Eritrean Military-Headed Courts Remain Idle as Corruption Runs Rampant

Asmara, Eritrea - Despite the country’s claims to fight corruption, the military-headed special courts meant to oversee corruption cases have remained largely inactive.

Lack of an Independent Judiciary and Democratic Institutions

The lack of an independent judiciary and democratic institutions has created a climate of impunity, allowing crimes against humanity to go unpunished over the past 25 years. The special courts, which operate without standard procedures and are headed by military officers acting as lay judges, have become defunct.

Economic Challenges

• The government’s strategy of self-reliance has led to a poorly paid national service program, where young people are forced into mandatory labor.
• The diaspora is also taxed at a rate of 2%, with no clear transparency on how the funds are used.
• Eritrea’s economic regulatory capacity remains substandard due to the government’s irrational financial policy, which fixes the nakfa to the US dollar at an unsustainable rate of 15 to 1. This has led to a thriving black market and strict limits on withdrawals from personal accounts.

Monopoly on the Economy

The PFDJ and military have a monopoly on the economy, with all major companies controlled by them. The Hdiri Trust Fund controls all relevant companies operating in Eritrea, while the PFDJ-owned Red Sea Corporation dominates the country’s import-export trade.

Human Rights Abuses

Human rights abuses are rampant, with arbitrary arrests and detentions common. Prison conditions are harsh, and prisoners, including children, are held incommunicado for indefinite periods without charge or trial.

Smuggling and Profiting from Illicit Activities

The government has also been accused of controlling illicit smuggling and profiting from it. Eritrean troops are involved in a war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, and there have been reports of occupied territory.

Limited Internet Penetration and Cybersecurity Concerns

Internet penetration is extremely low, with citizens needing to apply to the local government administration to obtain a SIM card. As a result, Eritrea is vulnerable to cyber-dependent crime but lacks the capacity to address it.

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Efforts

The country has not submitted any reports on its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism efforts, despite enacting laws and establishing a financial intelligence unit. However, Eritrea is a member of the Eastern and South Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group and has not been identified as having strategic AML/CTF deficiencies.

Civil Society Organizations and Human Rights

Eritrean civil society organizations are non-existent, with NGOs, labor unions, and organized interest groups prohibited. Human rights are routinely violated, and independent media has been shut down since 2001. The country is one of the most notorious jailers of journalists in the world.

Lack of Support Mechanisms for Victims and Witnesses

The lack of victim and witness support mechanisms in Eritrea remains an ongoing problem, with the government failing to take measures to identify and support victims and witnesses of organized crime. The government has also made no effort to identify, protect, and support victims of trafficking.