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Sudanese Migrants In Israel Fear Deportation After Coup

Published

4 years ago

November 17, 2021

For nearly 10 years, Monim Haroon has only known one home: Israel. Like thousands of Sudanese migrants, he lives and works without legal status, fearing that a return to his native land would be a death sentence.

Israel’s normalization of ties with Sudan, announced last year, had raised fears among the migrants that they would lose their migrant status and be forced to return. Now, weeks after a military coup derailed Sudan’s transition to democracy, they dread being forcibly returned to a country under the full control of generals blamed for past atrocities.

“I am not against normalization,” said Haroon. “But the normalization should be through the civilian Sudanese government, not the military powers that now control Sudan.”

The asylum-seekers’ plight points to one of the less savory aspects of the so-called Abraham Accords, a series of deals reached between Israel and four Arab countries last year. The U.S.-brokered agreements with Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco — widely hailed as a breakthrough in Mideast diplomacy — were struck with unelected Arab leaders with little tolerance for dissent who were richly rewarded by the Trump administration.

Sudan’s military leaders, the driving force behind the agreement, secured the country’s removal from the U.S. list of terrorism sponsors, unlocking vital international aid and commerce.

But then last month, Sudan’s top military leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, disbanded the transitional government and ordered the arrest of civilian leaders, quashing hopes of a democratic transition after the 2019 overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

The coup, which has been condemned by the United States and other Western nations, has left Israel in a potentially awkward situation.

Israel has been silent on the coup and its aftermath, indicating it intends to maintain normalized ties. A report on the Israeli news site Walla that an Israeli delegation had secretly visited Sudan to meet with the coup leaders deepened migrant fears that they could soon be deported. The Israeli Foreign Ministry and Sudanese officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Sudanese and Eritrean migrants began arriving in Israel in 2005, with many of the Sudanese fleeing persecution in the western Darfur region and the country’s south. Seeking safety and opportunity in Israel, they made often dangerous journeys across Egypt’s rugged Sinai Peninsula.

Israel initially did little to stop the influx, but as more migrants arrived, the authorities began detaining thousands in remote desert prisons. And in 2013, Israel completed construction of a fenced barrier along its border with Egypt that mostly halted the migration.

The migrants’ presence has sparked a backlash among many Israelis who associate them with the crime and poverty in south Tel Aviv, where most of them settled. Right-wing governments in recent years have made various attempts to expel them.

Ayelet Shaked, a prominent right-wing politician, has described Sudanese migrants as “infiltrators” and said they should be sent back since ties have been normalized. She is now the interior minister in Israel’s new government, a position that oversees immigration policies.

“We are worried because she has always been against asylum-seekers,” Haroon said.

The Interior Ministry said the status of Sudanese migrants has not changed following the coup but declined to answer further questions.

Israel has resolved only a small fraction of the thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum claims, deeming the vast majority to be economic migrants. Under international law, Israel cannot deport migrants back to countries where their life or basic freedoms are seriously threatened.

Sudan’s incarcerated former president al-Bashir was charged with genocide by the International Criminal Court for mass killings that took place in Darfur during the 2000s. The region remains unstable, with deadly tribal clashes still common. Since the October coup, at least 23 Sudanese protesters have been killed in confrontations between pro-democracy demonstrators and military forces.

“Although Israel does not send migrants back, consecutive decrees have purposefully made life unbearable for African refugees,” said Sigal Rozen, public policy director at the Israeli Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, an advocacy group that assists the Africans.

Most of the estimated 28,000 Sudanese and Eritrean migrants work in menial jobs and struggle to make ends meet. Their numbers have dwindled by half since the 2000s, with most traveling onward to third countries, considering it unsafe to return home.

In 2012, Israel ordered the deportation of over 1,000 migrants back to South Sudan after it gained independence, arguing that it was safe for them to go home. Those who voluntarily returned were given a cash incentive of about $1,000. The move was criticized by rights groups following South Sudan’s descent into civil war in 2013.

