The Eritrean government is responsible for a severe human rights crisis from which thousands continue to flee on a monthly basis. In a 2016 report, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea found that the authorities had been committing crimes against humanity, including the crime of religious persecution, since 1991. It also warned, presciently, that this human rights crisis could potentially threaten international security.
Recently, the Eritrean government began committing similarly severe violations in neighbouring Ethiopia. November 2022 marked two years since Eritrean troops entered the Tigray region, fighting alongside Ethiopian forces and Amhara regional militia in a brutal campaign marked by violations of humanitarian law, war crimes, crimes against humanity and possible genocide.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/eritrea
This week, we’re using the words of Psalm 13 to pray for the nation of Eritrea.
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.