These men, who were led by Isaias Afwerki (yellow arrow), left ELF to create what would arguably be one of the greatest revolution in modern history. They rejected tribalism, religious fundamentalism and sexism. They believed in equality and in empowering women. But above all, they believed in self reliance. When this picture was taken in 1974, all of Eritrea's independence hopes rested on the shoulders of a confident 27-year-old Isaias. He took on the challenge and led Eritrea to victory.

President Isaias Afewerki: The Founding Father

By Bereket Kidane,

It is common knowledge that President Isaias Afewerki (PIA) is the founding father of the Eritrean State. The objective evidence for that assertion is overwhelming. The Eritrean Liberation Front, with whom PIA started as a combatant, was riddled with tribalism and sectarianism in the 1960s and early 70s. It was only when he and his comrades split from the ELF and founded the EPLF that the Eritrean people became united and shed tribal and religious thinking. His record of accomplishment as the Secretary General of the EPLF and the first President of Eritrea is extraordinary.  PIA truly has been and still is Eritrea’s “Indispensable Man,” the essential man not only in winning independence  but also in successfully keeping Eritrea united and sovereign during its early vulnerable years.

People today forget how close the Eritrean sovereignty came to being put at great risk as a result of the extraordinary betrayals witnessed during Weyane’s Western-backed invasion. PIA was critical in preventing the collapse of the Eritrean State. Without his great skill as a unifier and without his charisma and vision, Eritrea would not exist today. It is a record of leadership without parallel in Africa or the Middle East. For that, he will always occupy a permanent place in the pantheon of Eritrean heroes.

He is also the essential man in guiding Eritrea at this juncture of its history. He has proven to be incorruptible. He leads by example. He is clearly the greatest Eritrean of his age and has been an inspirational figure worthy of both admiration and affection for nearly half a century now since he interrupted his university studies and dedicated his life to freeing his people. Resolute, determined and possessing a backbone made of steel, PIA is the rarest of men, a realistic visionary who combines a realistic view of human nature with a vision of what a free and united Eritrea could be for posterity. He has dedicated his entire life to making that vision a reality.

The West has always tried to undermine leaders of developing countries who can’t be bought and jealously guard their country’s resources while keeping their people united. In Eritrea’s case, they have tried everything to bring the government and its people down using their favorite useful idiot, Weyane. Although no one is above reproach, we have seen how Weyanes and their lackeys attack PIA, tegadeltis and even Hamid Idriss Awate (you can expect those attacks around September 1) as an indirect and sometimes direct way of attacking the very notion of a sovereign Eritrea. For all intents and purposes, an attack on PIA is an attack on the very notion of a sovereign Eritrea. For that reason, he will always be us and we will always be him.

Picture of Isaias in 1967 at the Nanjing Military College in China. The ELF sent him along with four other fighters to study political ideologies and guerrilla warfare. Standing L-R: 5th Isaias Afwerki, 6th Mahmoud Ibrahim Chekini/Cecchini, martyred 1972, 7th Ramadan Mohammed Nur, 9th Ahmed Adem Omer. Sitting L-R: 3rd Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed

Hands off Eritrea!

Eritrea: Lets keep our eyes on the prize

By Hillal,

Imagine that, 200 tanks and motorized vehicles were in a hot pursuit to annihilate you. Bombing and machine gunning you nonstop to hasten your demise. Batteries of artillery in the thousands were used simultaneously for maximum effect to turn the frontlines into an inferno.

Squadrons of Mig 21 fighters were shooting their missiles and dropping Napalm and cluster bombs. RPGs were shoot as if they mere bullets. In short, it was a rain of fire and hell on Earth. A Soviet war plan that is intended to incinerate the target area and designed to make certain that no living thing survives the onslaught.

Through sheer determination, gallantry, bravery and heroic acts, you managed to defend yourself, cut the enemy lines at their weakest points, entice the enemy to follow you with confidence and bravado to the trap you set for him for the final kill and stay alive with you command and control intact and your human and material fighting potential undegraded and ready to fight another day.

While this shock and awe type of war was being waged, the Eritrean masses were all part and parcel of the war effort. Seeing the people and the fighters fight in unison and in tandem, in these death defying loop sided war, makes you a firm believer that a people's revolution can't be defeated despite the enemy's superiority in armaments and size of its fighting force.

Eritreans were able to see beyond the horizon. They believed always that there was the sun behind the clouds. They were also aware that the struggle would be long and bitter, but their victory was certain. Compared to the challenges we went through during the armed struggle, our challenges today are just mere hiccups.

I am ecstatic and I am in a state of a political Nirvana. Starting with Fenkil, Wukaw 30, Independence Day, Bologna 40, Sawa 6th youth festival and 27th graduation and our festivals are rekindling the Eritrean spirit and Eritrean nationalism far and wide.

Above all, we paused to say thanks and pay tribute to our fallen heroes/heroines and renewed our vows and commitments to build the Eritrea of our dreams and worthy of our martyrs sacrifices.

To our delight and amusement we are watching the Eritrean traitors, enemies and detractors in disarray and in a state of mental anguish, pain and paranoia. These stinking political corpses are at war against the Eritrean people, nation and government. Like a drug addict desperately seeking his daily fix, badmouthing Eritrea is their career of choice and Isaias seems to be their drug of choice.

Like the bankrupt Greek merchant in the Greek proverb that is in the habit of moving his dwindling savings from one bank to the other banks to conceal his misfortune, the apostles of doom and gloom modus operandi are more or less the same - if not Isaias, it's the gov't; if not the govt, it's the EDF; if not the EDF, it's Shaebia; if not Shaebia, it's Sawa; if not Sawa, it's the YPFDJ; if not YPFDJ, it's our mothers ....etc..etc

Demonizing, defaming, discrediting and vilifying Eritrea, its people and govt is their blood sport. Anything and everything Eritrean is a fair game. Like a patient suffering from Schizophrenia they do it out in the open with no feeling of shame, guilt, rationality and self respect. For them, illusion is reality and once they set their own standards of reality different from accepted societal ones, than they are in the loony land and a place of no return.

War is a disaster. The human and material losses are drastic. It has the ability to tear down the fabric of a nation. It can affect the psychological makeup of the people and can destabilize a nation. There is a possibility for a nation to fail and even disintegrate. Thus, no one in the right frame of mind wants a war of any kind.

Like in the process of churning where the "churn" is suspended and swung back and forth until the foam, water, butter milk and butter are separated, the Weyanne war of aggression against Eritrea, despite all its undesirable side effects, had shown us like a mirror who is who in the Eritrean order of things. Thus, no Eritrean can be fooled by the wolves in sheep clothes, false apostles and messengers of doom and gloom and the Judases selling Eritrea for some Shekels.

We are watching with dismay and horror the mushrooming of the creation of failed and failing states around us. Destabilizing nations is the new form of warfare perfected by the western contractors and intel agencies. Embassies are converted into command centers and local nationals are hired to implement their evil agendas.

