Ethiopia-Eritrea, Jordan, Zambia.

Today's three stories you should know.

Sep 05, 2023

Ethiopia-Eritrea

Eritrean troops executed civilians and sexually enslaved women in neighboring Ethiopia months after a peace deal was signed last year, rights group Amnesty International said today. The troops had crossed into Ethiopia two years ago to support the Ethiopian government in a conflict it was fighting in the north of the country. Media reports and reports from right groups quickly emerged accusing them of carrying out regular atrocities. “The serious violations documented in this report amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity,” Amnesty said.

Jordan

Jordan’s army has shot down a drone filled with crystal meth after it flew across the border from Syria, the military said, adding it was the ninth drug-laden drone they have intercepted from Syria this year. Syria - now more than a decade into a grinding civil war - has become a major hub for drug trafficking, including of a locally-made amphetamine known as captagon. It promised in May that it would crack down on the trade as a condition for its re-admittance to the Arab League after 12 years.

Zambia

It appears some African leaders may be feeling nervous after a spate of coups on the continent, the most recent in Gabon last week. Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema today issued a warning."To colleagues that think, we are timid by being kind and that they can break the laws and entertain thoughts of illegal takeover of government including undemocratic coup d'état ... we are coming for you," he told a large crowd on a visit to a suburb of the capital Lusaka without giving any specific reason for his comments. Zambia is currently going through a cost of living crisis.