BITWEDED ABRAHA: 35 YEARS OF ARBITRARY

  • By HRCE
  • /

IMPRISONMENT AND PERSECUTION

6 October 2026

Human Rights Concern–Eritrea (HRCE) marks today with profound sorrow and outrage 35 years since the first arrest of Bitweded Abraha, one of the world’s longest-held political detainees in Eritrea.

Bitweded Abraha, a veteran of Eritrea’s struggle for independence and former Deputy Administrator of Assab, was first arrested on 6 October 1991 after expressing concerns about government decisions and advocating accountable and democratic governance. For 35 years, he has been denied genuine liberty without ever being formally charged with a criminal offence, brought before a court, tried or convicted.

Bitweded has reportedly endured prolonged solitary confinement and incommunicado detention. He has been denied access to a lawyer, meaningful contact with his family and any effective opportunity to challenge the legality of his imprisonment. 

Thirty-five years of arbitrary imprisonment, isolation and persecution have taken away much of his adult life and separated him from his family and society. His continuing detention is unlawful, inhuman and indefensible.

In 2018, following a case submitted by Human Rights Concern–Eritrea, the United Nation Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined in Opinion No. 80/2018 that Bitweded Abraha’s detention was arbitrary, and violated his fundamental rights to liberty, a fair hearing, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression.

The Working Group called upon the Government of Eritrea to release him immediately, provide compensation and other reparations, and conduct a full and independent investigation into the violations committed against him. Eight years later, the Eritrean Government has still not implemented that decision.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Nelson Mandela Rules, prohibit indefinite and prolonged solitary confinement, defined as solitary confinement exceeding 15 consecutive days. Subjecting a person to decades of isolation without charge, trial or independent judicial review is a grave assault on human dignity and may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners—the Nelson Mandela Rules, prohibit indefinite and prolonged solitary confinement. Rule 44 defines prolonged solitary confinement as solitary confinement exceeding 15 consecutive days.

By this standard, Bitweded Abraha’s reported isolation for decades represents an extreme and indefensible violation of human dignity. No political disagreement can justify subjecting a person to prolonged solitary confinement, particularly without charge, trial or independent judicial review. 

Bitweded Abraha could not have remained arbitrarily imprisoned for 35 years within Eritrea’s highly centralised system without the knowledge and continuing acquiescence of the country’s highest authorities. President Isaias Afwerki therefore bears ultimate political responsibility for disclosing Bitweded’s location and condition and ensuring his immediate and unconditional release.

HRCE calls upon President Isaias Afwerki and the Government of Eritrea to:

  • Release Bitweded Abraha immediately and unconditionally and ensure that he is safely reunited with his family;
  • Disclose without delay his location, health and conditions of detention;
  • Grant his family, legal representatives and independent medical professionals immediate access to him;
  • Provide appropriate compensation and other reparations; and
  • Grant independent international investigators access to Bitweded, all relevant detention facilities and official records, and cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability for the violations committed against him.

HRCE also calls upon the United Nations, the African Union, foreign governments, diplomatic missions and international human rights organisations to press the Government of Eritrea to implement the UN Working Group’s decision.

Thirty-five years after Bitweded Abraha’s first arrest, silence is no longer acceptable. HRCE calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)


Leave a Reply