Former Eritrean Finance Minister Berhane Abrehe Dies in Prison After Six Years in Solitary Confinement

Berhane Abrehe, the former Eritrean Finance Minister, passed away in prison on Monday, August 19th, at the age of 79, following six years of solitary confinement. His death was confirmed by the Eritrean Human Rights Council (HRC), a UK-based organization.

Credit: Africannews

Abrehe was arrested on September 17, 2018, shortly after the publication of his book Hagerey Eritrea (My Country, Eritrea), which was highly critical of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. Since his arrest, he had been held at Carshelli prison in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, without formal charges or a fair trial.

A prominent figure in Eritrea's fight for independence, Abrehe was a member of both the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and later the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). After Eritrea gained independence in 1993, he served in several key government positions, including as Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2012.

Despite his prominent role in the government, Abrehe became an outspoken critic of President Afwerki, particularly regarding the government’s financial practices and the concentration of power in the president's hands. His criticisms led to his removal from office in 2012 and his subsequent arrest in 2018.

Abrehe's health had been in decline, especially after undergoing a liver transplant in 2009. His wife, Almaz Habtemariam, who was arrested alongside him in 2018, was released two years later without trial.