Berhane Abrehe, a former finance minister and critic of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, has died in prison, according to his family.
The 79-year-old was Eritrea’s longest-serving finance minister until he was dismissed in 2012 after challenging the president’s policies.
In 2018, after publishing a book calling the president a “dictator” and criticizing the lack of transparency and democratic processes in Eritrea, Abrehe was imprisoned without trial.
He had previously tried to push for more government transparency and the reinstatement of the national assembly, which had been dissolved in 2002.
The exact cause and timing of his death remain unclear, and his body has not yet been released to his family. There are plans for him to be buried in Asmara Patriots Cemetery, reserved for war veterans and national service members.
Eritrea’s government, known for its harsh treatment of political dissenters and lack of transparency, has faced long-standing criticism from the UN and human rights groups for severe human rights abuses, including torture and forced disappearances.
His imprisonment, along with that of his wife and son, highlights the repressive nature of Eritrean politics. Many other political prisoners have been held for years without trial, and the country has been criticized for its severe restrictions on freedoms and human rights.
BBC reports that the Eritrean government rarely confirms the deaths of prisoners and keeps tight control over information about political detainees.
Despite the UN’s ongoing concerns, many in Eritrea remain unaware of the full extent of the human rights violations occurring in their country.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrgp4gyv0lo