This is a list containing prisons in Eritrea where the government keeps prisoners of conscience. It is certainly not an exhaustive list of all the prisons in the country where thousands are kept without formal charges and without visitation rights. Those who die in those prisons are unceremoniously buried by the prison wardens and the government rarely notifies the next of kin.

To view the location of the prisons (Google map) click on the links. Not all prisons are linked. 

1 Aderser

Aderser (in  Sawa): military punishment (harsh punishment probably torturing)- and  training camp with underground cells.  Aderser, near Sawa. Underground cells used. (USSD report for 2005) [4f] (p2, section 1c)        

2 Adi Abeito prison complex 1

3 Adi Abeito prison complex 2

Adi Abeto (near Asmara): Major Prison for Asmara, with shipping containers serving as punishment cell.

Adi Abeto army prison near Asmara. Incident of 4 November 2004, where prisoners were killed trying to escape after a wall was pushed over. (AI 2005) [5a]; (USSD report for 2004) [4e] (p1-2) AI reported that Adi Abeto was the initial detention facility for the Maltese returns of 2002: women, children and those over the military service age of 40 were detained for several weeks, but the military deserters were held incommunicado and tortured, before being transferred to Dahlek Kebir. [5c] (p23) Shipping containers reported as being used as punishment blocks in this facility. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16) 

4 Adi Keih

Adi Keih (Asmara): detention Centre i.e. for national service dodgers.

Adi Keih town prison. AI has reported this prison was used as an initial detention facility for draft evaders. (AI 28 July 2005) [5h] 

5 Agip

Agip (Asmara): detention centre i.e. for journalists.

Agip, Asmara. The location, according to Reporters Without Borders, of eight of the nine state media journalists arrested in November 2006. (Awate, 3 December 2006) [50s] "Located behind the 'Capitol' cinema and opposite the presidential palace, this complex is 'where the police take detainess to torture them before transferring them to their final destination,' a former detainee told Reporters Without Borders." [50s] (p2)

Alla (near Dekemhare): Prison cells in shipping containers

Alla, Decamhare town. Shipping containers reported as being used as punishment blocks in this facility. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)                                            

7 Assab

Assab (in the Port of  Assab): Military detention

Assab military prison, near the port of Assab. Human Rights Without Frontiers reported on 7 May 2003 that 74 soldiers were detained in Assab prison. [68a] The initial query claimed that the prison was known to house up to 5000 prisoners and that it held soldiers that "ran afoul of their government". [68a]                               

8 Adi Nefas

Adi Nefas (in/near Assab): military detention centre.

9 Adi Qala

Adi Qala (around  40 km north of the  Ethiopian boarder between Asmara and Medefera): Military detention.

10 Baharia

Baharia (Massawa): Marine(navy) base. 

11 Barentu

Barentu (Barentu): General Prison.                                                                   

12 Dahlek Kebir

Dahlak Kebir (Dahlak Islands): detention centre i.e. political prisoners , including deportees from countries such as  Egypt, Libya and Malta.

Dahlek Kebir, Dahlak islands. Detention and prison facilities built on the main Dahlek island in the Red Sea, with a capacity for 800 prisoners, and comprising of eight large sheet metal buildings. (AI May 2004). [5c] (p16) It is where many of the detainees from the returns by Malta and Libya are thought to be imprisoned (HRW 2005) [29c] AI reported that in December 2002, 95 civilians and 85 conscript deserters of the Maltese returns arrived in Dahlek Kebir, with the civilians transferred back to the mainland in July 2003. [5c] (p23)    

13 Duarwa

Duarwa (South of  Asmara between Adi Quala and Adi Ugri): General Prison· (The name is Dubarwa; however the area can be corrected accordingly….. my Note