Stuck in Israeli legislative limbo, most African migrants are barred from basic social rights such as sick pay and driving licenses and are also subject to financial penalties. Among the most controversial of these was the “Deposit Law,” which limited asylum seekers to accessing only 80% of their salaries while they remained in Israel. The law, which returned the remainder of their salaries only if they left the country, was later reversed in 2020.

In April, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered the Interior Ministry to resolve thousands of the unanswered Sudanese asylum claims by the end of the year or grant them temporary residency.

Sudan was noticeably absent from anniversary commemorations of the Abraham Accords earlier this fall. As Israel and the other three nations trumpeted high-level visits and opened embassies, there has been little on the Sudan front beyond a surprise meeting between Israeli and Sudanese officials in the UAE weeks before the coup. Sudan also said in September that it would seize the assets of companies linked to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza.

Haim Koren, former Israeli ambassador to Egypt and South Sudan, attributed the delays to concerns by Sudanese officials over whether Israel’s new government and the Biden administration would follow through on the promises of the normalization agreement. Both have expressed strong support for deepening and expanding the Abraham Accords.

“There remain areas that still require negotiation, but I expect full relations to be established,” said Koren. “Maybe not today, but it will happen.”

(AP)

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Nigerians Who Have Broken Guinness World Records

Published

4 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Over the years, Nigerians have made their mark on the global stage by setting and breaking Guinness World Records across diverse fields.

Here are ten Nigerians who have earned a place in the Guinness World Records:

1. Hilda Baci – Longest Cooking Marathon

Celebrity chef Hilda Baci captured national and international attention in May 2023 after cooking for 100 hours, setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Though her record was later surpassed, Baci has remained at the forefront of culinary challenges.

At the time of writing this report, Baci is attempting to cook the largest pot of Jollof rice in collaboration with a food brand.

2. Tunde Onakoya – Longest Chess Marathon

Chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, etched his name in history on April 17, 2025, after playing non-stop chess for 64 hours in New York, USA. His successful attempt came a year after an earlier effort, which, though unsuccessful in breaking the record, raised over $100,000 for his charity initiative. The 64-hour duration was symbolic, representing the total number of squares on a chessboard.

3. Ojumola Bello – Longest Acting Marathon

Nollywood actress
Ojumola Bello made history in September 2024 when she completed 139 hours and 19 minutes of non-stop acting. The marathon, held at Pent View Hotel in Ikorodu, ran from September 22 to 27, making her the first Nigerian actress to secure such a feat in the global records.

4. Helen Williams – Longest Handmade Wig

Helen Williams is a professional wig maker based in Lagos who turned her craft into a world-class achievement. At just 31, she entered the Guinness World Records in July 2023 with the longest handmade wig, measuring 351.28 metres longer than the Eiffel Tower. Her record reflects not only skill and creativity but also Nigeria’s growing influence in the global beauty and fashion industry.

5. Divine Ikubor (REMA)

Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, is a Nigerian Afrobeats star whose global rise has redefined the country’s music scene. In May 2023, he made history as the first artist to top the MENA charts, earning a Guinness World Records title. His breakout hit Calm Down, released on February 11, 2022, quickly became one of the fastest songs to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify, cementing his status as one of Africa’s most influential young artists.

6. Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau – Longest Dance Party

Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, popularly known as Kaffy, is Nigeria’s most celebrated dancer, choreographer, and fitness coach. She rose to international fame in 2006 after leading a team to break the Guinness World Record for the longest dance party during the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon. Today, she remains a trailblazer in the entertainment industry and a role model for young African performers.

7. Wizkid – One Billion Streams

Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognized musicians, came to the Guinness World Record spotlight when he featured on Drake’s hit single One Dance, which became the first track to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. The song was released on December 16, 2016.

One Dance marked a significant moment in global music, further solidifying Wizkid’s place in the international music scene. With the song, Wizkid became the first Afrobeats artist to achieve one billion streams on Spotify.

8. Lucy Ejike – Heaviest Powerlifter

Lucy Ejike is a decorated Nigerian Paralympian and one of the country’s most celebrated powerlifters. She made history at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by lifting 142 kg in the -61 kg category, setting a Guinness World Record for the heaviest powerlift by a female athlete in that division. Her dominance in the sport stretches back to the Athens 2004 Paralympics, where her 127.5 kg lift in the -44 kg class secured gold and established a record that still stands today.

