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The Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP) reminded the African Union (AU) that it is expected by the UN Human Rights Council "to investigate, prosecute and bring to justice [Eritrean authorities] responsible for violations and abuses of human rights, including any that may amount to a crime against humanity."

In a memorandum addressed on 3 February 2017 to the newly elected AU Commission Chairman, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat,  the EPDP Chairman, Mr. Menghesteab Asmerom, congratulated the election of the Chadian foreign minister to head the executive body of the continental organization and urged him to waste no time in addressing the situation in Eritrea which the memo  described as "an utter shame to the very idea of African independence."

In the memorandum to the AU, also copied to the new AU chairman, Mr. Alpha Conde of Guinea, to his Ghanaian deputy, other eight commissioners and all African Heads of State who attended the 28th ordinary summit just ended in Addis Ababa, the EPDP chairman appealed to the AU Commission to heed to the call of the UN Human Rights Council decision of June 2016 and establish an accountability mechanism "to prosecute and bring to justice" the Eritrean authorities whose systematic crimes have been recorded in the 483-page report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea, and updates of the UN Special Human Rights Rapporteur to that country, where, according to the EPDP memo, "no  constitution exists after 26 years of its statehood; no basic human rights are respected; no freedoms of  press or assembly are allowed; no free worship permitted; no security to life is guaranteed; no free mobility; no private sector; no quality education at any level; literally no paid work, no pension system ....."

The 28th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the AU, held under the theme “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth” , was opened on 30 January with a call for unity to uphold the maintenance of peace and stability in the continent. It was attended by honour guests who included the new UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, and Mr.  Mahamoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine.