With its population of around five million, Eritrea is  one of the main countries of origin of African refugees. Young people especially are among those fleeing the brutal Horn of Africa dictatorship to escape indefinite conscription, poverty and a lack of prospects.

Since the German embassy in Eritrea has no visa section, citizens seeking to join relatives already granted permanent residence in Germany have to travel to neighboring countries to seek visas that will reunite them.

Last year, German embassies in Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan processed 808 such family reunification applications.  394 applications, or 48.8 percent, were approved.

‘High bureaucratic hurdles’

These figures were calculated with the help of an as yet unpublished reponse to a question posed by the Left party faction in the German federal parliament, which DW has obtained.

“High bureaucratic hurdles” are to blame for the problems with family reunification, in the view of Left party lawmaker Ulla Jelpke.

“I’m shocked that family reunification is apparently being made so difficult for these people. It leads to human tragedy,” the domestic affairs spokeswoman told DW.

As a rule, applicants have to be in possession of a passport. Spouses also need to be able to prove that their marriage has been officially registered in Eritrea. READMORE