00:00Britain's Home Secretary has threatened to ban all Eritreans from entering the country
00:05unless Asmara agrees to the return of more small-boat migrants and convicted criminals.
00:11Shabana Mahmood says VIPs and officials from Eritrea have already been stripped of fast-track access to UK visas.
00:18And, as of Thursday, diplomats based in the UK will face restrictions on their movements outside London.
00:24It says they'll now be barred from travelling 60 kilometres beyond the capital without permission from the Home Office,
00:31mirroring similar restrictions placed on British officials in Asmara.
00:35The Home Office says the warning comes after Eritrea abruptly withdrew returns cooperation earlier this year
00:41and after months of efforts to resolve the matter privately.
00:46Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving in the UK by small boat in the year ending June 2026.
00:53The British government says returns arrangements are vital for failed asylum seekers and criminals.
00:59It says less than 4% of people whose claims were rejected in the past four years have been deported.
01:05Mahmood says other nations could face similar visa restrictions if they fail to accept migrant returns.
