Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Eritrea will pull its troops (Guardian) out of Ethiopia’s conflict-ridden Tigray region. Eritrean officials have not yet commented on the withdrawal. The announcement came days after Abiy first admitted Eritrean troops were in Tigray, a deployment both countries denied for months. Yesterday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations’ human rights office announced they will conduct a joint investigation (OHCHR) into widespread claims of human rights abuses in the region.

Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced (France 24, Reuters) since conflict erupted in November between Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. U.S. President Joe Biden sent Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) to meet with Abiy last weekend in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Coons said Abiy denied allegations of ethnic cleansing (Reuters) in Tigray and dismissed the United States’ urging of a cease-fire, saying such action was unnecessary because most fighting has abated.

China sanctioned British individuals (FT), including lawmakers, as well as organizations, accusing them of interfering in Chinese affairs. Earlier this week, the United Kingdom joined Canada, the EU, and the United States in sanctioning Chinese officials for abuses against Uyghur Muslims. 

This CFR Backgrounder explains China’s repression of Uyghurs.

North Korea: State media confirmed that the country tested ballistic missiles (Yonhap) yesterday. The UN Security Council’s sanctions committee will discuss the test today, and President Biden said the United States would “respond accordingly” if tensions escalate further.

The United States and UK sanctioned two conglomerates (Reuters) overseen by Myanmar’s military, which seized control of the country on February 1. More than three hundred people have been killed (Al Jazeera) in the junta’s crackdown on protesters, a monitor said.

Afghanistan: German lawmakers approved a mandate (Reuters) allowing as many as 1,300 German troops to stay in Afghanistan until early 2022 as part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission. However, according to a 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement, all foreign forces are supposed to leave Afghanistan by May 1.

For CFR’s Strength Through Peace blog, the International Crisis Group’s Laurel Miller writes that violence in Afghanistan could increase this year.

The Japanese company that owns the cargo ship that has blocked Egypt’s Suez Canal since Tuesday apologized and said it hopes to free the vessel (Nikkei) by tomorrow, but some experts have said dislodging it could take weeks (BBC). The blockage has hamstrung global shipping.

CFR’s Richard N. Haass argues that supply chains will need to be rethought in a post-pandemic world.

Libya: Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush demanded all mercenaries immediately leave Libya (Middle East Eye), a call supported by the visiting foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Italy. She also said Germany and Italy will reopen their embassies in Libya. France agreed to reopen its diplomatic post earlier this week.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court heard arguments to imprison Former President Jacob Zuma for two years for defying a court order to appear before a corruption commission. Zuma said he does not fear jail (TimesLIVE) but will not subject himself to an “oppressive and unjust court system.”

Leaders of countries in the EU failed to reach an agreement (Politico) at a virtual summit on how to divide ten million COVID-19 vaccine doses, instead delegating that responsibility to diplomats. The leaders also supported a proposal (WSJ) to increase EU members’ power to prevent vaccine exports.

Belarus: Authorities detained more than two hundred people (Euronews) protesting President Alexander Lukashenko’s tenure on Freedom Day, which marks the anniversary of the short-lived Belarusian republic. Massive anti-Lukashenko demonstrations rocked Belarus last year.

Canada’s Supreme Court found it constitutional for the federal government to impose a minimum price on provinces’ greenhouse gas emissions, citing evidence that carbon pricing is critical (Canadian Press) to combating climate change. Many provinces had opposed the tax.

This CFR Backgrounder explains global agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Brazil: The Health Ministry reported more than one hundred thousand new cases of COVID-19, the country’s highest daily rise (MercoPress) since the pandemic began.

At his first news conference as president, Biden described a triage-like approach (WaPo) to addressing national crises such as COVID-19 and inadequate infrastructure. He also said he does not envision U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan until 2022, signaled his intentions (WSJ) to push back against China, and dismissed the idea that migrants are coming to the United States because he is a “nice guy.”