Repressive, secretive and highly militarised: Eritrea, the east African country facing UK visa ban threat

Key Points:

• Eritrea, an authoritarian state in East Africa led by President Isaias Afwerki since independence in 1993, is known for severe repression, including arbitrary detention and restrictions on freedoms of expression, opinion, and religion.
• The country operates a compulsory national service system with mandatory military training that can last for decades, prompting many Eritreans to flee and resulting in a large diaspora, with Eritreans being the most common nationality arriving by small boat to the UK in the year ending June 2026.
• Eritrea has refused to cooperate with the UK on the return of rejected asylum seekers and criminals, leading the UK home secretary to warn that Eritreans could be barred from entering the UK unless the country changes its stance.
• The nation’s political system lacks elections since independence, and a constitution ratified in 1997 remains unimplemented; independent media was shut down in 2001 following calls for constitutional implementation and elections.
• Eritrea is strategically located along the Red Sea and has recently been involved in tensions with Ethiopia, with accusations exchanged over military incursions and support for armed groups amid ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.