Former Eritrean Minister Abrehe Dies in Prison After Six Years in Detention

Former Eritrean Minister Berhane Abrehe has died in prison after being held for six years. His detention drew international criticism over human rights concerns and the harsh conditions faced by political prisoners in Eritrea.

Berhane Abrehe, the ex-Finance Minister of Eritrea who was 79 years old, died on August 19th while being held in isolation for six years. The UK-based organization known as the Eritrean Human Rights Council (HRC) confirmed his passing.

On September 17th, 2018 Abrehe was taken into custody not long after releasing a book titled “Hagerey Eritrea” (My Country, Eritrea), which contained criticisms of President Isaias Afwerki. Since then, he has been confined to Carshelli prison in the capital city of Asmara without being formally charged or given appropriate legal proceedings.

Abrehe, who was previously associated with the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and subsequently joined the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), played a notable part in championing for Eritrea to gain its freedom. Following this accomplishment in 1993, he assumed various crucial positions within the government such as being Minister of Finance from 2001 until 2012.

Abrehe, despite holding a high-ranking position, openly voiced his discontent with the government’s financial policies and President Afwerki’s control over authority. Consequently, he was dismissed from his post in 2012 and imprisoned in 2018 due to his unreserved opinion.

After undergoing a liver transplant in 2009, Abrehe’s health steadily worsened. In 2018, he and his wife Almaz Habtemariam were arrested together but after two years of detainment without trial, she was released while Abrehe remained incarcerated.