Berhane Abrehe, a former Eritrean finance minister and outspoken critic of President Isaias Afwerki, has passed away in prison at the age of 79, his family has confirmed.
Abrehe, who served as Eritrea’s longest-serving finance minister, was removed from his position in 2012 after clashing with President Afwerki. Six years later, he was imprisoned for releasing a book in which he referred to the president as a “dictator” who should step down.
Despite the government rarely confirming the deaths of senior officials in custody, Abrehe’s family was notified of his passing. They have been informed that he may be buried in the Asmara Patriots Cemetery, reserved for veterans of the Eritrean independence war and members of the national service.
Abrehe’s family has not yet received his body and the circumstances of his death remain unclear. He was never given a trial.
President Afwerki has been in power since 1991, following Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia, and has faced criticism for his authoritarian rule. Political parties, civic organizations, and independent media are banned in the country.
Abrehe’s conflict with President Afwerki began during his tenure as finance minister when he called for transparency in the country’s budget, a demand that remains unmet to this day. After being removed from his post in 2012, Abrehe wrote a book challenging the president and advocating for the reinstatement of the national assembly.
In 2018, Abrehe was detained and imprisoned in an undisclosed location, while his wife was also imprisoned without explanation. His son, who now lives in the US, has spoken out about the family’s ordeal and expressed hope for his father’s release.
The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of human rights violations, including torture, forced disappearances, and arbitrary detention. Despite international scrutiny, impunity for these violations persists in Eritrea.
Abrehe, who was born in Eritrea and earned a degree in economics from a US university, leaves behind four children. His death highlights the ongoing challenges faced by critics of the Eritrean government and the lack of accountability for human rights abuses in the country.
