what he called a “very dangerous” narrative of “Cushitic-Semitic antagonism” aimed at destabilizing Ethiopia and realigning political forces in the Horn of Africa.

In a commentary published by the state-affiliated Horn Review, Dina alleged that Isaias “seems to have come up with this thesis” to build a coalition of “ethnic militias from the Tigray and Amhara region” under “a coalition that he leads,” seeking to overthrow Ethiopia’s federal government, which Isaias allegedly considers “subservient to external forces.”

In his 24 May speech in Asmara, Isaias described Ethiopia as caught in “a spiral of crises and devastation” caused by “ethnic federalism” that led to “upheavals and devastation.” He further accused external actors, “perturbed by the promising prospects” of reforms, of waging “wars against the Ethiopian people” by exploiting issues such as “the Issue of Water,” “Nile and the Red Sea,” and the “Ideology of Orommuma that does not represent the Oromo people.”

Ambassador Dina rejected this narrative as a “very dangerous provocation,” warning it risks exacerbating ethnic tensions. He accused Isaias of attempting to “fuel animosity against the Oromo community” by invoking Oromummaa, a concept the ambassador said Isaias “hardly understands.” Dina added that Isaias has a “long-standing habit of inciting one ethnic group against another” using “the ethnic card” to undermine Ethiopian governments “unwilling to accept his dictates.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50704

#Ethiopia: "There are no organized forces in Ethiopia capable of confronting the National Defense Forces or other security entities" - Legesse Tulu

Legesse Tulu, Government Communication Minister, stated in a recent national television appearance that “there are no organized forces in the country capable of confronting the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (#ENDF) or other organized security structures.”

He emphasized that Ethiopia’s peace situation “is more stable than it has been in the past seven years—even compared to last month.”

According to Legesse, “the ambitions of armed groups who once used violence to control territories and dismantle state structures have been neutralized.”

He explained that the current threat does not stem from political actors but from “economically motivated groups who engage in robbery and extortion to gain quick wealth.”

Watch!

#Commentary: Worse Than Evil: How stupidity fueled #Ethiopia into a raging inferno

Ethiopia has been gripped by relentless violence and atrocities across its regions over the past six years, writes Ezekiel Gebissa, the author of this commentary. He cites examples ranging from mass murder in #Tigray to indiscriminate killings in #Oromia, drone strikes in #Amhara, and the assassination of high-ranking government officials and prominent public figures. He notes, "The country is descending into an unfathomable underworld where life is nasty, brutish, and short."

Drawing on German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s concept of "cultivated stupidity"—a rejection of reason and critical thinking that enables ordinary people to follow immoral orders without question—Ezekiel argues that many Ethiopians have endorsed this "state-sanctioned violence." He points out that even "bishops and imams, otherwise paragons of peace and reconciliation, publicly preached violence and viciousness." The author adds that dehumanizing rhetoric from top government officials, calling opponents “nocturnal beasts and invasive weeds,” has normalized brutality.

The article states, “Ethiopian politics became violent because Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed allowed governance to be driven by a contrarian logic and exercised power by convulsive methods. In other words, policies were adopted if they were contrary to those of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), extreme violence was deployed to divide, muzzle, and neutralize alternative voices, and the public was corralled into aiding and abetting death and destruction.”

The author asserts that Prime Minister Abiy’s choice of "contrarian, corrosive, and convulsive politics has produced chaos, conflict, and an imminent collapse of the political order," effectively turning Ethiopia into "a land of blood for the last six years." He urges Ethiopians to heed Bonhoeffer’s call to view history “from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed and reviled, in short, from the perspective of the suffering” as a way to break free from this entrenched “cultivated stupidity.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50466

#Eritrea, #Somalia among 12 countries facing renewed #US travel restrictions under Trump order

Eritrea, Somalia, and #Sudan are among 12 countries whose citizens will be barred from entering the United States under a new proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, citing national security concerns. The directive, effective June 9, 2025, reinstates and expands a travel ban first introduced during Trump’s previous term and affects countries the U.S. administration claims have security vulnerabilities and inadequate identity verification systems.

