GENEVA - There are no signs of meaningful improvement in Eritrea's human rights situation as systematic and widespread violations continue with impunity, a UN expert said.
"There remain reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity continue in Eritrea," said Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, presenting his final report to the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.
"Regrettably, the core human rights issues that prompted the creation of this mandate 14 years ago remain mostly unresolved," Mohamed Babiker said. "The ongoing systematic, and widespread enforced disappearance and prolonged incommunicado detention without charge or trial, torture, and the persecution of political opponents, journalists, and members of religious communities remain central features of governance in Eritrea."
The expert said many detainees continue to languish in prison and detention facilities without charge or trial for years, and in some cases decades, while authorities refuse to disclose their fate or whereabouts.
He welcomed the release of 13 long-term detainees in December 2025 but expressed concern about ongoing arbitrary and prolonged detention, as well as enforced disappearances by Eritrean authorities, including the disappearance of two prominent Muslim leaders in July 2025.
Mohamed Babiker warned of the growing dangers of emerging human rights concerns, transnational repression, which is frequently employed by Eritrean authorities and informal networks connected to the government against Eritreans abroad. He called on
States to enhance protections for diaspora communities and to hold those responsible accountable.
The Special Rapporteur also expressed concern about the situation of Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers globally, many of whom continue to face deportation, arbitrary detention, trafficking, extortion, suspension of refugee registration, and other protection challenges in host countries.
Concluding his term as Special Rapporteur, Mohamed Babiker noted that his repeated appeals for cooperation with Eritrea and countries in the region, including requests for country visits, remained unanswered.
"This poses challenges for the mandate. I urge Member States at the Human Rights Council and the international community to continue their scrutiny of the situation in Eritrea and to support efforts for truth, justice, accountability, and redress for victims, as this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council."
