The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea, rejecting a proposal by the Eritrean government to terminate the role. The decision renews international scrutiny of the country for another year.
In the vote, 25 countries—including neighboring Ethiopia—opposed Eritrea’s attempt, while 16 abstained and only 4 voted in support.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the outcome sends a strong message that the global community “is not misled by Eritrea’s efforts to divert attention and discredit independent human rights reporting.”
Eritrea had argued that rights violations in the country are not systematic and attributed concerns to “capacity constraints” typical of developing nations.
However, recent findings presented to the Council paint a very different picture. In June, the Special Rapporteur reported continued arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and harsh restrictions on religious freedom. The report also highlighted Eritrea’s policy of indefinite national service, including compulsory military conscription—practices widely regarded as systematic and abusive.
The report further stated that Eritrean forces remain present in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where they continue to be implicated in serious human rights violations. This aligns with earlier warnings from the UN and rights groups about continued abuses and lack of accountability.
Ten years ago, a UN Commission of Inquiry found that Eritrean authorities had committed gross human rights violations that could amount to crimes against humanity.
Despite never allowing the Special Rapporteur into the country, Eritrea claimed the mandate has failed to produce results, citing the lack of in-country visits as justification to end it. Rights groups dismissed this argument as circular and reflective of Eritrea’s refusal to engage in genuine oversight.
Following the Council’s decision, Eritrea reaffirmed its rejection of the mandate. However, observers say this only reinforces the need for continued international monitoring.