Economic sabotage, dis/misinformation and fabricating and manufacturing lies and deceit are parts of the game plan. With the corporate media becoming a propaganda tool of the state and special interest groups, manufacturing consent becomes so easy.

NGOs, regional and international organizations and institution are all infiltrated and financed by the powers that be. NGOs are in the frontlines working to destabilize nations.Wars are now described as humanitarian intervention, food is used as a weapon of war and NGO CEOs are the same advocates of war of past and present administrations.

It seems like every adjective in the political dictionary is used to melain Eritrea ad nauseum. But, a wise observer has the right to ask also why is Eritrea always in the eyes of the storm of the powers that be who are in the habit of bombing, droning, bullying, intimidating, harassing, colonizing, exploiting and raping nations.

The answer seems to be self evident. Eritrea was not supposed to be born. Its destiny was decided long time ago by the vultures. Eritreans defied the will of the monsters and never knelt down and fought against all odds and overcome insurmountable challenges to become masters of their own destiny.

A destiny written in blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices is a destiny that is certain to give birth to a unified, democratic, progressive, assertive, dynamic and self reliant Eritrea with an independent economic, political and diplomatic visions of its own. Rising like a Phoenix from the sand and standing like a Citadel on the Red Sea coast.

"La musica della notte" the music of the night, was the response/were the words of wisdom given by a calm, cool and collected Asmarino, when asked by a group of Italian journalists visiting Eritrea in the mid 70s for the causes of or reasons for the nightly sounds of gunfire in the outskirts of the city of Asmara.

The Eritrean camel is marching unfazed by the incessant screams, barking and howling of mad dogs of treason, enemies and detractors of Eritrea. The Eritrean God works in mysterious ways. As always, the Treason Mafia, will never disappoint us. This time they came with a novel idea. A Weyanne sponsored Eritrean Treason Mafia's Smerr G-A-Y parade in Bologna. The abuse and misuse of the traitors by all those with sinister agendas against Eritrea is mind boggling.

Afeworki Brhane flipping off Eritreans after several of his EYSC partners were arrested for attempting to vandalize the Eritrean Embassy in Washington D.C. - 01/29/13

The West Supports Criminal Behavior of Eritrean 'Opposition' Members 

By Alenalki,

Nowadays we are witnessing the term “human rights” are given a whole new meaning by those so called human right activists (hooligans) who propagate, preach and advocate for “democracy”, “freedom of expression” and “Human rights”.

We have learned that the same legitimate Human Rights Organizations, in the diaspora communities mobilizing a group of individuals which is preferably profiled criminals, people from the bottom of society or socially excluded individuals, labeling them as “Pro-democracy activists” or “Human Rights Activists” assist the organization they represent with funds and resources to win a certain predetermined politically motivated purpose /violence.

Reportedly in the west countries those hooligans have already cost taxpayers millions. Recent we have witnessed the arson, assault in the Eritrean communities in Sweden and vandalism of miscellaneous Eritrean community center facilities around the world. This primitive actions was executed by the same hooligans carrying out case for organizations who are presenting themselves as human rights defenders. How can this brutal terrorist act be justified by Human Rights Organizations?

Interesting that the same Human Rights Organizations advocating for “Human rights” counteracts its own purpose and principles, by searching, mobilizing & supporting individuals and groups which are profiled criminals and hooligans in the diaspora communities.

Past experience has taught us that this criminals who lives in the diaspora, will not make any significant impact concerning Eritrea’s political road map and the nation building process in Eritrea. They may possibly prolong the development and reconstruction of the country! But nothing else!!! And Eritrea know very well how to deal with this kind of criminals created by the west and supported by mainstream media!

In the long, what makes this crime and behavior as social phenomenon problem and a very dangerous game is, those individuals and groups lives and acts in the western countries. And the question is, are we in west prepared to deal with those hoodlums? When they turns against their clients (Uncle Tom) agenda or become an uncontrollable monsters. Because this is exactly what we are preparing to create today and there is no doubt that this day, when things will go out of control will come!

EYSC thugs being arrested after they attempted to vandalize the Eritrean Embassy in D.C. Photo: Sophia Tesfamariam/Embassy Staff

EYSC members arrested by D.C. police for attempting to vandalize the Eritrean Embassy in Washington D.C. - 1/29/13 - Photo Sophia Tesfamariam/Embassy Staff

Ariel view of Asmara at night

Eritrea’s Power Challenges

By Berhane Woldu,

At a conference in Asmara Eritrea, a person in the audience got up and decried the fact that there is acute power problem. The person’s concern was that the City of Asmara was becoming prone to blackouts, the inconveniences of the shortage of light and the use of surfing the internet. I was taken aback by the question and had wanted the person to sit down; but being rational and on topic was the way out. It means that recognizing that the question of power isn’t a moral issue. It is financial, environmental and technical.

As the saying goes Electricity is the issue of the “White Elephant”. The Ministry of Energy and mines has from the outset devised strategies to supply sufficient, reliable and cost effective energy supply that takes the ecosystem into account. The energy policy takes into account the social, economical and the benefits of future generation.

Presently, there is a huge difference in the demand and supply of power. This is due to greater power demand than its power production capacity. Prior to the nation’s independence the demand for power was limited. Electricity was-only supplied in the very few major cities with low population density and electrification was limited. After independence the distribution of electricity lines has been expanded to areas that were never beneficiaries.

The integrated national electricity network power supply has increased in terms of megawatts’. There was ample supply of power until the year of 2006 all the major cities were well supplied with electrical power and no blackouts were seen in the city of Asmara, Massawa or other major cities. However, as demand for power increased specially with the increase of distribution to the outskirt cities and villages, the supply and demand has not intersected.

The increase and update of the power supply at different intervals has not been sufficient with the increase in the use of power. Small industries, Hospitals, education facilities and the municipal services have increased immensely. These increases in service have increased the demand for electricity. Every household now has TV, Refrigeration, micro-wave, electric-oven and few have air-conditioned their living quarters. These and many other conspicuous consumption has stressed the system. The ministry of energy has updated the Hirgego power plant and it’s expected to resolve the power outages shortly. In-addition the use of generators and renewable energy is expanding. As the nation develops the demand for power will increase.

How is the future power supply to be addressed? Which economic sector are the priorities? Is it the industrial sector, Agro-industry or the electrification to every corner of the country for consumer consumption? What are our finical outlooks and capacity to fund these demands? What type of power plant? These are the conversation we need to have.

However demanding, there are plans and on-going work to satisfy energy supply demand through the expansion of electrification programs, introducing new generators and networking different areas that have not yet been covered through grids.

There are two major areas of concern in the general skim of development that has been given priority. Gedeme Cement Factory and the Gash-Barka region which is the center of the Agro-industry, known for its economic potentials, are priorities and amongst the recipients of this plan.

