By our reporter
Berhane Abrehe, a former Eritrean finance minister and vocal critic of President Isaias Afwerki, has died in prison, his family confirmed. The 79-year-old was Eritrea’s longest-serving finance minister before his removal in 2012 due to clashes with the president.
Abrehe was imprisoned in 2018 after publishing a book that described President Afwerki as a “dictator” and called for his resignation. He was never brought before a court of law and was held in an unknown location.
The Eritrean government rarely confirms the deaths of senior officials in custody, but Abrehe’s family was notified of his passing. His body has not been released, and the circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.
Abrehe’s fall-out with President Afwerki began during his tenure as finance minister, where he advocated for transparency in the country’s budget. After his removal, he wrote a book that challenged the president’s rule and called for the reinstatement of the national assembly, which was dissolved in 2002.
Eritrea has been criticized for its human rights record, including torture, forced disappearance, and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions. The UN and human rights groups have accused the government of gross human rights violations.
