Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, have reported an alarming increase in arrests targeting their community, sparking widespread fear and uncertainty among those who fled their homeland seeking safety. While tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have simmered for decades, the current wave of detentions represents a significant escalation, with hundreds reportedly detained in recent weeks.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), an independent body established by the Ethiopian parliament, has announced plans to investigate these reports. However, the Addis Ababa police have not responded to media inquiries about the crackdown.
Many Eritreans living in Addis Ababa are refugees or asylum seekers who fled forced military conscription and oppressive conditions in Eritrea. Over 20,000 Eritreans have entered Ethiopia this year, adding to the approximately 70,000 refugees already registered. Yet, recent events have highlighted the precarious nature of their refuge, with accounts of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, and extortion by authorities.
One refugee recounted being detained after speaking Tigrinya, a language common in Eritrea and Ethiopia’s Tigray region. “We were sitting in a café when someone overheard us speaking Tigrinya and called the police. Six officers arrived and detained us. Later, the inspector demanded cash for our release, arranging payments secretly to avoid evidence,” he said.
Refugees have described the arrests as indiscriminate, targeting both documented and undocumented Eritreans. In one instance, a woman was detained while shopping, leaving her brother afraid to visit her in custody. “I fear being arrested myself, so I send Ethiopian friends to deliver food and clothes to her. I worry they might deport her to Eritrea,” he said.
Deportation poses severe risks for Eritrean refugees, who could face imprisonment and harsh conditions upon return. Some detainees have been released, but many remain in custody without due process, held for weeks or months in uncertain circumstances.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed deep concern over the arrests, with reports indicating Eritreans are even being detained when attempting to inquire about travel documents needed to leave Ethiopia. This desperation underscores the increasing vulnerability of Eritrean refugees, many of whom are now seeking alternative ways to flee the country.
Refugees at the Alemwach camp in Ethiopia’s Amhara region have also reported dire conditions, including frequent robberies, kidnappings, and physical assaults by armed groups. A camp representative said, “Some refugees have been shot, while others have been stabbed for their belongings, like mobile phones. At least nine refugees have been killed in the past year.”
The arrests and violence are reminiscent of the mass deportations during the 1998–2000 war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, when thousands of Eritreans were forcibly expelled. Tensions between the two nations have resurfaced following Ethiopia’s two-year civil war in the Tigray region. Despite the 2018 peace deal that briefly restored ties, relations have deteriorated, marked by suspended flights and communication and a cessation of diplomatic engagement between the countries’ leaders.
Eritrean refugees are now calling on the international community, particularly the UN and human rights organisations, to intervene and ensure their safety. A refugee who has lived in Addis Ababa for six years described the situation as a deliberate campaign against Eritreans. “Both documented and undocumented Eritreans are being targeted. Even mothers visiting detained family members have been arrested,” he said.
Another refugee added, “The arrests are unjustified, and our lives are in danger. We fled persecution in Eritrea, only to face it here.”
As the international community watches, the plight of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia highlights the fragile existence of displaced communities and the urgent need for accountability and protection.
