Organized Crime in Eritrea: Challenges and Complexities

Overview of Organized Crime in Eritrea

Eritrea’s organized crime landscape is characterized by its unique dynamics, with a strong emphasis on state and military actors. The government has been implicated in various forms of criminal activity, including transnational trafficking along the Sudanese border.

Notable Observations

• Organized criminal activity in Eritrea is largely confined to state and military actors, as well as individuals closely associated with them.
• There are no notable mafia groups in Eritrea, but the state itself is highly criminalized, limiting foreign criminal actors’ ability to operate within the country.

Challenges Faced by Eritrea

The situation regarding organized crime in Eritrea is complex and challenging due to several factors:

Governance and Law Enforcement

1. Lack of governance: Eritrea is an authoritarian state controlled by President Isaias Afwerki, who has been dismissive of political reform.
2. Inadequate law enforcement: There are no independent judiciary, national assembly, or other democratic institutions, and prison conditions remain harsh.

Corruption and Economic Vulnerabilities

1. Corruption and bribery: Corruption and bribery are common, with no independent police oversight body or specialized law-enforcement unit in the country.
2. Economic vulnerabilities: Eritrea is at a high risk of money laundering due to its cash-based economy, widespread use of informal money transfer systems, and growing corruption.

Limited Civil Society Engagement

• There are no proactive victim identification mechanisms in place, and foreign victims have no alternatives to being deported to their home countries in the instances where they face punishment.

Addressing the Challenges

To effectively address the challenges related to organized crime in Eritrea, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes:

1. Improving governance: Encouraging political reform and strengthening democratic institutions.
2. Strengthening law enforcement: Establishing an independent judiciary, national assembly, and other democratic bodies.
3. Reducing corruption: Implementing measures to combat corruption and bribery, such as establishing an independent police oversight body or specialized law-enforcement unit.
4. Enhancing civil society engagement: Developing proactive victim identification mechanisms and providing alternatives for foreign victims.

By addressing these challenges, it is possible to create a more stable and secure environment in Eritrea, reducing the impact of organized crime on its citizens and the international community.