Eritrea’s Shadowy Underbelly: Human Trafficking and Financial Crime on the Rise

A Nation in Crisis: The Reality Behind Eritrea’s One-Party State

Located in the Horn of Africa, the small nation of Eritrea has long been plagued by a sinister reality. For decades, the government has maintained an iron grip on its citizens, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.

The Vulnerable Population: Children and Agricultural Workers

• Forced Military Training: Eritrean children are often forced to leave school for mandatory military training.
• Agricultural Labor: Farmers and agricultural workers make up a significant percentage of those subjected to labor, with limited access to basic necessities like food, water, education, and shelter from violence.

The Dark Side of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is rampant in Eritrea’s migrant communities, with an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 victims kidnapped by smugglers in the Sinai Desert between 2006 and 2013. These victims were subjected to extreme violence, including:

• Torture
• Organ Harvesting
• Rape

The Failure of Government Efforts

• Lack of Reporting: The government has not reported significant efforts to identify and protect victims of human trafficking in recent years.
• No Accountability: No high-ranking government officials have been held accountable for their role in these crimes.

International Recognition: Tier 3 Status

Eritrea’s current ranking as a Tier 3 country in human trafficking matters by the U.S. Department of State reflects its failure to meet minimum anti-trafficking standards and lack of effort to do so.

International Cooperation and Future Efforts

• International Anti-Trafficking Workshop: Eritrea has participated in an international workshop that created a regional and national level action plan to combat trafficking.
• Education Campaigns: Education campaigns and awareness-raising efforts by the government can inform citizens about the dangers of irregular migration and trafficking.

A Call for Action: Addressing the Root Causes

As one expert notes, “One of the most important ways to slow or stop human trafficking would be to end mandatory national service or impose strict time limits on such service.” Until Eritrea addresses these underlying issues, its citizens will remain vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.