Berhane Abrehe, Eritrea’s former finance minister, has died in prison at the age of 79 after spending nearly six years behind bars without formal charges. His family confirmed his death, which was also reported by the Eritrean Human Rights Council (HRCE), an independent rights organisation based in the UK.
Abrehe was a prominent figure in Eritrea’s government and served as finance minister from 2001 until 2012. His tenure reportedly ended after he fell out with President Isaias Afwerki for advocating for greater transparency in the government’s financial activities. In 2018, shortly after publishing a book titled “My Country,” in which he described Afwerki as a dictator and called for his resignation, Abrehe was arrested. He was detained without trial and held incommunicado at Carshelli prison, a harsh facility.
Human rights groups have long criticised the Eritrean government for its treatment of political prisoners. The HRCE stated that Abrehe’s detention demonstrated the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression and human rights in Eritrea. The organisation has called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and urged the international community to hold the Eritrean government accountable for its actions.
Abrehe’s health reportedly deteriorated during his time in custody, raising serious concerns about the conditions he faced. His family has not yet received his body, and it remains unclear when and how he passed away. According to the BBC, there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that the government plans to bury him in Asmara Patriots Cemetery, a resting place reserved for veterans of Eritrea’s independence war. The Eritrean government has yet to comment on Abrehe’s death.
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