The Gedem Cement factory has been in less than its production capacity; with the nations plan in the housing projects and water conservation programs it has to be fully functional and productive in order to supply cement to the housing projects and dams that has been planned. Hence the Ministry of energy has been working in accomplishing Gedem’s cement factory own sources of power independent of other sources to enable its full production.

The Gash-Barka region with high potential in the Agro-industry and known for its economic miracles are priorties and recipient of this plan. The agro-industry has high power needs the projected sites like Omahger, Gerset, Fanco and the Tesene area. The Anseba region such as Alegader to the South Himbol to the West these projects are the Mother of All Integrated Power Priorities that is being worked on. The interconnected power supply will have to increase to over 300 Megawatts’. These and many power issues are being addressed as the ministry is working with different partners in types of power sources and the funding of these power projects.

As a nation we are not capable of nuclear power however there are a range of alternatives that we could work on such as geothermal energy, solar and wind energy. They have their own advantages and disadvantages but could be contributors to our power source even to the extent of fully powered on alternative renewable source of energy.

If we were to only use hydrocarbons and have no other alternatives what is the environmental consequences we have to contend with, what is the damage to human life? We are all aware of the power problem around the world. Some nations have shortages others have plenty of power yet they have problem with environmental issues. Nuclear power maybe nonpolluting but is a source of radioactive waste disposal problem and its radioactive leaks has killed many people and has caused environmental damages.

Going forward our plan should concentrate on two major power sources: conservation and renewable source. The ministry of energy needs to work on minimizing wastage of power by educating the population on conservation and encouraging the use of solar power to new buildings.

This is not to say the ministry has not done its job as it’s documented introduction of economical lamp in the Northern Red sea area, the use of wind energy in the Southern Red sea region and the introduction of modern equipment to prevent wastages during the process of transmission from one area to another are witness to the great job the ministry is doing in conservation. The Ministry has also expanded the use of natural gas for cooking purposes and introducing oven that use gas instead of electricity by building gas distribution tanker that cost 4 million euro in 2010 and new tanker that cost 10 million euro to supplement the use of electrical power.

As stated above the issue of power is not a simple issue it’s the issue of the “White Elephant” and one that cannot be accomplished within a short years of development. It needs a large amount of foreign currency, expertise and budget to service and run power.

For my friend who decried that Asmara is in the dark, I would like to say, if the priorities were to only to provide electricity to the cities, his concern would not have been an item for discussion. But the Nations mission is equal accesses to all regardless of location.

Much has been achieved in the electrification of the nation and increasing the source of power and more is to be done in the near future. The Eritrean people and government as has done in the past will overcome the power shortage through the culture of doing your best with whatever you have while building one thing at a time.

Percentage of population with access to electricity - Eritrea (32%), Ethiopia (17%), Kenya (16%), Uganda (9%), Sudan (36%)

Ethiopian General Tsadkan Gebretensae (L) during the Border War

How General Tsadkan Cried During the 1998-2000 Border War

By Bereket Kidane,

Translated from Tesfaye Gebreab’s recently published memoir of the 1998-2000 border war.

“Good morning Colonel?”

“Greetings Mr. Journalist”

“I appreciate your punctuality.”

“Well, I am a soldier aren’t I?”

“So let’s get to it. You had said that you were going to tell me all about General Tsadkan and the Tsorona Front. So where should we start?  Should we start from the beginning or middle?”

“I will just tell you things as they come to me and as I remember them.”

“Great!  Tell me things as they come to you and I will write them down and make sure they are passed on to future generations.”

Page 249

“Weyane took 10 divisions to the warfront against Eritrea.  Of those ten divisions, one was a fully mechanized division. There was also one brigade of commandos among them.  When war broke out in 1998, Weyane’s armed forces were ready to attack on four fronts, namely Burre, Zalambessa, Tsorona and Badme. The first round of the 1998 war was extremely screwed-up and gruesome. Looking back on it as a commander and a military professional, it was an extremely inept and embarrassingly flawed war plan from the beginning.  It was badly planned. It is very sad that no one to date has been held accountable for the wasted treasure in blood and national resources that was expended on the war effort.  We had anywhere from 250,000 to 300,000 of our soldiers killed on the war effort in Eritrea during the Haile Selassie and Dergue era.  But if we compare that to the Weyane era, in just one year we had 98,700 of our soldiers killed and 194,300 wounded. These are figures I got from our Ministry of Defense in Ethiopia. The figures I retrieved from the records of Ordinance Command is that two-thirds of our heavy weaponry was destroyed during the first round of Ethio-Eritrean border war.  The field generals of this nihilistic and meaningless war were Seare Mekonen, Samora Younis, Yohannes Gebremeskel, Tadesse Werede, Quarter (Abraha Woldemariam) and Berhane Negash.  The Central Command leaders were Meles Zenawi, Siye Abraha, Tewolde Woldemariam, Alemseghed Gebreamlak, Tefera Walwa, Tsadkan Gebretensae and Kinfe Gebremedhin.

Page 250

The Ethio-Eritrean War archive is still not open to the public. We may hear some really surprising stories in the future.  We can easily list some very basic military errors that were committed during the first round of the 1998 war.  Tadesse Werede was assigned to the Burre Front. The commands given to him were once he captures Assab, he would go up the Red Sea coastline destroying the Eritrean forces along the way and seize Massawa.  Abraha Woldegebriel was assigned to Tsorona while Berhane Negash was assigned to Zalambessa (the front that General Tsadkan closely supervised).  They would both attack from two directions and meet up in Segeneiti to combine forces and proceed to Asmara under a single command. Seare Mekonen, Yohannes Gebremeskel and Abebe Tadesse were to lead the Badme Front under close supervision from Samora.  They were instructed to capture and control the entire lowland of Eritrea.
Extensive military exercises and preparations were held for this military effort.  The ultimate mission of the war effort was also communicated at all levels to the military leaders.  There were many disagreements and debates on the final mission of the war. For instance, the Commander of the 23rd Division, Colonel Berhe Gebremariam, had asked many questions regarding the political loss and condemnation that would follow if they invade Eritrea, whether the Ethiopian Armed forces had any motivation to fight or if they could even be trusted.  He had asked for a revision of the war plan.  The response he received from General Tsadkan was “Unless we destroy Shaebia, we can not exist. Shaebia is weak.  Eritrea’s economy is weak.  We have the upper hand when it comes to armaments.  This is a decision made by the government so everyone has to follow it.”

Page 251

The lower level commanders were doubtful whether the mission could be accomplished. They were doubtful whether success could be achieved. Questions and doubts were also raised in the Badme and Burre fronts. But just as in the Adigrat meetings, the response received was “This is a government decision and has to be followed.”

So the war was carried out.

The war started with the Badme front. The three divisions that opened the attack suffered great human and material losses so an additional mechanized division and a commando brigade had to be added to the Badme front. Two additional divisions were also sent later to try again but the attack failed again.  The human and material losses were adding up. It became clear to General Tsadkan that things were not going according to plan in the Badme Front so he ordered to continue the attacks on the Tsorona Front instead.

