Switzerland has announced its decision to terminate development aid to Eritrea by the end of May 2025, citing Eritrea’s ongoing refusal to accept the return of rejected asylum seekers. This move follows an external evaluation that highlighted insufficient progress in migration cooperation between the two nations.

In 2016, the Swiss Federal Council initiated development aid to Eritrea with the goal of fostering enhanced collaboration on migration issues. While there have been some improvements in bilateral relations and vocational training initiatives, significant progress in facilitating the return of rejected asylum seekers has not been achieved. Eritrea’s continued unwillingness to accept these individuals has led to Switzerland’s decision to halt the aid.

This decision is independent of the Swiss federal government’s broader cost-cutting measures and is specifically tied to the challenges faced in repatriating Eritrean nationals whose asylum applications have been denied.