Eritrea: A State of Secrecy and Corruption

Asmara, Eritrea - In a country where transparency and accountability are foreign concepts, Eritrea’s government operates with impunity, shrouding itself in secrecy while enriching its leaders at the expense of its citizens.

The Absence of Transparency

The absence of public access to basic budget and asset disclosure data has allowed for widespread mismanagement and corruption to go unchecked. The military-headed special courts, meant to oversee corruption cases, have remained largely inactive, further eroding trust in the government’s ability to hold itself accountable.

• Lack of transparency enables embezzlement and enrichment of leaders
• Military special courts ineffective due to lack of standard procedures and political interference

Control over Major Companies

The ruling PFDJ party controls all major companies in the country through its Hdiri Trust Fund, with the financial head of the party responsible for auditing the fund. This lack of transparency has enabled the party to embezzle funds and enrich its leaders at the expense of the population.

• Party’s control over major companies enables corruption and enrichment

International Cooperation

Eritrea’s attitude towards international cooperation is also telling. The government views foreign assistance as a threat to its sovereignty, opting instead for a strategy of self-reliance that has only led to poverty and stagnation. The country’s low level of international cooperation has meant that it is largely isolated from the global community, leaving it vulnerable to exploitation.

• Lack of international cooperation leads to isolation and vulnerability
• Self-reliance strategy has led to poverty and stagnation

Impunity and Human Rights Violations

The lack of an independent judiciary and democratic institutions in Eritrea has created a climate of impunity, with crimes against humanity going unpunished for decades. The special courts, which were meant to provide justice, have been ineffective due to their lack of standard procedures and political interference.

• Prison conditions are harsh and overcrowded
• Arbitrary arrest and detention are common
• Due process is systematically violated

Economy and Money Laundering

Eritrea’s economy is also a source of concern. The country’s informal, cash-based economy makes it vulnerable to money laundering and related activities. The non-convertibility of the nakfa in international markets has led to the use of underground remittance systems, further perpetuating corruption.

• Economy is vulnerable to money laundering
• Underground remittance systems perpetuate corruption

Civil Society Restrictions

Eritrea’s civil society is also severely restricted, with no independent media or human rights organizations operating within the country. Freedom of expression and assembly are absent, and human rights are routinely violated.

• No independent media or human rights organizations operate in the country
• Freedom of expression and assembly are absent
• Human rights are routinely violated

Treatment of Citizens

The government’s treatment of its citizens has been marked by brutality, with reports of arbitrary arrests, detention, and torture. Eritrean forces have even been accused of committing serious human rights abuses against Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia.

• Citizens face arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture
• Human rights abuses committed against Eritrean refugees

Conclusion

In a country where secrecy and corruption reign supreme, it is no wonder that Eritrea remains one of the most isolated and impoverished nations on earth. Until transparency and accountability become a reality, Eritrea will continue to suffer under the grip of its authoritarian regime.