The United Kingdom has threatened to ban all Eritrean nationals from entering the country if Eritrea fails to cooperate with efforts to return migrants who arrived by small boats and foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a series of restrictions against Eritrea, including limits on the movement of its diplomats outside London and the suspension of fast-track visa services for senior officials.
Under the new measures, Eritrean diplomats will be required to obtain permission before travelling more than 60 kilometres outside London. The Home Office said the restrictions mirror similar rules imposed on British officials in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara.
Mahmood accused the Eritrean government of repeatedly refusing to accept the return of its citizens who have no legal right to remain in the UK.
She warned that additional measures could be introduced against other countries that fail to cooperate with Britain’s immigration policies.
However, Eritrea has criticised the decision, describing it as a political gimmick. Its embassy in London also accused the British government of failing to engage in meaningful discussions and withholding information about the return of Eritrean nationals who were still serving prison sentences.
The Eritrean authorities further disputed Britain’s claims that the returns were voluntary. They also said the UK had not issued visas to Eritrean officials since 2023.
The Home Office rejected the allegations, insisting that Eritrea’s statements misrepresented the British government’s position. It said an Eritrean official was granted an exemption from immigration control in August 2026 and indicated that Britain wanted to restore cooperation between the two countries.
Figures from the House of Commons Library show that Eritreans were the most common nationality among people arriving in the UK by small boats in the 12 months leading up to June.
During that period, more than 5,800 Eritreans arrived through the dangerous Channel crossing. However, only seven people were returned directly to Eritrea, while another 244 were sent to other countries. Approximately 1,300 Eritreans also received UK visas, most of them to join family members already living there.
Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, questioned whether the proposed restrictions would significantly reduce migration.
She explained that Eritreans account for a substantial proportion of asylum applications in Britain, with approximately 7,000 applications recorded in the latest year of available data.
According to Sumption, around 84 per cent of Eritrean asylum applicants are successful at the initial decision stage, with additional applicants potentially succeeding on appeal. She argued that many Eritreans cannot legally be returned because of their asylum status.
Eritrea has faced international criticism over its human rights record. Human Rights Watch has accused the government of widespread repression, including forced labour, indefinite military conscription and restrictions on freedom of expression.
The country has been governed as a one-party state since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993. It has never held a national election, and independent media outlets are prohibited. Critics of President Isaias Afwerki have reportedly faced prolonged detention, often without trial.
Religious freedom is also restricted, with only four officially recognised religious groups permitted to operate. Members of other religious communities have faced imprisonment.
Many young Eritreans attempt to leave the country to escape military service, which can continue for years or even decades.
Britain has previously threatened visa restrictions against countries that refuse to accept the return of their nationals. Earlier this year, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo faced similar warnings, although Angola and Namibia agreed to changes before restrictions were imposed.
Sumption suggested that the UK might be reluctant to apply similar measures to countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh because of the potential economic consequences. Both countries have significant numbers of students and workers travelling to Britain.
Meanwhile, Home Office figures indicate that more than 20,400 people crossed the Channel in small boats from the beginning of the year to the time covered by the report, representing a 40 per cent decrease compared with the same period last year.
The UK also recorded more than 40,600 returns and deportations between July 2025 and June 2026, an increase of eight per cent compared with the previous 12-month period. Fewer than 6,000 of those returned had been convicted of criminal offences.
The dispute highlights the challenges facing the British government as it seeks to strengthen immigration enforcement while negotiating with countries that are reluctant to accept the return of their citizens.
