Nearly 100 people involved in brawl outside Melbourne community centre after protest against ‘corrupt’ regime in African nation of Eritrea turns nasty

A wild brawl has broken out outside a Melbourne shelter after protesters against the regime in the African country of Eritrea clashed with supporters.

The gathering in St Albans, in the north-west of the city, turned violent on Saturday when both groups began throwing stones and bricks and tearing down fences.

In the center, supporters of the Eritrean government held a cultural festival, while the protests were organized by members of the pro-democracy youth movement Birged Nhamedu, who wore distinctive blue clothing.

A fence was torn from the building and windows were smashed as more than 100 people from both sides joined in the brawl.

More than 14 people were injured and 10 were injured so badly that they required hospital treatment.

Blood could be seen on the ground outside the center on Saturday afternoon.

“It was not intended to be violent,” protester Senait Habtemariam told 7News.

‘I didn’t bring a gun. We went there to demonstrate in support of human rights, so we cannot take weapons with us.”

Eritrea in northeast Africa is widely regarded as having a corrupt government that has never had elections and the same president has been in power for 30 years.

The United Nations said in a 2016 report that the regime was involved in “crimes against humanity,” including the kidnappings and executions of its own citizens.

“It is considered the North Korea of ​​Africa,” Ms. Habtemariam said.

Similar protests among Eritrean communities in the US, Canada, London and Germany have also degenerated into violence.

Victoria Police are investigating the altercation, but no charges were laid Saturday evening.