Geneva: The United Nations has called for the unconditional release of an estimated 10,000 individuals who are being arbitrarily detained in Eritrea, including politicians, journalists, and students.
According to Nam News Network, the Horn of Africa nation, governed by President Isaias Afwerki since its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, consistently ranks low on human rights indicators. The recent release of 13 Eritreans after nearly 18 years of arbitrary detention has been seen as a positive sign, noted UN human rights office spokesman Seif Magango. In a statement, Magango urged Eritrean authorities to unconditionally release all individuals still held in arbitrary detention across the country, including the G11 former senior government officials who were detained in 2001 after advocating for better governance.
The NGO Human Rights Concern-Eritrea also acknowledged the release of 13 individuals, including a former Olympian and ex-police officers, earlier this month. These individuals had been imprisoned
without charge, trial, or access to legal representation. During their detention in Mai Serwa prison, near the capital Asmara, they reportedly endured harsh conditions, including confinement in metal containers with extreme temperature fluctuations.
In Eritrea, which is home to approximately 3.5 million people, dissenters often disappear into prison camps, and civilians face compulsory military service or forced labor. The estimated 10,000 individuals in arbitrary detention include politicians, journalists, priests, and students, according to Magango. The UN human rights office has expressed its readiness to engage with Eritrean authorities to ensure the country adheres to its international human rights commitments.