Trafficking Rings Exposed Along Sudanese Border

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Investigation Reveals Involvement of Police and Military Personnel

A shocking revelation has emerged, exposing the involvement of police and military personnel in human trafficking along the Sudanese border. The investigation revealed that state-embedded actors are not the only ones involved in this illegal activity.

Transnational networks of Eritrean smugglers have been operating on routes towards Europe.
Individuals from the same communities as those being trafficked often get involved.
Rashaida traffickers, who have received aid from Eritreans, have been identified as operating along the Eritrea-Sudan border and allegedly kidnapping and holding individuals for ransom in the Sinai Peninsula or Libya.

Eritrea’s Authoritarian State

Eritrea is ruled by President Isaias Afwerki, who has been in power since 1991 and heads the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), the country’s sole political party. The government has been criticized for its lack of transparency, with no elections held since independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

Criminal Activity in Eritrea

Money laundering is a major concern due to Eritrea’s cash-based, largely informal economy.
Other vulnerabilities include the widespread use of informal money transfer systems and insufficient regulatory capacity.
The country’s banks are all under state control and lack transparency, making it difficult to track illicit financial activities.

Victims of Trafficking

There is no evidence of government efforts to identify, protect, or support victims of trafficking in Eritrea. The country has a poor record on press freedom, with 16 journalists imprisoned in 2019, and non-governmental organizations are not permitted to operate within its borders.

The government’s lack of regard for the freedom of assembly has led to lethal force being used against demonstrators.
Foreign human rights organizations are banned from operating in the country.