Biniam Solomon, a renowned Eritrean satirical cartoonist known as Cobra, has been released from prison after 15 years in detention without trial.
The 60-year-old was arrested in 2011 in the capital, Asmara, and held in harsh conditions, with no contact with his family. His cartoons, published in several Eritrean newspapers, critiqued political and social issues.
Biniam’s imprisonment was part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Eritrea, where thousands remain imprisoned without trial.
Human rights groups have documented widespread abuses in Eritrean prisons, including lack of contact with the outside world, inadequate food and medicine, and severe physical and mental suffering.
Biniam, who lost an arm in childhood, was a physics teacher and artist.
His work included three books of cartoons: “Subtle is the Ruler”, “Conversation with Cobra Number One”, and “Conversation with Cobra Number Two”.
His cartoons often satirized government policies and officials, including a notable cartoon depicting a minister worried about being “frozen” out of his job.
The reasons for Biniam’s release are unclear, but it follows recent releases of other long-term detainees. Critics note that the process remains opaque and outside normal legal procedures.
The UN has previously called for the release of thousands held without trial in Eritrea.
