CSW pledges sustained advocacy on Eritrea abuses and Sudan conflict, criticizing Eritrean Embassy and Premier League for refusing engagement.
Newsroom (26/05/2026 Gaudium Press) Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for victims of human rights abuses in Eritrea and Sudan, despite repeated refusals by both the Eritrean Embassy in London and the English Premier League (EPL) to engage with the organization.
In a report shared on May 22, the UK-based human rights organization detailed its latest efforts, which include a long-standing annual vigil outside the Eritrean Embassy and a campaign pressing the EPL to address allegations linking the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
CSW Chief Executive Officer Scot Bower emphasized the organization’s determination to persist in its advocacy. “One thing we have learned from all our years of protesting is that we don’t give up,” Bower said. “Just because the Eritrean Embassy hasn’t opened its doors for the last 20 years doesn’t mean we’re not coming back next year.”
He added that CSW intends to escalate its engagement with the Premier League as well. “We’ll be back again when the next season starts. We’ll have more names on the petition; we’ll have more people outside, we’ll chant even louder, and we’ll keep doing it until the doors are opened,” he stated.
On May 21, CSW joined forces with Church in Chains (Ireland), Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, and Release Eritrea for their annual peaceful vigil marking 23 years since Eritrea effectively outlawed religious groups not affiliated with recognized institutions, including the Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, and Orthodox churches, as well as Sunni Islam. The gathering sought to draw attention to ongoing restrictions on religious freedom and broader human rights violations in the country.
During the vigil, the coalition attempted to deliver a letter to Eritrea’s Head of Mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland, outlining concerns about severe abuses. However, according to CSW, embassy officials declined to open the doors or receive the communication.
Bower acknowledged that the embassy’s lack of response was expected but expressed disappointment that the Premier League demonstrated a similar unwillingness to engage. “Neither the Premier League nor the Eritrean Embassy would open their doors to us. One is not a surprise… but we are surprised at the Premier League once again refusing to accept a petition,” he said.
The EPL’s refusal forms part of a broader campaign by CSW related to the war in Sudan. On January 14, 2026, the organization staged a public action outside Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, urging the league to examine allegations that the UAE has supported Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). CSW argues that such support has contributed to prolonging a conflict that has claimed more than 150,000 lives, displaced 13 million people, and left approximately 30 million in need of humanitarian aid.
The petition at the center of the campaign, launched in January, has garnered over 2,600 signatures. It calls on the Premier League, its governing board, and member clubs to raise concerns directly with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is also vice-president and deputy prime minister of the UAE.
Despite two attempts to deliver the petition—first on April 28 and again on May 21 at the Premier League’s London headquarters—CSW reported being turned away both times. During the second attempt, security personnel reportedly informed staff they had been instructed not to accept any materials from the organization.
CSW maintains there is credible evidence that the UAE continues to provide military and financial support to the RSF, including advanced weaponry and backing for fighters aligned with the militia. Sheikh Mansour has been described as a close ally of the RSF leadership, with U.S. intelligence reportedly intercepting regular communications between him and RSF figures.
International concern over the conflict has intensified in recent months. In February 2026, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan concluded that RSF actions following the October 2025 capture of El Fasher in Darfur bore the “hallmarks of genocide.” The following month, the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom recommended designating the RSF as an Entity of Particular Concern, citing widespread atrocities affecting religious and ethnic communities.
For activists, the refusal of engagement by a globally influential sports body like the Premier League underscores a broader challenge in holding powerful actors accountable. Abdallah Idriss Abugarda, leader of the Darfur Diaspora Association, highlighted the moral dimension of the campaign.
“We are here not because we oppose football… we are here because football is powerful, and with great power comes moral responsibility,” Abugarda said during the attempted petition hand-in. He stressed that the Premier League’s publicly stated values—such as equality, human dignity, and social responsibility—must extend beyond the pitch.
As CSW continues its efforts, the organization has made clear that setbacks will not deter its campaign. Instead, it plans to intensify its advocacy, leveraging public pressure and international attention to demand accountability and action for victims of human rights violations in Eritrea and Sudan.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACi Africa
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