(Global Journalist) Eritrea is sometimes described as “the North Korea of Africa.” And it’s a deserved title. The tiny nation, located on the continent’s northeastern coast bordering Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti is ranked dead last out of 180 countries on Reporters’ Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. All privately-owned media outlets were shuttered more than a decade ago.

The United Nations Campaign for Human Rights said there are more than 100,000 refugees from Eritrea in Sudan right now, and more and more refugees are trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe.

On this edition of Global Journalist, a look at if things will ever change in Eritrea.

This week’s guests:
*Leslie Lefkow, the deputy Africa director for Human Rights Watch. (@LefkowHRW)
*Tom Rhodes, the East Africa Representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists. (@africamedia_CPJ )
*Ron McMullen, former U.S. ambassador to Eritrea from 2007 to 2010. He now teaches at the University of Iowa.