Several member states of the European Union held a special meeting to discuss the new policy to curb irregular migration, which has reportedly risen sharply this year compared to previous years.

The EU is allocating funds to an operation designed to intercept migrants before they depart from North African countries, where they attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach neighboring European states.

Italy, which is the main entry point for migrants arriving by sea, had previously reached an agreement with Libya that failed to succeed. The plan had required the Tripoli-based government to return migrants and prevent their onward movement.

As the pressure has spread beyond Italy to other European countries, these states have now begun implementing a joint strategy to address the issue, investing significant financial resources in the execution of this new project.

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The East African Court of Justice (EACJ), based in Tanzania, suspended the deal on Monday pending the outcome of a case filed by a non-governmental organisation challenging its legality, Kinyanjui said.

Kenya signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU in 2023 to secure preferential access for Kenyan goods to the 27-nation bloc, while gradually opening Kenya’s market to European products over time.

According to a case summary posted on the EACJ website, the Centre for Law, Economics and Policy argues that the agreement violates certain provisions of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol, to which Kenya is a signatory.

Kinyanjui said the Trade Ministry has now initiated a legal appeal seeking to overturn the injunction. He did not specify when the appeal would be heard.

“The Kenya–EU EPA is the lifeline of our booming exports and a source of livelihood for a large majority of Kenyans,” he said in a statement. “Kenya will continue to trade with the EU, and steps are being taken to ensure continuity, predictability, and protection of our existing commercial arrangements.”

Kenya exported goods worth $1.56 billion to the EU last year, while importing $2.09 billion from the bloc, according to the minister.

Many African nations are seeking to expand their exports to major markets such as the EU and China, especially following the imposition of higher tariffs by the U.S. government this year.

The EAC Secretariat was not immediately available for comment.

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The Banadiri, who have long endured dispossession, persecution, and institutionalized political marginalization, have expressed their frustration at the lack of support from the international community.

During a heated debate in Somalia’s Lower House focused on the escalating ethnic conflict in the Lower Shabelle region, lawmakers directed blame towards the United Nations and the European Union for allegedly funding certain clans that perpetuate oppression and mistreatment of marginalized communities.

A fighting in Barawe, a historic coastal town in Lower Shabelle, resulted more than 10 deaths, including civilians, on Monday. Two rival armed groups, vying for control of the city and its resources, including revenue collection checkpoints, have been engaging street battle on Monday and Tuesday.

MP Omar Sharif Jeeg, a vocal representative from the Banadiri community, strongly condemned the fighting and expressed regret as part of the international community’s role in enabling these ethnic clashes and abuses against minorities.

He highlighted the forceful displacement and seizure of land from Banadiri community members in Barawe, emphasizing the 31 years of funding support that has sustained such violations.

“The international community, i.e., UN and EU, should be ashamed of their actions,” MP Jeeg stated, calling for the Banadiri community to resist fleeing and instead acquire weapons to protect their ancestral land and resources.

‘Unarmed, lacking full economic and political rights’ in their ancestral land

Despite being the native inhabitants of Mogadishu, Marka, and Barawe, Banadiri clan members are collectively classified as members of an unarmed clan, lacking full economic and political rights even in their ancestral towns.

MP Omar Jeeg added, “Our land has been taken, our rights have been taken, and now our existence is in danger.” He expressed concern over the prolonged abuse endured by the Banadiri community while major clan members who fled Mogadishu since 1991 were able to return to their areas of origin.

MP Abdirashid Jili from Barawe strongly criticized the situation in the Lower Shabelle region, highlighting the racial targeting and killing of civilians based on their ethnicity and blamed the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) of colluding with one side of the warring groups in Barawe.

“Our stance is clear: No clan shall exert dominance over another. Barawe holds the position of capital within Southwest State, and we firmly reject any attempts by individuals from other regions, disguising themselves as government forces under the banner of their clans, to oppress and mistreat our people,” he emphasized.

He pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable and called on foreign donors to reassess their funding of projects that contribute to hostility against minority communities in Lower Shabelle.

The European Union remains a major donor to Somalia, with a significant allocation of Euro 72 million for humanitarian projects in 2023. The United Nations, on its side, asserts its commitment to supporting Somalia’s key areas of focus, including humanitarian aid, development initiatives, political stability, and security priorities.

However, Somali politicians argue that these funds disproportionately benefit powerful clans favored by the corrupt government officials, lacking sufficient accountability and further perpetuating marginalization and inequality.

“It is not helping. It only deepens the marginalization our community is facing. We urge them to reconsider their approach of funding,” MP Jeeg concluded.

Additionally, recent armed clashes involving the Darwish force, a police unit trained and equipped through joint funding from the EU, UK, and UN, have sparked anger among residents of Barawe and Bardale. These clashes have resulted in numerous casualties, including civilians, and triggered the displacement of local families.

Nur Sidow, the Minister of Petroleum of Southwest State, expressed similar outrage over the death and injury of civilians in the Lower Shabelle region. He blamed mortar shelling by the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), funded by the EU and UN, for the casualties in Bariire town.

The incident in Barire followed another tragic incident, as reported by UNICEF, where 22 children lost their lives due to the detonation of an unexploded remnant of war in Muraale village in Lower Shabelle last week, further intensified concerns about civilian safety.

Minister Sidow condemned the indiscriminate attacks by ATMIS on the civilian population in the Lower Shabelle region, urging accountability for the pain inflicted upon innocent civilians.

“We can not remain silent on the increasing attacks by ATMIS on the civilian population,” he told the local media on Wednesday.

The grievances expressed by Banadiri lawmakers and local officials highlight the urgent need to address marginalization, promote equality, and ensure responsible allocation of international aid to mitigate the suffering of vulnerable communities in Somalia.

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The 27-nation bloc has already imposed three rounds of sanctions on Iranian officials and organizations — including government ministers, military officers and Iran’s morality police — for human rights abuses over the protests that erupted in Iran in mid-September over the death of Mahsa Amini.

The 22-year-old woman died after being arrested by the morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Women have played a leading role in the protests, with many publicly removing the compulsory Islamic headscarf, known as the hijab.

At least four people have been executed since the demonstrations began, following rapid, closed-door trials. At least 519 people have been killed and more than 19,200 others arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that’s been monitoring the rallies.

The movement has become one of the greatest challenges to Iran’s Shiite theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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