Switzerland is currently embroiled in a standoff with Eritrea over the fate of rejected Eritrean asylum seekers. As of 2025, around 43,000 Eritreans reside in Switzerland, forming one of the largest refugee communities in the country. Many have fled Eritrea due to systemic human rights abuses, including indefinite military conscription and severe political repression, which have earned the country comparisons to “North Korea of Africa.”
However, Switzerland has been tightening its asylum policies and is increasingly pushing for the repatriation of Eritreans whose claims have been rejected. The main issue stems from Eritrea’s refusal to accept forced deportations, only allowing voluntary returns. Frustrated by this lack of cooperation, Switzerland has sought alternative solutions, such as negotiating transit agreements with third countries willing to accept Eritrean migrants. In June 2024, the Swiss Parliament approved a motion to pursue such agreements, though it remains unclear which nations would be willing to participate. Frustrated by this impasse, Switzerland announced in February 2025 that it would terminate (Keystone-SDA, 2025) its development aid to Eritrea, citing the country’s continued refusal to cooperate on the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers.
Critique of Switzerland’s Approach
Switzerland’s current stance raises both ethical and strategic concerns. Cutting development aid may exacerbate the conditions that drive Eritreans to flee, potentially increasing the number of asylum seekers. This approach could be seen as counterproductive, as it may worsen the socio-economic situation in Eritrea, leading to more individuals seeking refuge abroad.
Second, the proposal to deport Eritreans to third countries is highly problematic. If these third countries lack strong asylum protections, deported individuals may face human rights violations, statelessness, or even forced return to Eritrea. Additionally, the proposal to deport rejected asylum seekers to third countries is fraught with legal and moral challenges. Without proper oversight, such agreements could mirror the controversial EU-Tunisia migration deal, where migrants were reportedly subjected to abuse after deportation. The practice of transferring asylum seekers to third countries has been criticized for treating individuals as commodities, focusing on the interests of destination and third countries rather than the rights and well-being of the asylum seekers themselves.
Such policies (Kritzman-Amir, 2022) may violate international principles, including the prohibition of refoulement, which forbids returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution or inhumane treatment. Furthermore, Switzerland’s focus on repatriation overlooks the realities of Eritrean asylum seekers’ situation. International reports, including from the UN, continue to highlight the dangers Eritreans face upon return, such as arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture. For instance, Australia’s offshore detention policy (Doherty, 2024) has been associated with increased risks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among asylum seekers, highlighting the detrimental psychological effects of such practices. These examples underscore the potential harms of outsourcing asylum processing and the importance of ensuring that asylum seekers’ rights are protected throughout the process. In 2017, a Swiss court ruled that Eritrean asylum seekers could not be deported due to these risks, yet recent policy shifts seem to disregard these protections.
Recommendations for a Balanced Approach
To address this issue more effectively, Switzerland should adopt a more comprehensive and humane migration multifaceted strategy.
- Diplomatic Engagement: Instead of punitive measures like cutting aid, Switzerland should strengthen diplomatic efforts with Eritrea. A multilateral approach involving the European Union, the United Nations, and other nations with similar concerns could increase pressure on Eritrea to accept repatriation under humane conditions.
- Integration Policies: Investing in integration programs can help Eritrean migrants become self-sufficient contributors to Swiss society. Facilitating access to education, language courses, and employment opportunities can promote social cohesion and reduce public concerns about dependency.
- International Partnerships: Rather than unilaterally negotiating transit deals, Switzerland should collaborate with international organizations to develop comprehensive solutions that address both the immediate challenges of asylum seekers and the root causes of migration from Eritrea. This could include supporting initiatives aimed at improving human rights and economic conditions in Eritrea, thereby reducing the impetus for citizens to flee.
Conclusion
While Switzerland’s concerns regarding the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers are valid, the current strategies may not effectively resolve the issue and could have unintended humanitarian consequences. A balanced approach that combines diplomatic efforts, integration initiatives, and international collaboration is essential to address the complexities of the Switzerland-Eritrea migrant situation.
Sources:
Doherty, B. (2024, Nov 11). Offshore detention makes it 20 times more likely asylum seekers will suffer PTSD, Australian study finds. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/12/asylum-seekers-in-australian-offshore-detention-at-20-times-greater-ptsd-risk-than-someone-not-detained-study-finds
Kritzman-Amir, T. (2022). Asylum-Seekers are Not Bananas Either: Limitations on Transferring Asylum-Seekers to Third Countries. Mich. J. Int’l L., 43, 699.
Keystone-SDA. (2025, Feb 3). Swiss development aid to Eritrea is cut after asylum tensions. Swissinfo. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/swiss-development-aid-for-eritrea-is-stopped/88816811