Eritrea brands Mahmood's visa ban a 'political gimmick' as embassy reveals UK has issued NO official visas since 2023
Eritrea's London embassy has called Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's threatened total visa ban a "perfunctory political gimmick", noting that no visas have been granted to Eritrean officials since 2023 — a fact that sharply undermines how effective any further restrictions could be. Mahmood has already stripped Eritrean VIPs and diplomats of fast-track visa access and barred diplomats from travelling more than 60km outside London. Eritreans accounted for 18% of all small boat arrivals in the year to June, yet only seven were returned to Eritrea in the same period. Mahmood warned other countries that she will not hesitate to act if they refuse to accept deportees.
Eritrea 'categorically' rejected claims it was uncooperative, accusing the UK of demanding forced returns it had never agreed to.
Just 77 work visas and 33 study visas were granted to Eritreans in the year to June — meaning the threatened ban covers a TINY legal travel flow.
Around 230 Eritrean foreign criminals are awaiting deportation from the UK, with an 84% asylum grant rate making removal legally contentious.