The razor wire that separates Europe from Africa might be coming down

Human stories from a world in conflict. No Images? [Click here]( — Sept. 14, 2018 — When the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a sudden peace deal in July 2018, citizens of the Horn of Africa nations rejoiced. Many took to the streets bearing the two flags. Others chose social media to express their happiness, and some even dialed up strangers, as phone lines between the nations were restored. It felt like a new era of harmony and prosperity had begun. However, [many Eritrean refugees are still afraid to return home](. Laura Hammond, a professor of developmental studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, says that "while the two countries are normalizing relations, the political situation inside Eritrea is not changing as rapidly. There are significant fears about what will happen to those who have left the country illegally, including in some cases escaping from prison or from their national service bases. They will need to be offered amnesty if they are to feel confident about returning.” ### Bob Elvis is a hip-hop artist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His songs are packed with social issues. For example, one of his more recent songs is a tribute to Rossy Mukendi, a pro-democracy activist who was killed by the police during a non-violent demonstration earlier this year. “I want to be like Picasso was during his time — deeply politically engaged but also artistic and emotional,” Elvis says. [But political statements in the arts are dangerous in the DRC](. His latest single, “Dégage,” or “Get Out,” is his most provocative — and potentially dangerous — song yet. It's explicitly directed toward President Joseph Kabila, the Congolese leader who has held office for 17 years and is the object of the rising pro-democracy movement across the country. Then Elvis was kidnapped. ### A fence separates Africa from Europe. It’s 20 feet tall and encircles the two small Spanish enclaves wedged between Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea. The fence is triple layered and topped with razor wire. And it's about to come down. The move is part of a broader set of reforms by Spain’s new socialist government, which entered office in June, to ease the path of Middle Eastern and African migrants. Spain has also accepted boats carrying migrants that were rejected at other ports, and also guaranteed that new arrivals would receive free, government-backed healthcare. [The changes come as migrants’ pathways across the Mediterranean evolve to make Spain the busiest gateway into Europe](. And nowhere is this evolving relationship felt more acutely than in the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. ### [Finally, C.J. Chivers' new book grapples with the human toll of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.]( In "The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq," New York Times journalist and former Marine infantry officer C.J. Chivers tells the story of six combatants, including Spc. Robert Soto, a soldier who initially impressed Chivers with his optimism. "He was nobody's archetype of a fighter. He had an enormous smile, which came to him almost unprompted. He liked to sing and he sang often. His memory had at its command a vast repertoire of lyrics — R&B, rap, hip-hop, the blues," Chivers says. "Robbie Soto joined the Army upbeat — fast with that grin. The guy who made others feel good." Chivers says "Robbie went from idealist to realist inside of six weeks." Despite the peace deal with Ethiopia, Eritrean refugees are still afraid to return home The borders have officially reopened between Ethiopia and Eritrea after 20 years of conflict. Families are being reunited. But many refugees still don't think they can return home. [Learn more >]( As Congolese elections near, political art is becoming more dangerous. Just ask Bob Elvis. Bob Elvis was on his way to meet with his producer about his upcoming album — called “Anti-Mediocrité,” a reference to the corrupt leadership that keeps Congolese citizens living in mediocrity and an extension of the archbishop’s politically charged message in “Dégage” — when he was kidnapped off the street. [Learn more >]( The razor wire that separates Europe from Africa might be coming down Elsewhere, the two continents are separated by hundreds of miles of sea, but in these Spanish autonomous cities the barrier is just a few feet of wire and mesh. Now that manmade barrier could be coming down. [Learn more >]( A new book tries to help more Americans understand what it's really like at war in Iraq and Afghanistan "One of my sons is 18 — he'll be graduating this year and he has expressed an interest" in joining the armed forces, author C.J. Chivers says. "He had expressed an interest in enlisting in the Marine Corps. And it's their decision. Each young person has to make the decision whether or not the military would potentially be something that they would serve for four years or for a career. But I would say that, right now, I do line up as a discouraging voice, having seen great human energy applied to unrealistic and sometimes senseless strategies." [Learn more >]( The Atlantic [A warning from Europe: The worst is yet to come]( Polarization. Conspiracy theories. Attacks on the free press. An obsession with loyalty. Recent events in the United States follow a pattern Europeans know all too well. Atlas Obscura [Descend Into Great Britain’s Network of Secret Nuclear Bunkers]( And meet the determined enthusiast bringing them back to life. The Century Foundation [Germany's Syrian refugee integration experiment]( Despite fears in host communities, Germany has successfully created a path to employment for newcomers, while managing social tensions. Smithsonian [For 40 years, this Russian family was cut off from all human contact, unaware of World War II]( In 1978, Soviet geologists prospecting in the wilds of Siberia discovered a family of six, lost in the taiga. Public Radio International (PRI) is a global nonprofit media company focused on the intersection of journalism and engagement to effect positive change in people’s lives. We create a more informed, empathetic and connected world by sharing powerful stories, encouraging exploration, connecting people and cultures, and creating opportunities to help people take informed action on stories that inspire them. 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