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Eritrea: Delving into a Sealed-Off Country

April 27, 2015

Many of the refugees who try to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean come from Eritrea, although it is currently troubled by neither famine nor war. They’re fleeing the grim dictatorship in what has been called the African North Korea.

https://p.dw.com/p/1FFrh

According to UN information, more than 350,000 Eritreans have left their country so far, about seven percent of the population. Arbitrary arrest is the order of the day. Men are forced to spend a at least a year, often decades, in military service. Where freedom of the press is concerned, the country ranks lowest in the world - even behind North Korea.