Mahmood threatens complete visa ban

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Thursday she will block all Eritreans from entering the UK unless Eritrea agrees to take back rejected asylum seekers and criminals.

“My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK.”

Immediate diplomatic restrictions imposed

From Thursday, Eritrean diplomats face movement restrictions outside London and VIPs lose access to fast-track visas as preferential processing is scrapped.

Eritrea denies withdrawing cooperation

Eritrea's north London embassy rejected Mahmood's claims, saying the UK has shown no interest in meaningful dialogue despite repeated requests for constructive discussion.

“Despite Eritrea's repeated requests for constructive discussion with relevant UK authorities on the dignified return of its citizens, the UK has shown no interest to engage in meaningful and appropriate dialogue.”

Eritrea calls threat a political gimmick

The embassy described Mahmood's decision as regrettable and said it was nothing more than a perfunctory political gimmick, noting the UK has issued no visas to Eritrean officials since 2023.

“The act is nothing more than a perfunctory political gimmick.”

Eritreans dominate small boat arrivals

Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year ending June 2026. Nearly six thousand Eritreans reached the UK across the Channel in that year.

Returns remain minimal despite rejections

Just over one hundred refused asylum seekers from Eritrea have been deported, comprising less than four percent of the two thousand six hundred twenty-six people whose claims were rejected in the past four years.

Similar threats worked with other nations

The move follows visa sanction threats against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025. Angola and Namibia subsequently agreed to cooperate; the DRC reached an agreement in February.

Human rights groups warn of dangers

Justice for Eritreans and Amnesty International warned that many Eritreans fled indefinite national service, arbitrary detention and severe human rights abuses, and that refugee protection is a legal responsibility, not a political bargaining tool.

“Refugee protection is a legal responsibility, not a political bargaining tool.”

UN documents ongoing crimes against humanity

UN special rapporteur Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker said there are reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity continue in Eritrea, with systematic enforced disappearance, torture and persecution of political opponents remaining central features of governance.

“There remain reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity continue in Eritrea.”