The battle plan briefings were given at a place called Infara.  Separate preparations and exercises were held in the Tsorona front. 12,000 Tigrayan militias, 5000 plus civilians that would carry food and drinking water for the infantry forces as well as thousands of donkeys and horses were commissioned for this battle plan. All of the militias, civilians and thousands of donkeys and horses that were assembled for this offensive in this small patch of land were wiped out within a week.

The large 20th mechanized division was completely destroyed and turned to ash at Igri Mekel. Tanks and locomotives were all burnt and turned into charcoal.  Shaebia easily received and killed our forces by firing heavy artillery from cannons placed in Zalambessa, Mai Ayni and Adi Quala.  This is not necessarily a matter of heroism on Shaebia’s part but rather the ignorance and incompetence of our military leaders.  Our troops were completely liquidated and made to drop like leaves.  The ones spared of this slaughter and the Militia Sirnays retreated back to Adwa.

Page 252

After the 1-week battle plan failed miserably and concluded with great military losses the general who was in charge of the war, Tsadkan Gebretensae, called a meeting at Infara, the place that was serving as the Command and Control Center. General Tsadkan tried to call the meeting to order but he could not hide his emotions and broke down crying. He wept. All of the meeting participants cried with him. Infara was like a funeral home. Once he gained his composure, he tried to comfort the meeting participants. Everyone was crying.  General Tsadkan said the following to the meeting participants, “I have led many battles in my career.  I have fought in many wars.  I have seen a lot.  I have never experienced this kind of utter failure.  It is bad.”

The reason the meeting was called was to assess the situation and find solutions to the problems.  Meeting participants agreed that there were two basic problems. The challenging landscape and defective battle plans were equally to blame. The landscape is favorable to the enemy because the enemy is in a defensive position. Also, there was no adequate preparation on our part. We didn’t size up the enemy and its strength correctly. We underestimated the enemy’s capabilities. The enemy is using the landscape to his advantage and rotating forces and battle plans as he wishes. Without going into great details, we concluded the meeting at that. Using that as a starting point, we collectively decided to disard the offensive battle plans for Zalambessa and Burre.  In order to beef up our fighting capability, it was decided that a committee led by General Abebe Teklehaymanot would go on a shopping spree for the air and ground forces. Bereket Simon was to lead the conscription of massive number of troops.  Aba Dula was to supervise the training of the conscripts.  The number of divisions was to increase from 12 to 30 in a short period of time.  Until then, the troops would stay in a defensive position.

Page 253

Tsadkan communicated to the senior commanders gathered at Infara (division level commanders and up) that the latest decisions were made at the Central Command level. We were told to prepare according to those battle plans handed down from Central Command. We were trained for a full year accordingly.  In April of 1999 Tsadkan, Jebe and Aba Dula gathered us in Makele and shared the general battle plan with us.

The 1998 and 1999 plans differed in one respect.  The mission of the 1998 plan was to capture the entire Eritrea.  The 1999 plan was a scaled back version and simply stated to continue the war as long as our ammunitions and capabilities would allow us to last. The 1998 plan explicitly stated once we enter Eritrea we would destroy Eritrea’s natural resources and properties. It also mentioned that the people should not be trusted since they are Shaebia supporters. The 1999 plan did not make such explicit pronouncements.  It did, however, say in one sentence that since the people are Shaebia supporters we have to be cautious.

At the end of April 1999, the war re-started in the Badme front.  Even though we suffered great losses, we were able to reach Barentu. But the commanders were communicating to Tsadkan that Shaebia had preserved its entire troops and fighting capability through strategic withdrawals and that its losses were minimal.  The commanders were warning Tsadkan that Shaebia was lulling us to a place inside Eritrea were it would encircle and liquidate us. Moreover, the commanders were telling Tsadkan that the deeper we got into Eritrea the farther away we were from our command centers and supply lines, lacking organizational support and that the only option was to retreat.

After the Badme Front, without assessing the results and analyzing the problems experienced in that front we hurriedly opened simultaneous attacks on the Tsorona and Zalambessa fronts.  The rationale being if we start with the Badme Front Shaebia can bring most of its reinforcements quickly to that front so other fronts had to be explored. However, nothing went according to plan for us.

Page 254

Even though the battle plan was not going according to script and not achieving its goals in any of the three fronts that were opened around the same time, another front was to open within a short period of time. Some of the leaders started thinking if we capture Assab through the Burre Front, we can score a huge moral and psychological victory. The main reasoning that led to this idea of capturing Assab was that it would be a surprise attack and that the enemy would be unprepared because it wasn’t expecting an attack on that front. Since we have already had discussions with the Djibouti Government, we can bring our forces through Djibouti and launch our attack from there and create very ideal circumstances for the battle plan. However, there were many questions that popped up during this initiative’s briefings. For instance, the 36^th Division Commander Colonel Mohammed Isha, the 39^th Division Commander Colonel Wondesen Teka and the 14^th Division Commander Colonel Wedi Abate raised the following question: “The only thing we have done so far is have Shaebia go into a strategic withdrawal but have not accomplished any of our goals. We have no concrete achievements to speak of. And we have paid a huge price for this and suffered tremendous losses. As a result of the losses we suffered, our troop’s morale is very low. Burre’s climate and landscape are very difficult. We do not have enough logistics or preparations. We can not count on luck because we can just as easily have bad luck and get wiped out. So far, everything we have been told about the enemy has been wrong.” The question raised by the colonels led to some heated discussions. In the end, even though no convincing argument was put forth in favor of proceeding with the battle plan, we were told that it was an irreversible decision made by the government to capture Assab so we had to proceed. The Assab Campaign was carried out and fought for five consecutive weeks. The results turned out to be even worse than we had imagined and worse than any of the setbacks we previously experienced in the other fronts. Our forces experienced the worst and greatest defeats at the Burre Front. Shaebia’s method of leading its enemy to places where it can liquidate them was used extensively again in the Burre Front and forced us to suffer tremendous losses and abandon our plan of capturing Assab.

From the very beginning , the Ethio-Eritrean turned out to be….

Andargachew Tsige

THE REGIME IN ETHIOPIA CONTINUES TO WIN MORE BATTLES BEFORE LOSING THE WAR

By Yohannes Kifle,


The abduction of Andergachew Tsige was the latest drama the regime in Ethiopia was able to stockpile in its backyard in an effort to prevent the inevitable. The regime in Ethiopia, with no substantial victory to claim since 1991, is eager to score small victories against its rivals to prolong its existence. Those victories are proved to be short-lived with diminishing return. In fact, it is those types of mini victories that are the cause of widening the regime’s vulnerability. Furthermore, the regime’s main supporters, be it politically or financially, may not be able to circumvent the well-deserved criticism. The British government is one of the staunch supporters of the regime. Given the fact that Andergachew Tsige is a British citizen, one would expect the country that offered him a citizenship would protect him just like any other citizen would be protected. The British government miserably failed its own citizen, Andergatchew, by negotiating unofficially and asking the regime to spare his life. In other words, the British government take on this is that “do what you have to do just don’t execute him”. It wasn’t long ago the British government demanded access to its citizens that were found breaking the law by entering illegally the sovereign Eritrean territory while armed. One should expect the British government to exert the same amount of pressure against the regime in Ethiopia while asking clarification from the government of Yemen behind its illegal action against a British citizen. You do not handover a citizen of one country to another without consulting the home country. The question is: Was the British government consulted about the possible handover? Those who are blessed with commonsense would think that is the case.

