The Eritrean regime is one of the most repressive in the world. Under the dictatorship of President Isaias Afwerki, Eritreans are subjected to widespread forced labour; restrictions on various freedoms including freedom of religion and expression; and prolonged, unlawful detentions. The country has no legislature, no independence of the judiciary, no independent civil society, and no elections. Eritrea has also sided with Russia in its acts of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, Eritrean forces have been implicated as cooperating with Ethiopian forces in the commission of crimes against Tigrayans in the context of the recent Tigrayan conflict. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has concluded that a number of these crimes may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes under international law.

As a result of longstanding repression in Eritrea, Canada imposed sanctions related to Eritrea under the United Nations Act, which came into force in 2010. Sanctions included prohibitions on “sale, supply or transfer of arms and related material to Eritrea”, and assets freezes and travel bans. Sanctions were repealed by Canada in June 2020, following the signing of a peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea which led to the UN Security Council agreeing to lift sanctions against Eritrea. While sanctions may have been lifted, repression by the regime of Eritreans living with and beyond Eritrea’s borders continues.

Human Rights Action Group is working with community groups such as ‘Hidmonna’ – Eritrean-Canadians Human Rights Group of Manitoba to address these issues with a focus on the use of sanctions, combating transnational repression and addressing potential foreign interference.

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