Reports in April indicated that the United States government was contemplating a reset of its diplomatic relations with Eritrea, a move that could entail lifting sanctions imposed on Eritrea's ruling party and military in 2021. These sanctions were originally enacted due to Eritrea's involvement in severe human rights abuses during the armed conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. Human rights advocates warn that easing these sanctions now, without demonstrated accountability for grave violations in both Eritrea and Tigray, and without clear human rights benchmarks, would imply a tolerance for future unchecked abuses.

Eritrea's strategic geographical position along the Red Sea corridor has amplified its geopolitical significance, especially amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East and threats from the Houthi armed group in Yemen to disrupt maritime traffic. While the United States considers its approach, the European Union and Canada have also cautiously explored engagement with Eritrea, often linking their efforts to development or migration concerns. However, critics argue that transactional diplomacy, which overlooks a nation's human rights record, risks solidifying decades of widespread violations and entrenching impunity.

Since 1993, under President Isaias Afwerki, Eritrea has been characterized as one of the world's most repressive governments. A core policy contributing to this reputation is its system of indefinite national service, which effectively traps generations of Eritreans in abusive conditions tantamount to forced labor. The government also punishes those who evade the draft and their families. Furthermore, Eritrea has systematically dismantled independent media and routinely detains perceived critics, religious leaders, and journalists incommunicado, denying them due process, often for years or even decades. This year marks a grim 25th anniversary of the detention of 11 government officials and 10 journalists who courageously called for fundamental reforms.

During the 2020-2022 conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, Eritrean forces were documented committing horrific atrocities, including massacres, widespread sexual violence, abductions, and pillage. Disturbingly, even today, Eritrean forces continue to perpetrate abuses in areas of Tigray they still occupy. Therefore, the United States is strongly urged not to consider lifting sanctions until Eritrea undertakes substantial steps towards accountability for these violations and unequivocally demonstrates a departure from its abusive past and current practices.

To ensure continued oversight and documentation of these abuses, all concerned countries should support the renewal of the United Nations Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on Eritrea in July. This mechanism remains one of the vital tools available to document the actions of Eritrean officials and forces, offering a crucial lifeline of hope for justice and accountability to the victims and their families in the future.