The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on the Eritrean government’s National Security Office (NSO).
The sanction was laid under the accusation of serious human rights violations – including extra-judicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances.
The EU did not give details of what type of sanctions will be imposed or why now.
Reuters news agency reports that the NSO will face an asset freeze in the EU.
The NSO is headed by Major General Abraha Kassa and is under the supervision of President Isaias Afwerki’s office, the EU said in a statement.
Eritrea is a one-party state led by President Afwerki since its independence in 1993.
Eritrea was one of several states from around the world to be targeted by the EU for alleged human rights violations. Two Libyan militia leaders and a senior commander in South Sudan’s army have also had sanctions imposed on them.
