The Horrors of Eritrea's Prison System

 The Washington Post published on 6 January 2024 an article titled "An African Gulag So Ghastly that Inmates Risk Death to Escape" by Katharine Houreld.

Based on interviews with former prisoners, many of whom were trying to avoid Eritrean National Service, the article describes the conditions in Eritrea's extensive prison system, which are said to be deplorable.

Three Africans Recruited from Jails Fought for Russia in Ukraine

 Reuters published on 22 June 2023 a story titled "The Africans Fighting on Russia's Front Line in Ukraine" by Giulia Paravicini, Filipp Lebedev, and Felix Light.

This is the story about three young Africans--two students from Tanzania and Zambia and a taxi driver from Cote d'Ivoire--who ended up being recruited from prison by the Wagner Group and sent to the front lines in Ukraine.  The two students from Tanzania and Zambia died in battle; the taxi driver from Cote d'Ivoire survived.

While in Russia, all three became involved in drugs, were convicted, and sent to jail where they were recruited by the Wagner Group to fight in Ukraine.  Their story is one of soaring ambitions and broken dreams.  Only the young man from Cote d'Ivoire survived.  After completing his service with the Wagner Group, Russia expunged his drug conviction and he reportedly is undergoing rehabilitation.   

Year Old Massacre in Ethiopian Prisons Exposed

 The Washington Post published on 4 December 2022 an article titled "Ethiopian Guards Massacred Scores of Tigrayan Prisoners, Witnesses Say" by Katharine Houreld.

This is an in-depth account of a series of atrocities at prisons in Ethiopia during November 2021 where guards singled out Tigrayans for killing.  The account documents 83 such killings at the prison near Mirab Abaya committed by about 18 of the guards.  Smaller numbers of Tigrayans were killed during the same period at other prisons in Ethiopia.  Not all guards took part in these atrocities.  

The apparent trigger for the killings was the movement in 2021 of Tigrayan forces through Amhara Region toward the capital of Addis Ababa.  The article suggests the attacks were motivated by Tigrayan military success and carried out mostly by guards from Amhara Region. 

Tigrayan Civilian Detainees in Ethiopia Allege Widespread Extortion

 Aljazeera published on 10 February 2022 an article titled "Ethiopian Officials Accused of Extorting Tigrayan Detainees" by Samuel Gebre and Zecharias Zelalem.  

Aljazeera interviewed victims and relatives of Tigrayan civilians detained by federal authorities in the aftermath of conflict that began in November 2020.  The article claims there is widespread extortion of the detainees for everything from release from prison to access to clean water.  

What Next for Ethiopia's Tigray?

 Aljazeera published on 10 July 2021 an article titled "After Battlefield Reversals, What Next for Ethiopia's Tigray War?" by Zecharias Zelalem.  

This is an update on the situation in Tigray Region following the departure from Tigray of ENDF and Eritrean troops.  

Update on Somali Piracy

Oceans Beyond Piracy recently published two short pieces dealing with piracy off Somalia.  The first is titled "Prisoner Survey Notes International Naval Presence as the Primary Deterrent to Pirates."  It reports, based on a survey of Somali prisoners, that the international naval presence in the Gulf of Aden was the major deterrent to a continuation of piracy.

The second item is titled "Will Illegal Fishing Ignite a Preventable Resurgence of Somali Piracy?"  It reports the seizing off Somalia of two Iranian-owned fishing vessels in March 2015 and asks if the resumption of illegal fishing in Somali waters will cause a resumption of Somali piracy.