Former Minister of Finance of Eritrea Mr. Berhane Abrehe,79, tragically passed away in custody on 19 August 2024, and was laid to rest on 22 August.
Mr. Abrehe had been detained incommunicado without due process since 17 September, 2018, following the publication of a book critical of President Isaias Afwerki and his government. A distinguished public servant, Mr. Abrehe dedicated his life to the independence and development of Eritrea.
Mr Abrehe’s political journey began in 1963, when as a high school student he joined the clandestine Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) movement. After completing his studies, he moved to the United States, where he earned a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1972. In 1975, he joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) and played a significant leadership role in the armed struggle for independence.
Following Eritrea’s independence, Mr. Abrehe held several prominent government positions, including Minister of Land and Water, and later, Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2012. His legacy is marked by an unwavering commitment to his nation and his courage in advocating for democracy and good governance.
In 2011, despite his position as finance minister, Mr. Abrehe expressed serious concerns about the government’s financial practices, particularly the management of the country’s natural resources, which were handled without his involvement. He was also troubled by the lack of constitutional governance, the concentration of power in a single individual, and the fact that the National Assembly had not convened since 2002. Alarmed by the mass exodus of Eritrean youth, he wrote to President Afwerki and fellow cabinet ministers, urging a national assessment of these critical issues. His actions were poorly received, leading to his removal from office in 2012 and subsequent restrictions on his freedom.
His arrest in 2018, came after the publication of his two-volume book, Hagerey Eritrea (My Country Eritrea), which criticised the Eritrean political system and called for peaceful democratic reforms. His outspoken views led to his arbitrary detention and incommunicado imprisonment in Carshelli prison, without formal charges or trial, and despite international calls for his release.
Mr. Abrehe had undergone a liver transplant in 2009, and suffered from complications related to the surgery. His health was in decline, raising serious concerns about the conditions of his detention.
At the time of his arrest, Mr Abrehe’s wife, Almaz Habtemariam, was also detained incommunicado. She was released after two year without any legal proceedings.
Mr. Abrehe’s death in custody raises grave concerns about the treatment of political prisoners. His detention underscored the continued suppression of freedom of expression and human rights in Eritrea. His arrest and incommunicado imprisonment constituted a clear violation of his fundamental rights.
We call on the international community to demand accountability through an independent investigation into the circumstances of Mr Abrehe’s death and to continue pressing the Eritrean government to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
—
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)
