Defying the hopes of the international community, Eritrea, known as the North Korea of Africa for the appalling treatment of its citizens, continues its decades long descent into one of the most repressive countries on the planet. At a House hearing held this afternoon, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa, looked into the abuses of the regime and possible options to help the long-suffering people of Eritrea.

     “In 1997, just after the country gained independence, hopes for democracy and good government in Eritrea were held by the international community,” said Smith. “In a March 1997 report USAID had high praise for its collaboration with the Eritrean government. Within a few years, however, the Government of Eritrea had ended its relationship with USAID, insisting on becoming less open to the world.” Click Here to read Smith’s Opening Statement.

     Eritrea is internationally notorious for their poor human rights record, political repression and reported support for rebel groups in the Horn of Africa. The U.N. maintains an arms embargo on the country and has sanctioned individuals in the government for supporting Al Qaeda-linked groups. Reporters Without Borders’ 2016 World Press Freedom Index ranked Eritrea last in media freedom, stifling any political opposition in the country.

     “As a result of the authoritarian government’s actions, Eritrea is considered one of the world’s fastest emptying nations,” said Smith. “About half a million of the country’s citizens have left their homes for dangerous paths to freedom, too-often on unseaworthy boats bound for Europe.”

     More than 400,000 people—almost 10% of the population—have fled the pariah state in recent years. Of those who have stayed, more than two-thirds live on subsistence agriculture.

     Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who was joined by Eric P. Whitaker the Director of the Office of East African Affairs for questioning, emphasized the need for the U.S. to put human rights above politics, “We have made it clear that turning a new page in the United States-Eritrea relationship first requires significant improvements in human rights. We have repeatedly called on the government to abide by its international human rights obligations, implement its own constitution, hold national elections, honor its commitment to limit the duration of national service to 18 months, develop an independent and transparent judiciary, and release persons who have been arbitrarily detained.” Click Here to read Thomas-Greenfield’s Opening Statement.

     Fr. Athanasius Habtu Ghebre-Ab, Director of External Relations at the Canonical Eritrean Orthodox Church in Diaspora, highlighted the plight that religious minorities face in Eritrea, “Today, it is estimated that between 2,000-3,000 people are in prison in Eritrea for their faith. The condition of their incarceration is as harsh as the thousands of other prisoners of conscience throughout Eritrea.” Click Here to read Ghebre-Ab’s Opening Statement.

     Khaled Bashir, Executive Director of the Awate Foundation, said “Since its independence in 1993, the Eritrean regime has adopted a militarized approach to resolve disputes with its neighbors. It has waged war with Yemen, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and inserted itself in the Somalian civil war by establishing links with Al-Shabab, which has pledged allegiance to ISIS and is designated as a terrorist organization by the international community.” Click Here to read Bashir’s Opening Statement.

     Bronwyn Bruton, the Deputy Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, noted the worrying use of armed rebel groups, “Both Ethiopia and Eritrea have supported armed rebel groups across the region, in efforts to destabilize each other’s territory through proxy warfare.  Eritrea has exhibited especially poor judgement in its choice of proxies: One of the groups that it supported early on was the al-Shabaab militia group in Somalia.” Click Here to read Bruton’s Opening Statement.

     Smith has previously held two hearings on Eritrea, including an in-depth review of the Human Rights situation at the hearing titled “Ethiopia and Eritrea: Promoting Stability, Democracy and Human Rights.”

###