Eritrea

Persecution of Christians in Eritrea

Eritrea has been tightly controlled since 1993 by the Marxist military government of Isaias Afwerki. The widespread abuses of the Afwerki government have earned Eritrea the title “Africa’s North Korea”. It is illegal to leave the country without an exit visa, which is nearly impossible to obtain.

The country’s population is roughly half Christian and half Muslim. The government legally permits only three Christian denominations – Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran – as well as Sunni Islam.

Many believers are members of underground “house churches” that meet discretely to avoid government repression. Pastors, evangelists and other believers courageously continue the work of sharing the Gospel and making Christ known.

Sadly, many have had no choice but to flee to neighbouring country’s for safety.

Religious freedom in Eritrea

Eritrea’s draft constitution upholds the right to freedom of belief and the freedom to practise any religion; however, this constitution has never been implemented.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Christians are being held in prison. Among them are at seven pastors detained without trial for more than 20 years.

Christians often endure longer and harsher jail terms than other inmates. Survivors describe atrocious conditions, beatings, torture cells and forced labour. Prisoners are often held in airless underground cells so cramped there is no room to sit or lie down. Others are locked in overcrowded shipping containers in the dessert, enduring sweltering temperatures during the day, and near freezing conditions at night.

Yet despite this, Christians remain resilient in their faith. “The Gospel is advancing,” declared a pastor newly released from prison for the “crime” of serving the underground Church. “God is doing amazing things in this country.”

Eritrean Christians released from prison

From late 2025 until mid-2026 around 300 Christian prisoners were released from prison in Eritrea. Many of those released had been held for between two and five years; one had been imprisoned for more than 18 years.

Many of those released were forced to sign paperwork confessing that attending an unofficial church was a crime, and committing not to do so again.

It is not known why the Eritrean authorities have released these and other political prisoners.

How you can pray

• Pray for God’s protection over Christians in Eritrea, and ask that He will uphold them in His righteous hand.
• Ask for strength, courage and healing for our brothers and sisters in prison, and for comfort and provision for their families. Ask too that Christians who have fled Eritrea that they will find safety, fellowship and freedom to worship.
• Thank the Lord for the release of prisoners, and pray that others will be freed from unimaginable hardship in prison.