Eritrea, an East African nation, is considered one of the world's most secretive and repressive states, with reports of arbitrary detention and severe restrictions on freedoms. The country, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has been led by President Isaias Afwerki since then and has not held a national election.
A constitution ratified in 1997 remains unimplemented. In 2001, independent newspapers were shut down after senior ruling party officials called for the constitution's implementation and elections.
Eritrea maintains a highly militarised state with a compulsory national service system. This system requires students to undergo military training and political education in their final year of secondary school, followed by service in military units or civilian national service roles that can extend for decades. This conscription has led many Eritreans to flee the country, with an estimated one-third of the Eritrean-born population living abroad.
Earlier this year, Eritrea withdrew cooperation with the UK on migrant returns. On Thursday, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that all Eritreans could face a ban from entering the UK unless the country agrees to accept more rejected asylum seekers and criminals.