The ramifications of the regime’s action, for the past few years, were well documented as the political bankruptcy to the regime and its supporters has become more evident. The question is: How much of the latest stunt it managed to pull off, with the help of the Government of Yemen and the British government looking the other way, is going to expedite to its demise that is inescapable. For the regime in Ethiopia, a collection of small battles here and there against its enemies will become a road map to the ultimate defeat. Andergachew’s abduction may bring instant gratification and bragging right to the regime in Ethiopia. While the Yemenis and the British governments may have to deal with the nuisance it comes with the baggage for their actions in foreseeable future, once the instant gratification is worn out and the thrill is gone, what is to follow behind should be a concern to the regime in Ethiopia and perhaps to its supporters. Winning the battle but losing the war is the regime’s modus operandi.

Italian firm Gruppo Italiano Construzioni was contracted by Eritrea to develop 1,680 modern homes and shops in Asmara

Industrialization and Global Value Chains in Eritrea

By Afribiz,

The Government of Eritrea considers global value chains as one of the main engines for reducing economic volatility and improving growth. Major activities within the value chain are currently performed in the provision of ancillary services, production of agricultural goods, processing, natural-resource extraction, and sales and marketing. The mining sector has been the biggest area of attraction with more than 14 mining and exploration firms from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, Libya, the United Arab Emirates and the UK involved.

In the agricultural sector, China-based firms are increasingly investing in the construction of cold food-storage facilities, an aluminium-tin manufacturing plant and a high-quality PVC agriculture drip-irrigation pipe-production line. The government is strongly encouraging companies and individuals to invest in building residential housing, roads, airports, ports and hospitals. In the housing sector, Gruppo Italiano Costruzioni, an Italian firm, is constructing 1680 housing units in the capital city, Asmara, as well as several housing projects and a resort in Massawa. The main drivers of the development initiatives are embedded in the country’s commitment to development through a self-reliance policy.

The Eritrean Investment Centre has been reaching out to potential investors and has provided assurances of protection to investors in the country. The government also introduced a crash program for export take-off designed to penetrate the European and US markets (through the US Africa Growth and Opportunities Act, 2000). Eritrea was thus able to export textiles/garments to the United States free of duty and free of quota restrictions up to 2008.

Overall, the impact of the country’s participation in the value chain is noticeable, particularly in job creation, infrastructure and capacity development and in increased revenue inflows. Direct and indirect employment associated with the Bisha mine only is expected to amount to as many as 700 jobs when in full operation.

The growth potential of agriculture has not been fully exploited mainly due to low connectivity of the production locations, low levels of value addition and low productivity. The fishing value chains are relatively well-developed, but there is considerable room for improvement. Key investment opportunities in the fisheries subsector provide a potential of 90 000 km² of fishing grounds, with an estimated annual production potential of between 65 000 t and 70 000 t of fish and other marine produce. Demand for fish exceeds supply in urban areas and there is latitude for increased domestic consumption. In addition, the Eritrea fisheries sector has the potential to contribute significantly to Eritrean food security, foreign-exchange earnings and job creation.

The tourism sector has huge potential based on the scenic and topographic diversity of the country as well as on its history, in addition to a long coastal line of pristine sandy beaches, many islands and clear water with abundant marine life. There are also good investment opportunities in developing the historical and cultural heritage of the country.

Investment in exploration activities for reserves of oil, natural gas and other minerals provide a potential source for the expansion of export receipts. Offshore-oil and natural-gas exploration are specific areas of potential investment.

In spite of these investment opportunities, the country faces many challenges, amongst which low productivity in agriculture attributed to archaic farming practices and a land-tenure system that vests ownership of land to the government.

Exploitation of the existing economic opportunities in Eritrea will require not only the commitment of the Government of Eritrea and its people, but also regional integration and international trade. The country therefore needs to undertake effective policy reforms, including regional co-operation and integration policies, and develop a strong infrastructure base in addition to the provision of sufficient energy, transport, communication and physical marketing facilities, as well as adequate institutional and human-resource capacity and incentives. For example, with adequate policy reforms and investment, there is ample room for accelerated agricultural development. By using modern cultivation, fertilization, plant-protection and water conservation techniques, large quantities of food crops, exports and raw materials for industrial enterprises can be produced. The development of irrigated agriculture in the lowland river basins is highly promising.

In the medium-term, Eritrea should consider the following key measures:

• Actions to deepen the value chain must be driven by market opportunities and demands. Here, the Government of Eritrea must address barriers such as high infrastructure costs, lack of access to finance (capital) and the limited availability of skilled workers and appropriate incentives. In particular, it must address barriers facing small and medium-sized firms, as these provide greater opportunities to deepen the value chain within the major economic sectors.


• Policies aimed at supporting private-sector development in manufacturing and primary input processing are also useful. There is great potential for Eritrea in processing agro-food products for export.


• The government’s forthcoming development plan emphasizes the move into higher value added activities. The government needs to consolidate these plans into one national plan and detail out synergies across sectors. It should further develop a business environment through the creation of supply-chain linkages between foreign and local firms in formal manufacturing in order to foster the emergence of local manufacturing firms capable of subcontracting tasks and subsequently competing with foreign firms. This will encourage domestic firms to become more innovative and raise labor productivity in order to work with multinational enterprises.


• To improve the country’s business climate, the government should make efforts to develop human skills further and provide appropriate incentives in order to respond to labor-market demands. The government, with assistance from the AfDB, is developing the required skills and technical expertise through a vocational and technical training program. The government has asked the AfDB to support the program continuously over the medium term in order to close the skills gap in the country.

Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Deslegan

ETHIOPIA: WOYANE REGIME STEPWAY FROM ITS OWN COFFIN!

Mark Twain, “The government is merely a servant―merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.” Unfortunately, the Ethiopian Woyane regime has never been a servant to Ethiopians but a totalitarian regime who has been on mission for the last several decades in bring a totality of terrors not only in Ethiopia but also in Horn of Africa as well. For the last several decades, slowly but surely, the regime has been putting nails on its own coffin. Time has arrived for the regime to put the ‘the last nail on its coffin’. Since the helm of the regime, it has been a catalytic burner in producing tribal conflicts, religious conflicts, ethnic cleansing, genocide, border disputes, land grabbing and etc. Therefore, the regime has created a diversity of nemesis from all angles. Who are the major nemesis that could seal the faith of the regime? Who are from the nemesis that is ultimately going to put the regime in its own coffin?

