As Eritrea marks its 33rd Independence Day on 24 May 2026, Eritreans around the world continue to ask a painful question:

What has truly changed for the people of Eritrea?

Eritrea achieved independence after a 30-year liberation struggle against Ethiopian occupation. Thousands sacrificed their lives in the hope of building a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation founded on dignity, equality, and the rule of law.

However, more than three decades later, the fundamental aspirations of the Eritrean people remain unfulfilled.

While Eritrea is politically independent as a state, the Eritrean people continue to be denied basic freedoms and human rights.

Eritrea still has: 

• no implemented constitution,

• no national elections,

• no functioning parliament,

• no independent judiciary,

• no independent media,

• no independent civil society,

• and no democratic institutions. 

No independent human rights organisations are allowed to operate inside Eritrea, and international human rights monitors are denied access to the country. The absence of transparency and accountability has contributed to a climate of fear, repression, and impunity.

The country has become one of the most repressive states in the world.

One of the clearest examples of national decline is the destruction of education. Eritrea’s only university, ‘Asmara University’ was effectively closed in 2006. In the 21st century, an entire country has been left without a proper university system capable of producing independent professionals, researchers, scientists, academics, and specialists.

What future can a country have when its youth are denied higher education and intellectual freedom?

The healthcare situation is equally alarming. Eritrea lacks adequate specialist medical care and essential medical infrastructure. Those with financial means travel abroad for treatment, while many others suffer and die silently without access to proper healthcare.

At the same time, Eritreans continue to endure widespread violations of fundamental human rights, including:

• arbitrary detention,
• enforced disappearances,
• religious persecution,
• torture,
• severe restrictions on freedom of expression,
• and collective punishment of families.

Indefinite national service remains one of the gravest injustices in Eritrea today. What was originally introduced as limited national service for 18 months has evolved into a system of indefinite forced labour and modern-day slavery.

Many Eritreans conscripted during the first rounds of national service in 1994 have now spent approximately 32 years in indefinite national service without demobilisation, remaining under state control and unable to freely choose their profession, education, movement, or future.

Generations of Eritrean youth have been deprived of their freedom, opportunities, and dignity.

As a result, Eritrea continues to experience one of the world’s largest refugee crises relative to its population size. Thousands continue to flee repression, indefinite conscription, poverty, and hopelessness, risking their lives crossing deserts and seas in search of safety, dignity, and freedom.

Independence was meant to bring freedom, justice, dignity, and hope. Yet for many Eritreans today, fear, silence, repression, and indefinite control continue to define daily life.

On this Independence Day, we honour the sacrifices made for Eritrea’s liberation. But true independence cannot exist without freedom, justice, human dignity, accountable governance, and respect for fundamental human rights.

The Eritrean people deserve:

• constitutional governance,

• democratic participation,

• constitutional governance,

• democratic participation,

• independent institutions,

• freedom of expression,

• access to education and healthcare,

• an end to indefinite national service,

• and the right to live in dignity and freedom in their own country.

The struggle for freedom and justice in Eritrea is not over. True independence will only be achieved when Eritrean citizens can live in dignity, freedom, and peace under a system that respects human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law. 

We therefore call upon the international community, governments, the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, human rights organisations, and all defenders of human dignity to stand in solidarity with the Eritrean people and support their legitimate aspirations for freedom, justice, accountability, and democratic change. 

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Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)

Email: eritrea.facts@gmail.com