UK threatens to ban Eritrean citizens over returns policy

The Guardian and FTMQ News reported that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has threatened to stop all Eritrean citizens from entering the United Kingdom unless Eritrea agrees to accept rejected asylum seekers and criminals. The warning follows Eritrea abruptly withdrawing its cooperation on returning nationals earlier this year, according to the Guardian. [1][4]

The Guardian reported that officials and VIPs from Eritrea have already lost fast-track access to UK visas after their government refused to cooperate with return procedures. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Eritrean diplomats also face new movement restrictions outside London starting on Thursday. [1][4]

Eritrea gained formal sovereignty following a 1993 referendum after a 30-year war of independence, and it has been led by President Isaias Afwerki ever since. FTMQ News previously reported that Eritreans accounted for 18 percent of small boat migrant arrivals in the UK in the year to June. [3][4]

The Guardian reported that refugee organisations have warned about the potential impact of these measures as the government seeks to enforce its returns policy. [1]