TIGRAYAN PEOPLE: The Tigrayan people are the foundation of springboard of Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) movement. Sadly, Tigrayans, in the last century, has faced a major hardship from the Ethiopian government particularly under former Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam regime-known as Derg. Therefore, the Tigrayans has decided to stand up for their self-determination rights in eradicating the ethnic cleansing, abject poverty, chronic diseases…and etc. With help of Eritrean people, the TPLF has gradually become a formidable nemesis to the Derg regime in Tigrai. Unfortunately, the Tigrayan people were immediately betrayed once the TPLF regime roamed into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The betrayal of TPLF regime which has been a huge blow to the fabrics of society for the majority of Tigrayan people. The Tigrayan people has shed their loved ones bloods to full-fill their long-term aspirations of becoming a people who are free from abject poverty, chronic diseases, and corruptions. Instead, the TPLF has only been delivering endless of terror in its people. Indeed, the majority of Tigrayan people have discorded themselves from the TPLF regime. Perhaps the minority of Tigrayan people who have gained immense wealth under the TPLF regime. Certainly, the diaspora Tigrayans have finally awaken in small factions such as California, Washington, Texas, New York, Chicago, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Chicago, Atlanta, and Europe, all over the world against the tyrant’s regime because the majority of Tigrayan people are peaceful and hard-working who are aspired to live in harmony with all tribes and neighbors. The Tigrayan people have finally awaken against tyrant’s regime.

AMHARA PEOPLE: When the TPLF liberators roamed into Addis Ababa, the Amhara people did not waited with rosy flowers to welcome the Tigrayan fighters. Yet, the liberators were immediately perceived as invaders with mighty weapons in their soils. Historical speaking, no foreigner’s army has won the minds and hearts of the native people. For instance, Developed Countries with their mighty armies could not sustain for a long time on their residency in a foreign land. The Amhara people have certainly illustrated the world in a uniform mode of democracy that they do not welcome the TPLF’s liberator in Ethiopia. For example, the 2005 election was a hallmark in which a majority of Amhara people voted against the tyrant’s regime. The election outcome certainly indicated that the Amhara people would like the regime to depart from their lands. The aftermath of the election, consequently the Amhara are constantly being hunted down inside or outside of Ethiopia. According to the tyrant’s regime, every Amhara people are considered to be a terrorists. Certainly, this is a symptom of paranoia that the TPLF regime had acquired once it was considered to be an unwelcome aliens. The Amhara people, all over the world, have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

OGADEN PEOPLE: The Horn of Africa has definitely seen colossal of humanitarian crisis in the Ogaden region. The Ogaden people has been victimized by the TPLF region for many years without the International Communities awareness. However, Sweden is first European country to have awareness on the unprecedented humanity violations against Ogaden people. The Human Rights Watch has substantially recorded evidences on the regime committing heinous crimes against children, women, and elderly. The Ogaden people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

ANUAKE PEOPLE: From 2004 to 2006, the TPLF regime was on mission to ethnic cleansing the Anuake tribe from its ancestral land. December of 2004, the regime had killed 400 from Anuake Tribe just in one day. The TPLF has decided to eradicate the tribe from its land because the regime wants it for investors. There are more than 2000 Anuake tribe residing in United States after fleeing the ethnical cleansing in their village.Indeed, the Anuke people have finally Awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

BENISHANGUL PEOPLE: The TPLF regime has systematically taken the fertile lowlands from Benishangul tribe and give it to the Tigrayan businessmen. Also, the regime has indiscriminately murdered many young men who are innocent and do not have any relationship with the guerilla fighters of Benishangul. There are daily conflicts in the Benishangul-Gumuz region because of land’s policy the regime has introduced on the people of Benishangul. The Benishangul people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

NUER PEOPLE: The inhabitant of the tribe is in southwestern of Ethiopia in the Nile Valley. For thousands years, the tribe has lived in the Nile of Valley lands. However, the regime has been on mission to eradicate the minority tribe from their ancestral lands. Majority of tribe has fled the ethnic cleansing by fleeing to nearby countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. The Nuer people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

OROMO PEOPLE: The majority population of Ethiopia are the Oromo. The Oromo tribe has been victimized by all predecessor of Ethiopian regime. However, the TPLF has been the worst regime that the Oromo people have ever seen. On daily basis in Ethiopia, there are conflicts between Tigrayans and Oromans all over the country. The TPLF regime has systematically taken the Oromo’s lands and distributed to the Tigrayan businessmen. The Oromo, like their counterpart Amhara, are labelled with terrorism. The regime has been on spree of indiscriminately killing children, women, and elderly who do not have any relationship with the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Indeed, the regime has symptom of paranoia. Oromo people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

SOMALI PEOPLE: In 2006, the TPLF regime has invaded Somalia in which it was under the reign of the Islamic Court Union (ICU). Since then, the regime has brought not but a terror to Somalian society. Sadly, millions of Somalian refugees have become a homeless inside Somalia. The fortunate Somalis were able to flee to the neighbor countries such Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Today, Somalia is known for piracy and lawless lands. Somali people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.

As American will say, “He cooked his own goose”: Perhaps it is unfathomable to reckon that TPLF’s liberator in just two decades has become a terror and invader in Horn of Africa. The regime has caused endless of horrors and unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the regions. A variety of indigenous tribes have lived in serenity and harmony in the Nile of Valley for thousands of centuries. However, these tribes have eradicated from their ancestral lands because the regime have great interests in their lands. Today, the regime has surrounded itself with proliferation of nemeses in all region of Ethiopia. Certainly, perhaps it is going to be the Tigrayan people who are going to seal the faith of the TPLF regime in its own coffin with the last nail left. Perhaps the betrayal of Tigrayan people is the final blow for the regime to be seal in its coffin.

Yosef Tesfasilase
Wetru Awet-n-Hafash
Zel-alemawi Zikri-n-Sema-e-Tatna!

The State of Eritrea appoints ambassador Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Jalil as the new ambassador to Yemen

New Eritrean ambassador presents credentials to Yemeni Deputy FM

By SabaNews,

SANA'A, July 24 (Saba) - Deputy Foreign Minister Amir al-Aidaros received on Thursday a copy of credentials of a new Eritrean ambassador Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Jalil.

During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries.

The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that the Ministry will provide all support and cooperation to facilitate his diplomatic mission in the country.

Muriel in Asmara depicting the challenges Eritrea has faced in its modern history - the camel represents Eritrea overcoming these challenges -(Credit: DJ Adulis 'Chedo' Mokanan)

Eritreans Request the Government of Eritrea to Sue Britain and the United States

By Alula Abraha,

Dear all,

We're pleased to inform you that concerned Eritreans & friends of Eritrea have finally initiated a process to request the Government of Eritrea to sue the British Government for compensation for the wanton theft of several infrastructures, including the world's longest cable-car that stretched from the capital Asmara to the port city of Massawa, during the British Military administration/occupation of Eritrea from 1941-1952. The total amount looted is estimated to be worth Billions of Dollars & can help build hundreds of schools & Hospitals across the country.

