The Question of Eritrea

The UN's Commission of Inquiry (COI) for Eritrea said the government of President Isaias Afwerki had committed heinous crimes since independence a quarter-century ago, including the "enslavement" of 400,000 people. Much of the abuse is allegedly linked to a harsh national service programme. The Human Rights Council said it "strongly encourages the African Union to follow up on the COI report" and set up "an investigation ... with a view to examining and bringing to justice those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights identified by the commission of inquiry, including any that may amount to a crime against humanity".