Eritrea: Continued Conscription and Border Restrictions — 2026 Update

Last updated: 16 September 2026

Photo: Tightly Packed Homes - David Stanley

This Eritrea conscription update covers the situation as of early 2026. The short answer is clear: nothing has changed. Eritrea continues to operate indefinite national service. The borders remain militarised. The shoot-to-kill policy for those trying to leave is still in effect. There are no elections, no free press, and no independent judiciary. This update summarises what has stayed the same, notes recent developments, and explains what this means for asylum claims.[1]

What Has NOT Changed

Eritrea's core human rights problems remain exactly the same. The government has made no reforms. Conscription, which Eritrea calls "national service," is still indefinite. Under Proclamation 82/1995, all citizens between 18 and 50 must serve. In practice, service starts at the Sawa military training camp for final-year secondary school students. It has no end date. Conscripts work for the military or for government-assigned jobs at minimal or no pay. Many serve for 10, 15, or even 20 years.[2]

The border remains heavily militarised. Eritrean authorities continue to use a shoot-to-kill policy against people trying to cross the border without permission. Leaving Eritrea without an exit visa is illegal. Exit visas are almost impossible to obtain for men and women of military age. Therefore, most Eritreans who leave the country do so illegally, and they face severe punishment if caught or returned.

There are still no elections. The constitution, ratified in 1997, has never been implemented. All independent media were shut down in 2001. Political opponents, journalists, and religious minorities remain in detention without trial. Some have been held for over 20 years. There is no functioning judicial system that can protect individual rights.[3]

Recent Developments: 2025-2026

Several developments have occurred since 2024, but none have improved the situation for ordinary Eritreans. First, annual Sawa military training intakes continue. Reports from 2025 confirm that students as young as 16 were again sent to Sawa for military training combined with their final year of school. Families who tried to hide their children faced collective punishment.[4]

Second, the impact of the Tigray peace agreement on Eritrea remains minimal. The November 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan forces led to a partial withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray. However, this withdrawal has not resulted in any domestic reforms within Eritrea. Reports indicate that some returning soldiers were re-assigned to other duties rather than demobilised. There has been no reduction in the scope or length of national service.[5]

Third, diaspora tax enforcement continues. Eritrea collects a 2% income tax from its citizens abroad. The government uses its embassies and consulates to enforce collection. Those who refuse to pay face difficulties obtaining documents and may face consequences for family members inside Eritrea. Some host countries, including the Netherlands and Canada, have taken action against Eritrean diplomatic staff involved in coercive tax collection. Despite this, the practice continues in many countries.

UNHCR considers that Eritrean nationals who have fled the country illegally, evaded national service, or are perceived as political opponents should be considered as persons in need of international protection.
UNHCR, Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Asylum-Seekers from Eritrea, 2024

Key Indicators: Unchanged

Impact on Asylum Claims

Eritrea remains one of the strongest origin countries for asylum claims worldwide. The fact that conditions have not changed makes the country evidence straightforward. Asylum seekers from Eritrea can rely on the same core arguments: indefinite conscription amounts to forced labour and persecution. Illegal exit is punished with detention and torture. There is no state protection available. Internal relocation is not possible in a country this small and this controlled.[6]

For asylum seekers who left Eritrea years ago, the unchanged conditions are particularly helpful. There is no need to show new developments. The danger that existed when you left is the same danger that exists now. Current country reports confirm this. An expert witness report can further strengthen your claim by connecting your personal experience to the documented country situation.