The refugee question has become so toxic that a number of European states have been attempting again to establish a “new engagement” with Asmara. Many arrive on European shores: in 2015 a total of 38,791 crossed the Mediterranean, according to the European border agency Frontex, arriving mostly in Italy. Years on, human rights violations and indefinite conscription continue to drive 4,000-5,000 Eritreans beyond its borders every month. Migrants, most from Eritrea, jump into the water during a rescue operation off Libya in August. Ignoring these concerns, the EU pressed ahead with its strategy of engagement. He also noted that strong actions, including sanctions, were needed to have a chance of changing Afwerki’s behaviour. Wycoff described what he called “the inconsistency between the private acknowledgment that Asmara was not only playing a spoiler role” by supporting Islamist groups in Somalia, which contained “violent, anti-west elements”, and the continued provision of aid programmes to Eritrea.

The then US deputy assistant secretary for African affairs, Karl Wycoff, pointed out that EU policy was contradictory. The French said that while engagement was “useless”, they would continue on this track as there was no other option. The Italians described Eritrea as governed by a “brutal dictator” and noted that it had “not gotten results from its efforts at engagement”, while at the same time cautioning against “creating another Afghanistan” by imposing sanctions. A US diplomatic cable, released via WikiLeaks, revealed that EU representatives called for engagement with Eritrea rather than isolation. In 2009, European and American diplomats discussed whether to strengthen military sanctions against the country.

Michel was not even permitted to visit the prisoner and returned home humiliated.ĭespite these setbacks, the EU remained wedded to attempting to improve its relationship with Eritrea.

Having booked a ticket for Isaak to return with him to Europe, Michel flew to Asmara.īut once he arrived it became apparent that the president had no intention of allowing the journalist to go free. In May 2007 the president was invited to visit Brussels and was warmly welcomed by the then EU development commissioner, Louis Michel.īy August 2009 Michel was sufficiently encouraged that progress could be made that he visited Asmara, after receiving assurances from an Eritrean diplomat that Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist imprisoned in 2001, would be released into his care. Although there had been no sign of movement on human rights it was decided to try to have a “new beginning” with Eritrea. Photograph: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/ReutersĪs time passed the EU reassessed its relations with Asmara.

Understanding Eritrea by Martin Plaut