KAMPALA, Dec 3, 2012 (Reuters) – At least 14 members of the Eritrea soccer squad have disappeared in Uganda while playing in a regional tournament and may eventually claim asylum, Ugandan officials said on Monday.

Eritrea is one of the world’s most secretive states ruled by a reclusive president. This year United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay accused the Asmara government of meting out summary executions, torture and detaining thousands of political prisoners.

In July last year 13 members of an Eritrean soccer club sought asylum in Tanzania while 12 members of the national squad disappeared in Kenya in 2009 after competing in a regional tournament. Rodgers Mulindwa, a spokesman for the Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (FUFA), told Reuters the players had not been seen since early Sunday. “It’s true, some of the Eritrean players have disappeared. They’ve not been seen at their hotel since early yesterday and it’s very unfortunate,” Mulindwa said. Police spokesman Ibn Sekundi put the number of missing squad members at 18 but said the team’s management had informed them the players were simply “checking on relatives”.

Eritrea were taking part in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) competition. Eritrea last played on Friday, losing 2-0 to Rwanda. Moses Watasa, from Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) which is responsible for processing asylum applications, said the Eritrean players had not made contact. “As of now we haven’t had any contact with them so we don’t know their whereabouts, but it’s possible they might want to seek asylum later,” he said.

shabo is in for a shock; while gullible shabo remains in perpetual denial.

shabo is in for a shock; while gullible shabo remains in perpetual denial.

dedeb akame how many of the akames are champions of africa?

winners always come home

Oh, that is confirmed.
This is a curse of success-the economy expanding number one in Africa, a happy nation...rosy...Isayas is not dictator...

What is really new is not the defection but the fact that this news is broken by ER.

Negash, good point!

How come Eritrean cycling and Running teams come back home, every time they are sent for a trip?

How come Eritrean cycling and Running teams come back home, every time they are sent for a trip?

that is good questions. i think some how ..someone is a middle man in Eritrean foot ball federation. it all seems prearranged for such kinda defection.

How come Eritrean cycling and Running teams come back home, every time they are sent for a trip?

that is good questions. i think some how ..someone is a middle man in Eritrean foot ball federation. it all seems prearranged for such kinda defection.

brother fed up do you think they would have defected if they had won? No
winners always come home
it's an honor to play for your country not to mention the offers that you would get from various clubs if you excel in your career.

shame shame on you pfdj morons. change your satanic policies on national service, implement the eritrean constitution, reactivate the eritrean baito then no eritrean will ever leave. infact the thousands and thousands who left long ago will come back one by one.

we need an accountable gov't by the people for the people but as long there is an illegal mafia regime and unelected corrupt military and civilian leadership, it will continue forever.

no one wants to live under brutal, cruel mafiosos, even robots are hiding in the west.

this is a tragedy. shame on you pfdj