General update
The Horn of Africa faces a renewed threat of war, as growing tensions point to the possibility of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Observers warn that Ethiopia’s push to reclaim access to Red Sea ports lost to Eritrea in the 1990s and the political turmoil in its northernmost region, Tigray, have severely strained relations between the two countries.
Separately, on 31st December 2024, Eritrea completed its second and last three-year term as a member of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC), with no tangible improvements in its human rights record. Eritrean authorities continue to refuse to cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.
In February 2025, Eritrean authorities issued a directive to all regional administrations to register and mobilise citizens under the age of 60 for military re-training. Individuals under 50 are prohibited from leaving the country. Reports indicate that regional administrations have begun informing, registering, and mobilising relevant citizens.
Expression
On 16th January 2025, CPJ released its annual prison census report, ranking Eritrea as the largest jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.