What is happening in Eritrea during the COVID-19 outbreak? No one really knows. According to government “information”, the first case was confirmed on 21st March, and, to date, the total cases allegedly number 215, with no confirmed deaths. The world is used to hearing optimistic claims from…
ERITREA: Canadian Supreme Court Affirms Eritreans’ Slavery and Forced Labour Claims Can Proceed
(Ottawa, 28 February 2020) Canada’s Supreme Court today dismissed an appeal by Nevsun Resources Ltd. that sought to block a case brought against the company by three Eritrean refugees for the alleged use of forced labour at its Bisha mine in Eritrea. The three plaintiffs allege they were national service conscripts and that their labour was provided to…
A 27-Year-Old Eritrean Conscript Is Shot Dead in the Street by Armed Police
Shewit Yakob Gebretensae (27) was shot dead by armed police in the streets of Mendefera, Eritrea, on 4th February, 2020. Whilst peacefully walking home at 9 pm, without having committed any offence, Shewit was grabbed by police and handcuffed. When he and others tried to escape this unjustified detention, police…
Seven Members of the Eritrean National Football Team Have Sought Asylum in Uganda
On 22nd December 2019, it was reported in the Ugandan digital media Ducor Sports that seven Eritrean football players had not returned home from Uganda after the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations’ (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup game finished. They were supposed to take the flight back to…
Eritrean Regime Supporters Assault Another Journalist in London
On Tuesday 26th November, Amanuel Eyasu, the founder of Assena Satellite TV, was attacked by Eritrean regime supporters at Putney Bridge Station, in London. He had been contacted by an Eritrean female residing in London who pretended to have information on the human rights situation in Eritrea; she suggested meeting at Putney Bridge Station…
Eritrea: Government-Authorised Recruitment of Child Soldiers Confirmed by Escape of Sportsmen from Eritrean National Football Team
On 2nd October 2019, the Ugandan newspaper “Daily Monitor” reported that five (later corrected to four) players from Eritrea’s Under-20 football team had disappeared from their hotel in Jinja, whilst preparing to play in the CECAFA Challenge Cup. They were later reported to have applied for asylum in Uganda.…