It came after the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) said in a report on Monday that Eritrea's human rights record "remains dire and shows no sign of improvement".

In response, the Eritrean delegation to the UNHRC said in a statement that "the unrelenting harassment of Eritrea for more than 10 years now through the unwarranted appointment of special rapporteurs stems from, and is inextricably linked with, the hostile agenda of its detractors".

It said the purpose of the mandate given to the UN rapporteurs was to "create platforms to advance their [Western governments'] ulterior political motives and agendas".

The statement said "Eritrea's inviolable rights for independent political choices and economic development should not be misconstrued and utilised as tools of harassment by certain external powers".