Isaias Afwerki

Since independence, Isaias Afwerki has remained head of state without a national election. Human Rights Watch notes that the Constitution ratified in 1997, intended to limit executive power and guarantee rights, has never been implemented; the legislature no longer meets and no opposition party is authorised.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After refusing to participate in the referendum, armed struggle and subsequently national service on religious grounds, Jehovah's Witnesses were deprived of citizenship rights by presidential decree, and several were imprisoned for very long periods.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

From 2002, authorities recognised only four main religious denominations and closed or repressed numerous unregistered religious groups. Hundreds of believers were detained, sometimes in conditions amounting to ill-treatment or torture.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Although the law provides for eighteen months of national service, the government has extended it without a clear limit since the border war. Eritreans serve for years or decades in the army or administration, with low pay, arbitrary penalties and severe restrictions; final-year pupils are sent to Sawa.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Eritrean forces intervened in the Tigray war alongside Ethiopian federal forces. Human Rights Watch documented massacres, extrajudicial executions, sexual violence, looting and destruction attributed to Eritrean troops, some acts potentially amounting to war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The Security Council imposed an arms embargo and targeted measures against Eritrea in 2009 in connection with its support for armed groups undermining peace in Somalia and its refusal to resolve the border dispute with Djibouti. In 2018, the UN lifted the sanctions.

Eleven senior officials and former comrades from the independence struggle, members of the so-called G-15, were arrested after demanding political reforms and criticising Isaias's leadership. They were held incommunicado without any known public trial, and several have died or remain missing.

State of the evidence

Well documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In the same wave of repression in 2001, all private publications were banned and several journalists arrested. Human Rights Watch documented their detention without charge and the disappearance of all independent domestic press.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the Eritrea–Ethiopia war, Eritrea interned and expelled Ethiopian nationals, with violations affecting rights of appeal and property. Human Rights Watch documented abuses on both sides, those committed by Ethiopia being considerably more extensive.

State of the evidence

Documented

The Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission concluded that the attack of 12 May 1998 by regular Eritrean brigades against Badme and areas then administered by Ethiopia was the immediate event that transformed border incidents into open war.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Political responsibility