Eritrea wants to terminate the UN expert’s mandate to look into violations, according to a document
Eritrea is attempting to revoke the mandate of a U.N. expert who is investigating alleged abuses, according to a document submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council. This action is seen as unusual and has raised concerns among Western diplomats, who worry it may establish a precedent for other states seeking to evade oversight.
The Special Rapporteur, currently occupied by Sudanese human rights lawyer Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, is tasked with documenting violations in Eritrea, where civil society organizations like Human Rights Watch report that impunity is prevalent.
In a May report, he characterized the situation as “critical,” emphasizing instances of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and the imposition of extended national and military service terms that are compelling thousands to escape.
The information ministry of Eritrea, along with its diplomatic mission in Geneva, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Eritrea, having consistently opposed the mandate, dispatched a substantial delegation to advocate for its proposal at a U.N. meeting in Geneva on Monday and expressed dissent regarding investigations focused on the records of individual countries. According to diplomats, states such as Sudan, Russia, and Iran supported it, while the EU and Britain were among those who opposed it in a divided discussion.
The position of U.N. expert was established in 2012 by a coalition of African states and has been renewed each year by the Geneva-based council, with recent efforts spearheaded by the European Union. This year, however, Eritrea took the initiative and presented a competing motion to terminate the mandate, as indicated by the document.
States that are under U.N. investigations frequently attempt to lobby against them or weaken their impact. However, rights experts note that a proposal to terminate a mandate has never been presented to the council in its nearly 20-year history, raising concerns that this could encourage states seeking to obstruct accountability initiatives. In 2023, Ethiopia attempted to conclude a mandate prematurely, only to later retract that decision.
“The EU emphasizes that the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in a state’s internal affairs do not exempt states from their responsibilities under international human rights law,” the EU delegate stated in a statement provided to Reuters, contending that Eritrea’s absence of consent “should not serve as a means to evade international scrutiny”.
Numerous investigations conducted by the Geneva-based council are generally initiated by Western nations, including those concerning Russia and Sudan. At times, the evidence collected is utilized by international prosecutors.
A vote is anticipated next month.
