European Asylum Support Office Eritrea National service, exit, and return Country of Origin Information Report September 2019 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office Eritrea National service, exit, and return Country of Origin Information Report September 2019 More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9485-056-0 doi: 10.2847/23257 © European Asylum Support Office (EASO) 2019 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: Dekemhare, Eritrea © SEM, The State Secretariat for Migration, Switzerland EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT - ERITREA: NATIONAL SERVICE, EXIT, AND RETURN — 3 Acknowledgements EASO would like to acknowledge the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Division Analysis (Länderanalyse SEM), as the drafter of this report. The following national asylum and migration departments have reviewed the report, together with EASO: Germany, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Country Analysis Sweden, Swedish Migration Agency, Section for Information Analysis It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. 4 — EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT - ERITREA: NATIONAL SERVICE, EXIT, AND RETURN Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 3 Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Disclaimer................................................................................................................................................ 6 Glossary and abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... 7 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................. 9 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 11 Defining the terms of reference ................................................................................................... 11 Collecting information .................................................................................................................. 11 Source assessment ....................................................................................................................... 13 Quality control .............................................................................................................................. 14 Structure and use of the report ........................................................................................................ 14 Map ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 1. Overview: developments 2016-2019 ................................................................................................ 16 1.1. Peace with Ethiopia and foreign affairs ..................................................................................... 16 1.2. Internal affairs ........................................................................................................................... 17 1.3. Religious issues .......................................................................................................................... 18 1.4. Legal framework ........................................................................................................................ 20 2. National service................................................................................................................................. 22 2.1. Recent developments ................................................................................................................ 22 2.2. Structure .................................................................................................................................... 24 2.3. Recruitment ............................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.1. Through schooling system .................................................................................................. 26 2.3.2. Recruitment of school drop-outs ....................................................................................... 2 8 2.3.3. Exemptions ......................................................................................................................... 31 2.3.4. Recruitment of minors ....................................................................................................... 32 2.4. Duration and discharge ............................................................................................................. 33 2.5. Remuneration ............................................................................................................................ 35 2.6. Treatment of conscripts ............................................................................................................ 37 2.6.1. Civilian national service ...................................................................................................... 37 EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT - ERITREA: NATIONAL SERVICE, EXIT, AND RETURN — 5 2.6.2. Military national service ..................................................................................................... 37 2.6.3. Situation of women in military ........................................................................................... 38 2.7. Treatment of deserters and draft evaders ................................................................................ 4 0 2.7.1. Treatment of family members ........................................................................................... 4 1 3. Exit from Eritrea ................................................................................................................................ 42 3.1. Travel inside Eritrea and to the border ..................................................................................... 42 3.2. Legal exit .................................................................................................................................... 43 3.2.1. Exit visa ............................................................................................................................... 43 3.2.2. Exit by land to Sudan .......................................................................................................... 45 3.2.3. Exit by land to Ethiopia ....................................................................................................... 45 3.2.4. Exit by air ............................................................................................................................ 49 3.3. Illegal exit ................................................................................................................................... 49 3.3.1. Illegal exit to Sudan ............................................................................................................ 49 3.3.2. Illegal exit to Ethiopia ......................................................................................................... 51 3.4. Treatment of persons crossing the border illegally ................................................................... 52 4. Treatment of returnees .................................................................................................................... 55 4.1. Voluntary return ........................................................................................................................ 55 4.1.1. Conditions for return .......................................................................................................... 55 4.1.2. Follow-up upon arrival ....................................................................................................... 56 4.1.3. ‘Diaspora status’ ................................................................................................................. 57 4.1.4. Return as a visitor ............................................................................................................... 58 4.1.5. Permanent return ............................................................................................................... 59 4.1.6. Return from Ethiopia .......................................................................................................... 61 4.2. Forced return ............................................................................................................................. 62 Annex 1: Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 65