30 October 2026
Re: Confiscation of Kiros Asfeha Woldu’s Italian-issued Travel Document and restriction of his departure from Ethiopia
Human Rights Concern–Eritrea is deeply concerned about the confiscation of artist Kiros Asfeha Woldu’s valid Italian-issued Travel Document and the resulting restriction on his ability to leave Ethiopia.
Kiros Asfeha Woldu is an Eritrean national. He is neither an Ethiopian citizen nor the holder of an Ethiopian passport. He was recognised as a refugee in Ethiopia and was subsequently resettled from Ethiopia to Italy through a refugee resettlement programme.
When Kiros departed Ethiopia for resettlement in Italy, the Ethiopian authorities issued him a single-use travel document valid solely for that one-way journey. Upon his arrival in Italy, the document was surrendered to, or retained by, the relevant Italian authorities. It ceased to serve any purpose following the completion of his resettlement journey and is no longer in his possession.
Following his resettlement, the Italian authorities issued Kiros a new and valid Travel Document and an Italian residence permit. He later travelled to Ethiopia using that valid Italian-issued Travel Document and was lawfully admitted into the country.
When Kiros subsequently approached the Ethiopian immigration authorities to obtain the exit authorisation necessary to travel to another country to attend a conference before returning to Italy, officials reportedly confiscated his valid Italian-issued Travel Document. He was then instructed to produce the former single-use document with which he had travelled from Ethiopia to Italy during his original resettlement.
This demand is unreasonable and impossible for Kiros to fulfil. The former document was issued solely for a completed one-way journey and was taken by the Italian authorities upon his arrival. It is entirely separate from the valid Travel Document subsequently issued to him in Italy.
Kiros entered Ethiopia lawfully using a valid Travel Document. Unless the Ethiopian authorities can identify a clear and lawful basis for restricting his departure, there is no justification for confiscating his current document or preventing him from returning to Italy, where he lawfully resides.
At the time the Ethiopian immigration authorities confiscated Kiros’s Travel Document more than six months ago, his Ethiopian entry visa remained valid. His subsequent overstay was not voluntary; it resulted directly from the continued retention of his Travel Document and the authorities’ refusal to permit him to leave the country.
The Ethiopian authorities must therefore accept full responsibility for the resulting overstay. Kiros should not be held responsible for circumstances created by the immigration authorities, nor should he be required to pay any daily overstay charge, fine or other penalty arising from their actions. Any such charge or penalty should be waived in full.
We therefore respectfully call upon the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service and all other relevant authorities to:
- Return Kiros Asfeha Woldu’s valid Italian-issued Travel Document immediately.
- Issue any exit visa or other authorisation lawfully required for his departure without further delay.
- Permit him to leave Ethiopia safely and without obstruction.
- Provide him, in writing, with the precise legal basis for the confiscation and continued retention of his Travel Document and the restriction of his freedom of movement.
- Refrain from requiring him to produce a single-use Travel Document that is no longer in his possession, has already served its sole purpose and has no bearing on the validity of his current documentation.
- Ensure that he is not subjected to intimidation, coercion, retaliation or any further arbitrary restrictions.
- Confirm in writing that Kiros will not be charged or otherwise penalised for overstaying, as his inability to leave Ethiopia resulted directly from the confiscation and continued retention of his Travel Document by the Ethiopian authorities.
We also urge the relevant Italian authorities, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other appropriate international bodies to seek clarification and assist in protecting Kiros Asfeha Woldu’s rights.
The confiscation of a refugee’s valid Travel Document and the imposition of an impossible and unrelated documentary requirement must not be used to prevent that person from leaving the country. Kiros must be permitted to return to Italy, his country of lawful residence.
Return Kiros Asfeha Woldu’s Travel Document and allow him to leave Ethiopia without further delay.
Yours faithfully,
Elizabeth Chyrum
Director
Human Rights Concern–Eritrea (HRCE)
