The United Nations has urged Eritrea to unconditionally release an estimated 10,000 people arbitrarily detained in the country, including politicians, journalists, and students.
UN human rights office spokesman Seif Magango welcomed the recent release of 13 Eritreans who had been detained for nearly 18 years and urged authorities to now release all individuals still arbitrarily detained, including the G11, a group of former senior government officials detained in 2001 after calling for governance reforms.
Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, a UK-based NGO, reported last week the release of 13 detainees earlier this month, including an ex-Olympian and former police officers, who had been imprisoned without charge, trial, or access to a lawyer. The NGO described conditions during detention at Mai Serwa prison, near Asmara, where some inmates were confined in metal containers with extreme temperature fluctuations.
Magango noted that the UN Office was concerned that “There are an estimated more than 10,000 people in arbitrary detention in Eritrea, among them politicians, journalists, priests and students. Our office stands ready to continue its engagement with the Eritrean authorities to ensure Eritrea fully complies with its international human rights obligations.”
Dissent in Eritrea, with aopulation of about 3.5 million people, has historically faced disappearances into prison camps, and civilians have faced mandatory military conscription or forced labour, under President Isaias Afwerki who has led the country since its 1993 independence