Introduction and Overview
Eritrea is often described as one of the most closed and repressive states in the world. Since gaining independence in 1991, the country has been ruled without elections, independent courts, or a functioning legislature. President Isaias Afwerki has remained in power for more than three decades, presiding over a system that systematically denies civil and political freedoms.

International observers, including the United Nations and leading human rights organisations, consistently report grave violations: indefinite military conscription, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, torture, and a complete lack of press freedom. Eritreans inside the country live under constant surveillance and fear, while those outside face harassment and pressure from the regime’s networks abroad.

This article examines the key areas of abuse, their impact on Eritreans, and the urgent need for accountability.


Political Repression and Lack of Freedoms
Eritrea operates without a functioning constitution. Although a constitution was ratified in 1997, it has never been implemented. Elections have not been held, political parties remain banned, and dissent is crushed.

Citizens who question the government or advocate for reform are at risk of arrest. Many are held incommunicado in secret detention facilities without trial. Former government officials and journalists detained in 2001—often referred to as the “G-15” and the independent press—remain missing, presumed held in dire conditions.

Religious persecution is another hallmark. Followers of unrecognised faiths, including evangelical Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses, are routinely imprisoned. Even members of recognised churches are tightly controlled through state interference in their religious affairs.


Indefinite Conscription and Forced Labour
Perhaps the most notorious feature of Eritrea’s governance is its system of indefinite national service. Officially intended as an eighteen‑month obligation, it has become a form of forced labour that can last decades.

Conscripts are deployed not only in the military but also in civilian sectors such as teaching, construction, and agriculture. They are paid minimal wages and denied the freedom to leave their posts. Attempts to evade service often result in imprisonment, torture, or retaliation against families.

This system fuels mass migration. Thousands of Eritreans flee each year, crossing deserts and seas despite the risks of trafficking and death. Many cite indefinite conscription as their primary reason for flight, making Eritrea one of the largest producers of refugees relative to its population.


Human Rights Abuses and International Isolation
The network of secret prisons across Eritrea is notorious for harsh conditions. Reports describe metal shipping containers used as cells, extreme heat, lack of medical care, and routine torture. Prisoners are often denied contact with their families, creating anguish for those left behind.

The regime’s hostility to international scrutiny compounds the problem. Human rights monitors and foreign journalists are rarely allowed entry. The government dismisses UN reports as “fabrications” and expels diplomats who raise concerns. This isolation ensures impunity for ongoing abuses.

At the same time, Eritrea plays an ambiguous role in regional conflicts. Its military involvement in the Tigray war in neighbouring Ethiopia, where Eritrean forces were accused of atrocities, further highlights its willingness to export repression beyond its borders.


Accountability, Reform, and Conclusion
Eritrea’s record makes it one of Africa’s harshest regimes. The government’s actions violate multiple international conventions, from the prohibition of torture to the right to freedom of expression and religion.

Steps towards change are urgent and possible:
- Release of political prisoners: those detained for decades without trial must be freed immediately.
- Reform of national service: enforce strict time limits and end the use of conscripts as forced labour.
- Press and civic freedom: allow independent media and civil society to operate without fear.
- International accountability: targeted sanctions and referral to international justice mechanisms can pressure leaders to respect rights.

Until meaningful reforms occur, Eritreans will continue to live under one of the world’s harshest regimes—silenced, conscripted, and deprived of fundamental freedoms. The resilience of those who flee, resist, or speak out is a reminder that the demand for dignity and rights cannot be extinguished forever.