Besides, we urge the government of Eritrea to also sue the US government, whose hegemonic foreign policy had prioritised (& still does) its insatiable foreign policy interest at the expense of the very human & democratic right of the people of Eritrea, when the US, unilaterally, sanctioned the unfair federation of Eritrea with & later illegally annexed by its ally Ethiopia & this is how the then US Secretary of State, John Foster Dallas, arrogantly uttered on record in 1952 just days before his government condemned Eritrea to a further occupation & colonisation by its client State (AKA "ally").

"From the point of view of justice, the opinions of the Eritrean people must receive consideration. Nevertheless the strategic interests of the United States in the Red Sea basin and considerations of security and world peace make it necessary that the country has to be linked with our ally, Ethiopia."

Such policy was & is the cause for the suffering of Eritreans for almost half a century & the very reason that had triggered a bitter 30 war for independence that Eritreans freedom fighters eventually concluded their struggle to its legal ending, rightfully so, 52 years after Eritreans were actually denied the same inalienable rights. As a result, the people of Eritrea paid heavy sacrifice costing over 100,000 of its dear children in order to right the wrongs perpetrated by successive occupiers/colonisers assisted by successive world powers.

So from the point of justice, we urge all Eritreans & fellow citizen of the world to support the just fight against injustices.

Eritrean Air Force in 1928 - Eritreans were the first black Africans to fly planes. Click on image to enlarge (Credit: Issayas Tesfamariam)

Eritreans Introduced Modernization to Ethiopia 

By Barnabas Araya Yohannes,

Eritrea is so illuminated by Italian architectures raised in Asmara, Keren, Mendefera, Massawa, Asab, etc. with endless chain of beautiful homes in which masculine strength of outward form is always balanced by feminine grace and delicacy of interior ornaments.

In these sprawling villas-some with 25 rooms- all comforts and elegances were gathered: mosaic floors, columned halls, landscape murals, chandeliers, sculptures in marble and bronze, great fireplaces and baths, gardens and tennis courts, and environing woods in which ladies and gentlemen might hunt with all the glamour of falconry.

They brought not only magnificent marbles and bronze doors, but their craftsmen also adorned the interiors of their homes with mosaics, enamels, and artistry in metal, ivory, and wood.

Perhaps, out of all the Italian works, the most advanced and complex work was the 2400 m. Massawa-Asmara Cableway (La Teleferica) for transporting goods and services to and from the port to the capital. It was built in 1938/39.

The greater number Italian merchants and craftsmen became powerful corporations; they dealt in a variety of goods, purchased raw materials wholesale, organized the food supply and sewage disposals of the towns, paved streets, built highways, roads, bridges, tunnels, utilities, and docks, deepened harbors, policed highways, supervised markets, regulated wages, hours, conditions of labor, terms of apprenticeship, methods of production and sale, prices of materials and wares.

They brought their own minted currency, ordered and supervised public works, organized the food supply, forbade forestalling, engrossing, or leveling prices, brought seller and buyer into direct contact at markets and fairs, examined weights and measures, inspected commodities, punished adulteration of products, controlled exports and imports, stored grain for lean years, provided grain at fair prices in emergencies, and regulated the prices of essential foods, wine, and beer.

We must not forget, when the Italians were building and operating all these infrastructures, the Eritreans were working as paid laborers. Thus, through their engineers and craftsmen, Eritreans learned architecture, woodwork, metalwork, mechanical, textile and electrical skills. By the time the Italians left Eritrea (1947), the Eritreans were the most experienced and most skilled people in Africa. Once the Eritreans learned these skills, they went to Ethiopia and opened the eyes of the Ethiopians towards modernization.

Before, the Ethiopians were building their homes with water and mud. Then the Eritreans taught them building homes with bricks, marbles, and stones. Even their kings were walking barefoot and wearing only jalabiya (a long shirt); and some of their tribes were still naked. It was the Eritreans that built their cities, opened their first garage shops, adorned their women with fashionable sweaters, skirts, exquisite shoes, and their men with appealing pants and stylish shirts by opening the first tailoring, the first boutiques, the first shoe shops, and the first sweater factories.

Until the Eritreans came to Ethiopia, even their capital city Addis Ababa did not have a sewer system, let alone other cities. The Eritreans not only beautified the city, they were also the first to open and operate many car and truck servicing companies. Eritreans were among the richest owners of agricultural, mechanical, technical, and electrical turfs.

Ethiopia owes that vibrant awakening which caused and resulted in the flowering of Ethiopia’s new beginning towards modernization. However, unfortunately, Eritrea’s contribution to the modernization of Ethiopia is unappreciated.

Asmara during the British occupation of the 1940s. Eritreans are calling on the Government of Eritrea to sue the British government for billions of dollars of theft from Eritrea during its administration between 1941-1952.

Why the British Looted Eritrea During Its Occupation

By Barnabas Araya Yohannes,

In the years to come, after winning Eritrea, the British became obsessed with it. Those who claim that they were entrusted by the Europeans to care for Eritrea, were not sitting idle.

According to Sylvia Pankhurst (in her book, Eritrea on the Eve), the naval base in the port of Massawa, built to hold 1,000 sailors, had been bulldozed to the ground. Navy headquarters, a 500-bed hospital with its air-conditioning plant, the oil storage tankers, main water supply tanks, electricity units, naval warehouse, customs offices –more than 75 building in all –had been reduced to dust and rubble.

She alleges that they spared no time in dismantling industrial equipment and stripping wood, iron, steel, and gone to benefit British-run territories in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

She said, in Massawa, they dismantled cement factories and sent to Sudan, an aerodrome (a small airport) had been sold to Egypt. A dredger (machinery that works from inside the sea) had been sold; a floating dock and two giant cranes had been dispatched to Pakistan, Egypt and Malta; while 500 oil reservoirs had been razed and 20 radio stations dismantled. Furthermore, along the coast at the town of Zula, 400 Italian officers’ houses had been demolished; in Fatma Dari, a potash factory sold

In Zula, 5.7 km of rail tracks 850 railway points, 3 tons of bolts, 20 turntables and 71 trucks had been sent to Kenya. Another 1,500 m of barbed wire, 3 small cranes, 1 steel Jetty, 1 steel signal, and 1 steel hut had also been sold back to Italy.

In Asab, she claims, a radio station had been transported to Kenya, salt factory dispatched to Aden and the motors of scuttled ships removed for sale. Three hundred railroad wagons, plus rail construction material imported by the Italians to connect Agordat with the Ethiopian town of Gonder, had been sold off, as had the motors running Eritrea’s remarkable 75 km (47 mi) 1937–1941 Asmara – Massawa aerial ropeway (La Teleferica).

In Gora, another aerodrome (small airport) had been demolished and exported to India.

