ERITREA: FORMER FINANCE MINISTER REMAINS IN DETENTION AS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CRISIS DEEPENS
One Year of Repression Under President Isaias Afwerki’s Regime
As the world marks a year of continued repression under President Isaias Afwerki’s regime, one notable figure remains incommunicado detention - former Finance Minister Berhane Abrehe. Abrehe, a vocal critic of the president, has been held since September 2018.
Denial of Religious Liberty
Meanwhile, the government continues to deny religious liberty to anyone whose beliefs do not align with the four “recognized” denominations: Sunni Islam, Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Evangelical (Lutheran) churches. The persecution extends even to leaders of recognized faiths, with three Catholic priests, including a bishop who called for peace in Tigray, arbitrarily held for over two months in late 2022.
New Arrests and Detentions
New arrests of Christians were reported throughout the year, including:
- 44 people holding religious services detained and sent to Mai Serwa prison in January
- Another 103 Christians in April
- 44 Orthodox monks, supporters of the late patriarch Abune Antonios, detained in April
Glimmer of Hope
However, international human rights organizations continue to condemn the regime’s systematic targeting of religious minorities. In a rare glimmer of hope, the UN special rapporteur reported the release of at least 11 Christians from Mai Serwa prison in the first quarter of the year.
ERITREAN REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS FACING INCREASED PERSECUTION
Scattered Across East Africa and Globally
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that over 580,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers are currently scattered across East Africa and globally. However, many face increased persecution and forced returns to their homeland.
Threats to Safety and Forced Returns
In recent months, Eritreans seeking protection in several countries have been met with threats to their safety, pushbacks, or forced returns by authorities or Eritrean forces. In Sudan, which hosted over 130,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers as of February 2023, conflict broke out in April, leading to alleged abductions and forced returns of Eritrean asylum seekers by Eritrean security forces.
KEY INTERNATIONAL ACTORS
Condemnation and Sanctions
Eritrea’s continued human rights abuses have led to international condemnation. The US renewed an executive order related to the crisis in Ethiopia, imposing sanctions on Gen. Filipos Woldeyohannes, Chief of Staff of Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), for serious human rights abuses committed by the Eritrean forces in Tigray.
The European Union maintains individual sanctions on Eritrea’s national security agency head, Maj. Gen. Abraha Kassa, for serious human rights abuses in Eritrea. In July, President Isaias Afwerki accused the US of spreading “crises and destruction” around the world during a visit to Moscow.
The Regime’s Grip on Power
As the international community continues to condemn Eritrea’s human rights record, one thing is clear: the regime’s grip on power shows no signs of loosening. The fate of former Finance Minister Berhane Abrehe remains unknown, but his plight serves as a stark reminder of the regime’s willingness to silence even its most vocal critics.