Introduction and Context
Every year, thousands of young Eritreans leave their country, undertaking dangerous journeys across deserts and seas. Their decision is rarely a choice of opportunity but one of survival. Eritrea’s indefinite national service, coupled with harsh political repression, leaves little room for youth to imagine a future at home.

Since independence, Eritrea has operated a system that requires young men and women to serve the state. Initially presented as a short-term duty, national service has expanded into a lifetime of conscription, with postings that can last decades. For young people, this system forecloses the chance of higher education, careers, or family life.

This article examines why Eritrean youth are fleeing in such high numbers, the dangers they face along the way, and the broader implications for the region and the international community.


Indefinite Conscription and Lost Futures
The cornerstone of youth repression in Eritrea is national service. Secondary school students are compelled to complete their final year at Sawa Defence Training Centre, blending studies with military training. From there, they are funnelled into indefinite assignments, either military or civilian.

Instead of lasting the legally prescribed eighteen months, service often extends indefinitely, with no pathway to release. Young Eritreans spend their prime years working for subsistence wages, often in remote areas far from family. Attempts to resist or escape are met with imprisonment, torture, or reprisals against relatives.

This indefinite conscription robs youth of their futures. Education is interrupted, professional opportunities vanish, and personal autonomy is denied. It is no surprise that many young people see leaving the country as the only option.


Political Repression and Everyday Fear
Beyond conscription, Eritrean youth grow up in a climate of fear. The country lacks independent media, political opposition, or functioning rule of law. Speaking out against the government—or even being suspected of dissent—can result in arrest and indefinite detention.

Religious freedom is tightly restricted, with young followers of unrecognised faiths often targeted for persecution. Surveillance is widespread, ensuring that many young Eritreans self-censor and avoid discussing politics even in private.

The weight of repression stifles ambition. For many youth, the prospect of living under constant control, without hope of reform, creates unbearable psychological pressure.


Dangerous Journeys and Global Implications
Faced with these conditions, Eritrean youth flee in large numbers. Neighbouring Sudan and Ethiopia are often the first destinations, but instability in both countries means many attempt to continue onwards—to Libya, Europe, or Israel.

The journey is perilous. Young Eritreans are among the victims of trafficking networks, forced labour, sexual violence, and extortion. Many perish crossing the Sahara or the Mediterranean. Yet, despite these risks, the exodus continues, underscoring the depth of despair at home.

The scale of flight has wider consequences. Eritrean refugees make up a significant proportion of asylum seekers in Europe. Host countries struggle to process claims, while Eritrea itself loses its most energetic generation to exile, weakening prospects for future recovery.


Accountability, Hope, and Conclusion
The flight of Eritrean youth reflects a system that denies them the most basic rights: freedom to learn, to work, to speak, and to live without fear. International human rights standards prohibit indefinite forced labour and arbitrary detention, yet Eritrea continues to operate outside these norms.

Key steps are essential:
- Demobilisation: enforce strict limits on national service.
- Protection of youth rights: allow access to higher education, jobs, and family life.
- International support: expand refugee protection, family reunification, and safe migration pathways.
- Accountability: apply pressure through targeted sanctions and continued documentation of abuses.

Eritrean youth flee because they see no future under repression. Their courage to escape speaks to a universal desire for dignity and opportunity. Until Eritrea reforms its system, young people will continue to risk everything for the chance to live free.