Eiraeiro prison

Eiraeiro is a secret prison in Eritrea. Most sources give the location of Eiraeiro as being situated near the village of Gahtelay, in the Northern Red Sea Region.[1][2][3] However, in an article in the Guardian, Eiraeiro is cited as being located approximately 10 miles from the capital, Asmara.[4]

History and role

Little is known about Eiraeiro, it is believed to have been built in c.2003,[5][6] and used to indefinitely house political prisoners under the Isaias Afwerki dictatorship. Standards of care are very poor; in 2008 it was reported that of the initial 35 prisoners, 15 had died and another 9 were in 'very poor health'.[5] Prisoners are reportedly shackled 24 hours a day, and are severely emaciated.[7] Torture is also reportedly carried out in the prison.[6] According to a Reporters Without Borders report, Eiraeiro contains 62 cells, which each measure 3 meters by 3 meters.[6] The prison has been described as a death camp.[8][9]

Many of Eiraeiro's reported prisoners are journalists and former government officials who signed a letter protesting President Isaias' rule and policies, and called for his resignation, all of whom are being held without trial, for an indefinite period of time.[10] The signatories are collectively known as the G-15. The status of the G-15 members, and that of other prisoners, is currently unknown, however in 2018 there were unconfirmed reports that former Minister of Finance and Development Haile Woldetensae had died in captivity. A former Eiraeiro guard who fled the country reported that approximately half of the imprisoned G-15 members had died by 2004.[10]

In his 2018 book Dictatorland, journalist Paul Kenyon states that it is believed that approximately 30 or so similar detention facilities are found across the country.[11]

Notable Inmates

G-15 Members[11] including:

References
  1. "New revelations about Eiraeiro prison camp - The journalist Seyoum Tsehaye is in cell No. 10 of block A01". Reporters Without Borders. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  2. "Eritrea: Suspected Detention Centers". Amnesty International. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  3. "World's biggest prison for journalists eight years after September 2001 round-ups". Refworld. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  4. Isaak, Esayas. "EU governments must support Eritrea's prisoners of conscience". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  5. "Dawit Isaak held in 'harsh' Eritrean jail". The Local. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. "Report says three journalists died in prison camp in northeastern desert". Reporters Without Borders. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  7. "Ten Long Years - A Briefing on Eritrea's Missing Political Prisoners". Human Rights Watch. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  8. "Three journalists held since 2001 die in Eiraeiro prison camp". Reporters Without Borders. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  9. "Prominent journalist arrested, ex-prison guard reveals fate of other detained journalists". Refworld. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  10. "Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Eritrea". Human Rights Watch. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  11. Kenyon, Paul (January 11, 2018). Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa. London,UK: Head of Zeus. p. 419. ISBN 9781784972141.
  12. "2016 prison census - Eritrea: Said Abdelkader". Refworld. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2019.

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