14 Eiraeiro

Eiraeiro (Filfil-Selomuna between Asmara and Massawa): detention centre for political prisoners.       Eiraeiro, Filfil-Selomuna area north of the Asmara-Massawa road. A 'secret' prison for political prisoners ( Awate.com, 31 August 2006) [50m]. It was purpose built in 2003, receiving the G15/G11 political prisoners from Embatkala in June 2003. It is reported to be comprised of 5 main blocks, with 2 main cell blocks, and 62 rooms used as cells; the standard cell size is 3 x 3 meters. [50m] (p2) The article claims there are 36 political prisoners, and names most of them, giving their cell numbers. [50m] (p2,3) Conditions are basic, and prisoners are chained and in solitary confinement. [50m] (p3-4) One hundred and fifty guards and staff operate the prison; the guards are heavily vetted and monitored. [50m] (p4-5) Reporters Without Borders, as reported in an IRIN news article of 16 November 2006, adds: that "at least 62 political prisoners" are held at Eiraeiro; that nine detainees had died as a "result of 'various illnesses, psychological pressure or suicide'." and that three of the deaths were of journalists detained since September 2001. [19a]

15 Fifth Police Station

Fifth Police Station (Second 'Karsehli'), left, with Expo roundabout, center

16 Fifth Police Station

Fifth Police Station in Asmara (Second 'Karsheli') , between Expo grounds and Space 2001 (built 2005) believed to be one of the cruelest interrogation centers

17 Galaalo

Galaalo (desert area near the Red Sea coast): military forced labor camp.

Galaalo military camp, Red Sea coast. Deaths of conscripted students reported in August 2001 while performing forced labor. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p20)

18 Gedem

Gedem (circa 40 km south of  Massawa): forced labor camp to build the  marine base.

Gedem prison, 40 km south of Massawa. It is alleged to be the site of forced labor in 2004, with the construction of a naval base, numbering 400 prisoners who received minimal food and water, no medical attention after injury and the use of confinement in shipping containers in excessive temperatures as punishment. (Ehrag section, Awate.com, 16 June 2006) [50 h]

19 Gahteley

·Ghatelay (between Asmara and Massawa): forced military labor camp (Note: the name can be pronounced as Ghahtelay).

Gahteley military camp, reception centre for new recruits. (Awate article, 26 November 2004) [50e ]

20 Haddis Ma'askar

Haddis Ma’askar (in  Sawa along the boarded with  Sudan): military prisons with underground cells.       Haddis Ma'askar. An army prison equipped with underground cells (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)        

21 Halhale

Halhale (in Asmara): detention centre i.e. for those who illegally tried to cross the borders.                                                   

22 Kambo Ndafurstale

Kambo Ndafurstale (Sanafe): Military Prison.

23 Karsheli prison

Wengel Mermera (Asmara): interrogation centre for i.e. political prisoners and  Muslims.

Wengel Mermera (Wenjel Mirmera) investigation centre. Sources refer to this centre as being where most of the detainees of Asmara mass arrests are held, such as, according to Release Eritrea "… the dungeon-like inner prison in Asmara where many of Eritrea's prominent political prisoners are also believed to be incarcerated." [31] The AI May 2004 report adds that it is a special security section in the 2nd police station, Asmara. [5c] (p16) Compass Direct, April 2006, maintains that the 70 muslims arrested for protesting about the Government's imposition of a new chief mufti were detained in Wengel Mermera in one cell.

Karsheli prison (center). (Wenjel mermera section at the back)

24 Klima

Klima (near Assab): General Prison.

25 Mai Edaga

Mai Daga (near Dekemhare): Military prisons  with shipping containers used for punishment·

Mai Edaga, Decamhare town. Shipping containers reported as being used as punishment blocks in this facility. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)

26 Mai Duma 

Mai Duma (South of  Asmara): Military Camp.

27 Mai Serwa

Mai Srwa (near Asmara): with underground cells and shipping containers i.e. used to punish political-prisoners and national service dodgers.

