Eritrea’s Dark Side: Human Trafficking, Arms Trafficking, and Criminal Actors Thrive in Authoritarian State
Eritrea, a country nestled along the picturesque Red Sea coastline, is plagued by a complex web of financial crimes that have long been hidden beneath its surface. Despite being one of Africa’s most isolated nations, Eritrea has earned the unfortunate distinction of being a significant hub for human trafficking, arms trafficking, and criminal activity.
Human Trafficking: A Growing Concern
According to estimates, Eritrea is the country with the highest prevalence of human trafficking in Africa. The indefinite state-sponsored conscription, which some view as bonded labor, fuels widespread resentment and emigration among its citizens. Thousands of Eritreans are forced to seek safer havens abroad, leaving them particularly vulnerable to trafficking when they leave the country.
- Strict exit control procedures
- Limited passport issuance
- Militarization of borders
These measures have led many to seek help from human smugglers, often with connections to Eritrea’s political class and top-level civil servants and diplomats. These networks have established a significant presence throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Arms Trafficking: A Strategic Location
Eritrea’s strategic location along the Red Sea, with two functioning ports (Massawa and Assab), makes it an important trans-shipment point for arms trafficking to neighboring embargoed states like Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. During conflicts, weapons were moved in all directions, and while Eritrea was subject to an arms embargo from 2011 to 2018, it continued to serve as a transit route for arms. With the lifting of the embargo, the flow of weapons through Eritrea to Sudan is likely to have increased.
Other Criminal Activities
While ivory poaching is not a major concern in Eritrea, the country plays a minor role in the illegal wildlife trade, with Massawa port being used to ship ivory towards Asia. Military involvement in illegal logging and the smuggling of cactus species to the Middle East are also notable.
- Gold from Sudan is smuggled through Eritrea to the United Arab Emirates
- Limited evidence of systematic gold smuggling
- Only a small number of elite individuals involved
Flora-related crimes, such as deforestation, logging, or other forms of flora trafficking conducted by criminal groups, are scarcely reported in Eritrea. Drug use in Eritrea is among the lowest in the world, with little evidence of a burgeoning criminal market for synthetic drugs or domestic cocaine or heroin use.
Organized Criminal Activity
Organized criminal activity in Eritrea is predominantly linked to state and military actors or those closely associated with them. Diplomats posted abroad are susceptible to bribery, allegedly facilitating human trafficking. Transnational networks of Eritrean smugglers operate along routes towards Europe, with smugglers often hailing from the same communities as the smuggled individuals.
The State’s Criminalization
Eritrea continues to be an authoritarian state under the control of President Isaias Afwerki. With no elections since 1993, no regard for human rights and freedoms, and no transparency, human rights violations and impunity thrive. The country has made steps towards normalizing relationships with neighboring countries and regional organizations, but its relations with the UN, World Bank, and IMF remain strained.
Conclusion
Eritrea’s authoritarian regime and lack of transparency have created a perfect breeding ground for criminal activity. While efforts to counter human trafficking have been made, laws pertaining to organized crime remain unenforced. The country is party to several international treaties to combat organized crime but continues to lack an independent judiciary and law-enforcement capacities.