According to the proclamation, full entry bans will apply to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Travel from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will be subject to partial restrictions.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-12-countries-cbs-news-reports-2025-06-04/

#Commentary: Geopolitical Airspace Paradox: How landlocked #Ethiopia faces airspace lock, seeks sea and sky access

Ethiopia, Africa’s oldest independent nation, faces a unique and pressing geopolitical dilemma, writes Solomon Gurmu Beka, the author of this commentary. He argues that the country is not only landlocked but also “functionally airspace-locked,” as it relies heavily on neighboring states for international air transit. “Currently, Ethiopia’s land and airspace are surrounded by the land and airspace of other sovereign nations, namely #Eritrea, #Djibouti, #Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia,” he notes. “Any geopolitical conflict, diplomatic fallout, or instability could result in airspace restrictions, dramatically impacting Ethiopia’s aviation network.”

The author points out that international aviation law grants countries “exclusive control over their airspace,” which means Ethiopian flights must obtain overflight rights to access global routes. While agreements such as the Chicago Convention and the 1965 Transit Trade Agreement recognize the rights of landlocked states to transit, Solomon emphasizes that these rights are largely contingent on “bilateral agreements” and remain “vulnerable to political tensions.” This dependence, he argues, exposes Ethiopia to strategic vulnerabilities, undermining its ability to operate aviation services effectively and posing risks to national security, economic growth, and regional influence.

He stresses that the consequences are particularly significant for Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier. Navigating restricted airspace, he explains, results in “longer flight times, higher fuel consumption, and reduced fleet lifespan.” The author elaborates: “For instance, flights to Europe could detour south around Eritrea, adding 30–60 minutes (300–500 km) compared to a direct route over Eritrea,” increasing operational costs and reducing efficiency for the airline.

To address these challenges, Solomon calls for deeper diplomatic engagement with neighboring countries, the strategic use of regional platforms such as the African Union and IGAD, and active participation in international aviation forums. While economic cooperation and regional goodwill may help secure consistent access, he contends that the long-term solution lies in a broader strategic goal: “Ethiopia must secure permanent maritime access to end its dual burden of land and airspace dependency.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50723

#US supports #Ethiopia’s push for maritime access; says is “very important” and should be pursued “through commercial means” and “peaceful, diplomatic contexts”

The United States supports Ethiopia’s efforts to expand maritime access “through commercial means” and “through peaceful and diplomatic contetexts,” said Ervin Massinga, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, who emphasized that the issue is critical given the country’s economic trajectory.

“With the economy growing as quickly as it is,” and with forecasts showing continued expansion, Amb. Massinga told state media that, “expanding maritime access is important.” He added that supporting such efforts “is something that the United States government, my embassy, intend to support going forward.”

The ambassador noted that Washington “understands this issue.”

#Harvard-bound student from #Ethiopia’s #Tigray faces uncertainty as Trump-era policy blocks international enrollment

Yonas Nuguse, a 21-year-old Ethiopian student from Tigray, is facing uncertainty over his planned enrollment at Harvard University after the Trump administration barred international students from joining the Ivy League school. Despite having received a student visa and an offer from Harvard, he remains unsure if he will be able to enroll this September.

Yonas, who completed high school at Kalamino Special High School in Mekele, was the only student from his school admitted to Harvard this year. “Since my childhood, I often heard about Harvard, but I was not sure if I belonged there,” he told the Associated Press. He said the success of a former student from his school admitted to MIT motivated him to “put all my efforts and hard work for a chance to be considered.”

His achievement came after years of disruption, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tigray war, during which schools were shut down. Yonas took a gap year to study and fund his TOEFL test in Addis Abeba. He scored 675 out of 700 on Ethiopia’s high school exit exam and a near-perfect TOEFL score, a combination he said made his admission “a proud moment” for his family and mentors.