Mai Serwa military camp near Asmara. The camp is used for the detention of draft evaders, and uses metal shipping containers and underground cells. (AI 28 July 2005) [5h] Human Rights Without Frontiers locates Mai Serwa as near Keren, with the initial query stating that it is three story’s high with the main prison built underground. (Canadian IRB 14 July 2003) [68a] AI reported in December 2005 that Helen Berhane, the Rema church gospel singer, "… is held at Mai Serwa military camp near Asmara, in a metal shipping container with little ventilation that alternates between hot and cold temperature extremes and has no washing or toilet facilities." A Release Eritrea briefing, posted 25 June 2006, adds that Helen Berhane had been caught listening to a radio and "As punishment she was transferred to an underground cell, where she was kept chained for two weeks." [31e] Helen Berhane was released from prison in October 2006 (Release-Eritrea, 2 November 2006) [31h] (AI, 3 November 2006) [5o] ( CSW, 3 November 2006) [67c] The AI report of 3 November 2006 notes that initially, Ms Berhane was hospitalized in Asmara, where she was confined to a wheelchair "due to the injuries she sustained to her feet and legs". [5o]       Mai Srwa prison (includes shipping containers)

28 Mai Temenei

Mai Temenei (Asmara): military prison with underground cells.

Mai Temenei. An army prison equipped with underground cells (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)        

29 Metkelabet

Metkelabet (between Asmara and Massawa): military prison.

30 Me’eter

Me’eter (between Nakfa and the coast): military prisons.

31 Sawa

Sawa (along  Sawa river, near the boarder with Sudan): military punishment camp for i.e. national service dodgers, religious minority members an those who try to cross the boarder illegally .Furthermore ,Sawa is a training camp for 12th grade regular military training.

Sawa Military Training Camp, near the Sudan border. The complex includes the prison camp of Brigade Six, comprising of temporary barracks built on a hilltop to the right of the main camp. According to the testimony of an ex-prisoner reproduced by Awate.com, "Sawa prison is made entirely of tin material" and thus insufferably hot in the day and cold at night. It comprises of twelve tin barrack blocks. Malnutrition, poor hygiene and lack of medical attention reported, with high levels of infections and diseases associated with poor living conditions. (Ehrag section, Awate.com, 25 April 2006) [50 h] Photos of Sawa in 2000 and 2004 are to found in slide shows on the website of the National Union of Eritrean Youth Students (NUEYS) http://www.denden.com/NUEYS/. The USSD report for 2005 notes there were alleged cases of the rape and sexual abuse of female recruits by Sawa instructors. [4f] (p2, section 1c)                            

32 Sembel

Sembel (Asmara): detention centre for i.e. political prisoners and religious-stream followers.

Sembel prison, Asmara. An officially-designated prison for political prisoners. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)

33 Tehadasso

Tehadasso: military prisons with shipping containers used as punishment cell.

Tehadasso army prison. Shipping containers reported as being used as punishment blocks in this facility. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)

34 Tessenei

Tessenei (Tessenei): military prison / rehabilitation centre.

Tessenei military prison, classed as 'rehabilitation centre'. Allegations of torture, beatings and general abuse reported in this facility. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p18)     

35 "Tract B"

Tract B (Asmara): military prison.

"Tract B" military prison, Asmara. It comprises of a former US storage facility near Asmara airport. (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16) In late 2002, some EPLF veterans among the Maltese returnees were separated out at Adi Abeto and then sent to Tract B prison. [5c] (p23)

Tract B - prison, Asmara, (designated for national service conscripts)

36 Tsererat

Tsererat (Asmara): military prison with underground cells primarily for  EPLF-veterans.

Tsererat prison, Asmara. "Mainly for EPLF veterans, held in underground cells." (AI May 2004) [5c] (p16)

37 Wi'a/Wea

Wi’a (south of  Massawa to the Red Sea Coast): military punishment and   training camp for i.e. national service dodgers / deserters and religious minorities.

Wi'a/Wea detention centre. A desert detention camp built on the Red Sea coast. Temperatures in this area are often over 40 degrees centigrade. 121 men, arrested during the mass arrests on 28 May 2005 at the Meserete/Full Gospel wedding, are still reported as being in detention in Wi'a. [46b] (p2) The camp mainly processes youths detained in roundups; the reports of the February 2006 giffa indicate that the Anseba region high school students were sent to Wi'a. [50j] On 10 June 2005, a mass escape was attempted, and the authorities shot and killed 161 youths. [4f] (p1, section 1a) (USSD report for 2005)

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NB: This list was compiled from three sources - www.ehrea.org, www.assenna.com and www.awate.com. To see the details for the source list click here.