BRUSSELS, 23 March, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the European Union imposed sanctions on Eritrea for alleged human rights violations, including extra-judicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.

The EU did not give further details on the sanctions but this month the United Nations accused Eritrean troops of operating in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region and there are reports that suggest they were responsible for atrocities.

After the foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc agreed to the measures, EU said, "The National Security Office is responsible for serious human rights violations in Eritrea, in particular arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances of persons and torture."

On the other hand, Eritrea's foreign ministry said, "The EU has no legal or moral prerogative for its decision and has merely invoked trumped-up charges to harass Eritrea for other ulterior motives."

However, the sanctions will mean asset freezes in the European Union and individuals and entities in the bloc cannot make funds available to those listed.