However, his plans were upended when the Trump administration barred international students at certain institutions. Although Harvard filed a lawsuit and a federal judge temporarily blocked the decision, the situation remains uncertain. “I know the U.S. embassy has paused student visa issuance and cancelled all student visa interviews,” Yonas said, “I hope the situation is temporary and I can enroll on time to realize my dream far from reality in Ethiopia.”

https://www.africanews.com/2025/06/04/ethiopian-students-harvard-dream-hits-an-unexpected-obstacle/

#AU warns of ‘negative impact’ from #US travel ban; urges ‘balanced,’ ‘consultative’ approach

The African Union (AU) Commission has voiced concern over the United States’ renewed travel restrictions, warning of the “potential negative impact” the measures could have on long-standing ties between the U.S. and Africa. It urged Washington to implement the directive in a way that is “balanced, evidence-based, and reflective” of its historical engagement with the continent.

In a statement released on 5 June, the AU Commission said it had “taken note” of the directive issued by the U.S. government, which imposes entry restrictions on several countries, including #Eritrea, #Somalia, and #Sudan. While acknowledging “the sovereign right of all nations to protect their borders and ensure the security of their citizens,” the AU appealed to the U.S. to “exercise this right in a manner” that aligns with the spirit of its partnership with Africa.

The AU warned that the restrictions risk undermining “people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations” developed over decades. It emphasized that “Africa and the United States share mutual interests in promoting peace, prosperity, and global cooperation,” and called on the U.S. to “adopt a more consultative approach,” including “transparent communication” and, “where necessary, collaborative efforts” to address any underlying issues.

https://addisstandard.com/au-warns-of-negative-impact-from-us-travel-ban-urges-balanced-consultative-approach/?amp=1

#Boeing reaches $1.1bn deal over #Ethiopia, #Indonesia crashes; family lawyer calls it ‘morally repugnant’

Boeing has agreed to a $1.1 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) to avoid prosecution over two fatal 737 Max crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia that killed 346 people. A lawyer representing 16 families of the victims described the deal as “morally repugnant,” saying it allows the company to evade full accountability.

The agreement, which includes $444.5 million in compensation to victims’ families and $445 million for improving compliance, safety, and quality systems, was detailed in a U.S. court filing last week. The company has already paid $243 million from a previous 2021 settlement with the DoJ.

Sanjiv Singh, counsel for family members of some of the victims from the 2018 Indonesia crash, told the BBC that Boeing was allowed to “sidestep true criminal accountability” under the deal, which he called “morally repugnant.”

If approved by a U.S. federal judge, the agreement would result in the dismissal of a criminal fraud charge against Boeing. Families of those killed in the Lion Air crash off Indonesia and the Ethiopian Airlines crash near Addis Abeba have long pushed for a public trial and for former company officials to be held criminally responsible.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/05/us-boeing-deal-over-737-max-crashes-morally-repugnant-says-lawyer-for-victims-families

#Ethiopia: Parliament removes salary deduction clause from disaster risk bill citing ‘overlapping burden on workers’; approves proclamation unanimously

The House of Peoples’ Representatives (#HoPR) on Thursday unanimously approved the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Proclamation after removing a clause that would have mandated salary deductions from government and private sector workers, state media reported. The Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs, which presented the report, said the provision was withdrawn following “discussion and consensus,” stating that the measure would “cause overlapping expenditure burden on workers.”

The proclamation, passed as Proclamation No. 1386/2017, aims to establish the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission as an autonomous federal agency. The commission is tasked with overseeing a “comprehensive legal framework” for disaster risk reduction, response, and recovery. The original bill, introduced in March, included a now-removed article requiring monthly contributions from employees’ net salaries to a national Disaster Risk Response Fund, alongside other revenue sources such as fees from banks, insurance companies, airlines, telecom operators, and the sale of goods like tobacco and alcohol.

The Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (#CETU) had earlier warned against introducing salary-based contributions, urging the government to “reconsider additional deductions” that would “further burden their livelihoods.” CETU stressed that workers were already “struggling to support themselves and their families” in the face of persistent inflation and stagnant wages.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50736

#KEFI nears $320 mln funding close for flagship #Ethiopian gold mine; production targeted by 2027

KEFI Gold and Copper PLC said it is close to securing a $320 million financing package for its Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia, enabling construction to begin and full production to start by 2027. The company described the timing as “an opportune moment” following years of groundwork and a more favourable investment climate. The funding syndicate, which includes two African development banks, contractors and local investors, is now at the final approval stage, KEFI said.

The project would become “the first internationally project-financed mine in Ethiopia,” KEFI noted, calling it a milestone for the country’s mining sector. The mine is expected to produce around 164,000 ounces of gold annually, with potential net cash flow to shareholders of up to $1.6 billion over its life.

https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1072530/kefi-nears-funding-close-for-flagship-ethiopian-gold-mine-1072530.html

#Opinion: Unfitting Praise: Abraham Verghese’s Eulogy for Meles Zenawi at #Harvard Commencement

On 28 May, 2025, Dr. Abraham Verghese—an #Ethiopian-born, Malayali-American physician—delivered the commencement address at Harvard University. In his speech, he urged graduates to value truth and intellectual rigor, commending Harvard for “defending institutional integrity” amid political pressures, particularly during the Trump administration. Verghese also included a eulogy for his former medical school classmate and “friend,” the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. He described Meles as “a student as brilliant as I’ve ever met,” highlighting his transformation from medical student to rebel leader and eventually to prime minister. Echoing former President Clinton, he called Meles “a new generation of African leader.”

Despite these glowing remarks, Dr. Shimels Hussien Mohammed, the author of this opinion piece, argues that “it was inappropriate to honor Meles with a eulogy from a platform devoted to celebrating academic freedom.” He notes that “Meles was widely known for undermining institutional norms and curtailing academic freedom in Ethiopia.”

Shimels points out a contradiction: “While Abraham Verghese lauded Harvard’s resistance to Trump’s policies and defense of academic freedom, he overlooked that the administration of Meles was notorious for suppressing dissent, targeting intellectuals, and restricting institutions.” He goes on to say, "Under Meles, a university similar to Harvard could have faced closures and its leaders could have been jailed." To illustrate this, he references the expulsion of 42 professors from Addis Ababa University in 1993.

The author concludes that while Dr. Verghese’s address was likely well-intentioned, it “misses a critical opportunity to engage with Meles Zenawi’s complex legacy,” ultimately leaving graduates “with a partial view of history, one that Harvard’s community deserves to see balanced with the full weight of truth.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50743

Eight deportees, #US ICE officers stranded in #Djibouti after #South_Sudan flight blocked

Eight deportees removed from the United States and 13 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers remain stranded at a US naval base in Djibouti, after a deportation flight to South Sudan was halted by a US federal court in late May. The group is being held in a converted shipping container, and according to US officials, both the detainees and the ICE staff have begun to “feel ill.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the ICE officers began showing symptoms “within 72 hours of landing” and continue to suffer from suspected “bacterial upper respiratory infections.” In a court declaration, Mellissa Harper, a senior DHS and ICE official, said the officers are “sharing very limited sleeping quarters,” with only six beds available for 13 people, while the deportees are housed in a container that had been used as a conference room.

Harper stated that the outside temperature in Djibouti “frequently exceeds 100F (38C)” and that nearby burn pits have caused “throat irritation” among the officers. She also noted the risk of malaria, as ICE staff “did not take anti-malaria medication before arriving.” According to Harper, on arrival ICE personnel were warned by the US Department of Defense of the “imminent danger of rocket attacks from terrorist groups in Yemen,” but lacked “body armor or other gear that would be appropriate in the case of an attack.”

The eight men are from Myanmar, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico and South Sudan. The Trump administration attempted to deport them to South Sudan after their home countries declined to accept them. However, US District Judge Brian Murphy ruled in May that the administration had “unquestionably” violated an earlier court order, issued in April, which said individuals facing deportation to third countries had the right to challenge the removal.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/06/migrants-djibouti-ice