Imagine being locked away for nearly two decades without ever seeing a courtroom. That’s the chilling reality for 13 Eritreans, including the legendary Olympian cyclist Zeragaber Gebrehiwot, who were finally released from one of the country’s most notorious prisons. But here’s where it gets even more shocking: their freedom comes after 18 years of detention without a single trial, raising urgent questions about justice and human rights in Eritrea.
These individuals, among them prominent figures like the 69-year-old Zeragaber, were held in Mai Serwa prison, a facility infamous for its brutal conditions and its reputation as a holding ground for political prisoners. An anonymous source who survived Mai Serwa revealed to the BBC that the arrests stemmed from an alleged assassination attempt in October 2007 on Col Simon Gebredingil, a high-ranking security official in President Isaias Afwerki’s government. Initially, around 30 people were detained, but over the years, only about 20 remained behind bars—until now.
Zeragaber, a celebrated figure in Eritrea’s rich cycling culture, represented the country (then part of Ethiopia) in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Eritrea, a nation nestled in the mountains and known for its passionate cycling community, gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Over the past decade, its cyclists have steadily earned international acclaim. And this is the part most people miss: Zeragaber’s release alongside other high-profile detainees, including businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu, as well as the Habtemariam brothers—David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist—signals a rare moment of reprieve in a country where such freedoms are seldom granted.
Six senior police officers and an internal security agent were also among those freed. Yet, the Eritrean government has remained eerily silent about the releases, leaving many to speculate. Here’s a controversial thought: Could their deteriorating health, as reported by relatives, have been the catalyst for their sudden release? Families were barred from visiting their loved ones throughout their detention, adding another layer of cruelty to their ordeal.
The UN and human rights organizations have long accused Eritrea of egregious violations, including torture, forced disappearances, and the mass imprisonment of tens of thousands in inhumane conditions. Mai Serwa prison, located just 9km northwest of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers where prisoners are held in complete isolation. But here’s the real question: How many more remain in such conditions, and will the world ever truly know?
The case of Berhane Abrehe, President Isaias’s former finance minister, is a haunting reminder of the regime’s ruthlessness. After publishing a book labeling the president a “dictator” who should resign, Abrehe spent six years in prison without trial before dying in custody last year. According to UK-based Human Rights Concern - Eritrea, he perished in Asmara’s Carshelli prison.
Eritrea, a one-party state with no functioning constitution, remains one of the world’s most militarized societies, with indefinite military conscription. Since 2001, when independent newspapers were shut down and their editors and journalists arrested, there has been no free press. This crackdown followed the detention of the G-15, a group of 15 politicians, and 16 journalists who dared to demand that President Isaias implement the draft constitution and hold open elections. But here’s where it gets controversial: The fate of 11 of these politicians and the journalists remains unknown, according to Amnesty International.
President Isaias, now 79, marked 32 years in power earlier this year—all without ever facing an election. As these 13 individuals breathe their first taste of freedom in nearly two decades, the world is left to wonder: Will Eritrea ever break free from its cycle of oppression?
What’s your take? Do you think this release marks a turning point, or is it merely a fleeting gesture? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s keep the conversation going.
