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. 1 2 Isaak, Esayas. "EU governments must support Eritrea's prisoners of conscience". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "Dawit Isaak held in 'harsh' Eritrean jail". The Local. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 "Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Eritrea". Human Rights Watch. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  11. 1 2 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.

15°42′34″N 38°57′30″E / 15.709482°N 38.958349°E / 15.709482; 38.958349

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