9. Fela Kuti – Most Studio Albums Recorded By A Solo Artist

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, holds a Guinness World Records title for the most studio albums recorded by a solo artist. Between 1969 and 1992, he released 46 albums over a 23-year career, leaving behind a body of work that continues to shape global music and political activism.

10. Adeoye Ajibola – Paralympic Athletes

Adeoye Ajibola, a Nigerian Paralympic sprinter, made history at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games when he ran the men’s 100 metres in 10.72 seconds. Competing in the T46 classification for athletes with limb impairments, he set a Guinness World Records mark and remains celebrated as one of Nigeria’s greatest Paralympic athletes.

11. Joy Onaolapo – Paralympic powerlifter

Joy Onaolapo was a Nigerian Paralympic powerlifter who delivered an unforgettable performance at the London 2012 Games. On September 1, she won a gold medal in the women’s -52 kg category after lifting 131 kg, a feat that secured her place in the Guinness World Records, among Nigeria’s sporting legends and inspired future generations of para-athletes.

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What To Know About Albania’s AI Minister, Diella

Published

4 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Albania’s government has introduced Diella, an AI-generated virtual cabinet member tasked with public procurement. A world-first move that’s already drawing big praise and big questions.

Nigerian Tribune reports that Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled Diella on Friday as a virtual member of the government, describing her as a cabinet member “not present physically but created virtually,” adding that she would help ensure public tenders remain free of corruption while making government operations more efficient and transparent.

Below are ten most important, sourced facts and the key open questions to watch out for.

1. Diella as an AI

Diella is a computer system presented as an animated avatar (shown in traditional Albanian dress) and introduced by Prime Minister Edi Rama as a cabinet “member” created by AI rather than a flesh-and-blood minister.

2. Official role and timing

The government
appointed Diella to take responsibility for public procurement when the new cabinet was presented in mid-September 2025. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

3. Where Diella came from

Diella evolved from a virtual assistant on the government e-Albania portal (AKSHI’s platform). The system was developed by Albania’s National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI) and expanded into a cabinet-level AI.

4. What the government promises

Officials say Diella will make public procurement “100% free of corruption” by removing political discretion from awarding tenders and applying algorithmic decision-making. That is the reform pitch from PM Rama.

5. Legal and constitutional controversy

The appointment has sparked immediate debate. The presidency and opposition have expressed concern about constitutionality and who is accountable for ministerial decisions; some opposition figures have called the move political theatre.

6. Practical authority and human oversight unclear

Reports say procurement responsibilities are intended to be transferred gradually, but the government has not (publicly) published the full operational rules, human-in-the-loop safeguards, or the audit framework that would show who can override or audit Diella’s decisions.

That lack of detail is a major practical question.

7. Tech partnerships and the avatar

News reports say Diella was developed by Albania’s AI lab at AKSHI and Associated Press reports mention collaboration with Microsoft; the avatar’s likeness and voice have also been linked to a local actress in public reporting.

8. Innovation vs. democratic/ethical worries.

Domestic and international reaction is mixed. Supporters call it bold tech innovation to fight endemic corruption; critics warn about democratic accountability, potential for hidden biases, and the optics of “putting AI in power.” International outlets have also shown interest in how Diella will be deployed and analysts are watching closely.

9. Top technical and governance risks to watch

Key risks flagged by observers: how decisions will be explained to losing bidders; whether procurement datasets contain historical bias; who is responsible if the system is manipulated or hacked; and whether legal frameworks allow algorithmic substitution for political decision-making.

These issues drive both legal challenges and practical audit needs.

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Israel-Palestine Conflict: Nigeria, 141 Countries Endorse Two-State Solution

Published

10 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Nigeria on Friday joined 141 other countries to endorse New York Declaration on two-State solution between Israel and Palestine at the UN headquarters in New York.

Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall as countries endorsed the declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.

The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organised by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month.

The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document.

Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries: Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States, while 12 nations abstained.

Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution”.

This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign.

The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalisation between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees.

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Sudanese Migrants In Israel Fear Deportation After Coup

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