In total, they have dismantled and exported more than 600 heavy and light industries. Trevaskis, who served as a British colonial officer in Eritrea, in his book Eritrea: A colony in Transition, lets slip the fact that Eritrea’s gold production in Bisha had been crippled and the allied forces removed the mining equipment, whose replacements were difficult and often impossible to obtain. The Eritrean fishing industries were similarly crippled by the acquisition of irreplaceable equipment. He estimates that the total lost assets were anyway: 1,700-million African shillings (the equivalent of 2.26 million British pounds or 3.84 million US Dollars.)

Did the British act legally? Appointed by the UN as care takers, the British administration had the duty to preserve and cherish assets in situ. Obviously, it has abused that trust. The reason behind all these hideous sabotages appears to make Eritrea crippled; and then, once crippled, they could make their case that Eritrea is unable to stand on its own; therefore, it must be annexed with Ethiopia --and that is exactly what they did. The evidence is the British government received from Ethiopia a sum of £950,000 (a hefty £1.2-million or 2.01-million dollars in today’s currency) when it finally ceded control of Eritrea.

Picture: Ethiopian youths who escaped to Eritrea to join Tigray Peoples Democratic Front (TPDM). TPDM is regarded as one of the largest rebel groups in Africa that aims to topple the brutal Ethiopian dictatorship.

Belligerent Ethiopian regime moves army towards the Eritrean border

By ESAT,

Following the recent meeting between Ethiopian securities in the Prime Minister's Office, the ruling Front, EPRDF, has started deploying a large number of soldiers and heavy weaponry to Shire, Tekeze, Wolqayiet, Metema, Armachiho areas of Northern Ethiopia.

Frightened by the reactions of the people in Northern Ethiopia since the abduction and arrest of Andargachew Tsige, Secretary General of the Ginbot 7 Movement, the Front has deployed an increased number of the Force to crush any form of "protest".

The regime's intelligence in the Northern part of the Country had tipped the securities that Ginbot 7 may advance to the Capital by distributing weapons to the farmers in cooperation with the Eritrean government. The Front has now distributed modern telephones to its members and investors found in the
region to do intelligence work.

Currently, when the number of the members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force that defect is increasing, the regime's new call for new recruits is not receiving enough responses.

The defecting soldiers state that the Defense Force is at a low moral due to nepotistic organisation and structure, poor quality of the meal provided and the high cost of living.

Meanwhile, sources say EPRDF is at a risk of break up. The ruthless actions of the EPRDF leadership especially following the death of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, has annoyed and raised eyebrows even among the members of the Front.

The continuation of the accusations and arrest of opposition parties and leaders under the pretext of the anti-terror law has ignited strong opposition and whinging within the lower and middle starta of the Front.

The Front does not have its own ways of solving internal differences other than evaluation and the fact that it took violent measures against the larger population of the Muslim community during the Ramadan fasting season fuelled the opposition within the Front.

The sources say EPRDF has collided with opposition parties, journalists, the civil society, members of the association of the Orthodox Christian faith group of Mehabre Kidusan and also with the majority of the public that is living under the poverty threshold, which makes it clear that it cannot be elected in a democratic manner and therefore, it has decided to forcefully crush any form of protest.

The rise of such members that oppose these actions is one of the signs that the regime is at a high risk of break up, the sources note.

Alemitu Heroye and Alemitu Hawi of Ethiopia cross the finish line to finish first and second respectively in the women’s 5000m during day two of the IAAF World Junior Championships at Hayward Field on July 23, 2014 in Eugene, Oregon. (Image Credit: Johnathan Ferrey/Getty Images North America)

Four Ethiopian Athletes Missing From Oregon Track Meet

By Brenda Owen,

Four members of an Ethiopian track team were reported missing Saturday morning in Eugene where they competed in the IAAF World Junior Championships.

"The individuals left campus ahead of the rest of the team," said Julie Brown, University of Oregon spokeswoman.

The Ethiopian region is under intense political upheaval, and athletes seeking asylum from unstable areas have historically used athletic tournaments to leave their country. Asked whether that was the case for the Ethiopians, Brown said she did not know why they left and could not confirm they were seeking asylum.

Brown said detectives are looking for the four but are not concerned for their safety. Rather, they want to make direct contact to confirm they are OK.

"At this point we don't have reason to believe that these individuals are in harm's way," she said.

The University of Oregon Police Department is leading a missing persons investigation with assistance from the Eugene Police Department, and Brown said law enforcement agencies statewide have been notified.

Portland FBI Spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said the agency was aware of the situation and was acting in a supporting role, without clarifying.

It is the first time the University of Oregon has hosted the IAAF World Junior Championships, which includes with athletes from 170 countries, Brown said.

The missing runners include a 17-year-old boy and three women believed to be between ages 18 to 20.

Ethiopians at the track meet declined, throughout the team doctor, to speak to a reporter from The Oregonian.

If the four are seeking asylum, the process is a long one that starts with an application available online, said attorney Anna Ciesielski of the Oregon Immigration Group.

"They're likely to be here lawfully depending on their visa (for the track competition)," Ciesielski said.

After they apply for asylum, they will continue to be in the United States legally until their case is resolved.

"It's definitely months in the making," Cielsielski said.

Those seeking asylum must be fingerprinted and go through a criminal background check before the Office of Asylum in San Francisco sends a representative to Portland to interview them, she said.

If a person is denied, they can present their case in federal immigration court for a second assessment.

Asylum seekers are more common on the East Coast than in Oregon, Cielsielski said.

"It's really hard to get to the U.S., and you can't file for asylum outside the country," she said.

As for their chances to be granted asylum, Cielsielski said it's difficult for people from many countries, but Ethiopians and Somalis "have a pretty decent chance."

Eritrea: Seeking the truth amidst the cloud of disinformation

By Hillal,

We are living in an information age. Information is power and should be pursued diligently. But, with the Think Tanks and the media becoming serial liars getting the truth amidst the cloud of dis/misinformation is easier said then done.

Eritreans had to endure the brutality and humiliation of the Turkish, Egyptian, Italian, British and Ethiopian colonialisms for more than a century. Throughout this painful period in our history, we have to fight against all odds and overcome insurmountable challenges. We never kneeled down and never waited, asked or begged others to fight our fights for us.

No body came to our defense or gave us a helping hand. Like a lack of a draw we had to fight against the western and eastern camps of the Cold War. It seemed as if the entire world was directly or indirectly helping the Ethiopian war effort. All the so called regional and international organizations' charters were not worth the papers they were written on.

All the NGOs and other humanitarian organizations and democracy advocates were never to be found. Eritreans were destined to be the sacrificial lambs for the unjust, immoral, erroneous, militaristic and adventurous strategic global interests of the powers that be. Every conceivable military, political, economic, social and cultural warfare were unleashed against us to extinguish the Eritrean dream.

Like in the armed struggle for independence, today the political conspiracies woven to isolate
us, economic blockades erected to weaken us, wars of aggression conducted to destroy and annihilate us and psyops launched to frighten, scare and sow discord, disunity and discourse among us are mind boggling. The pin on Eritrea US/Susan Rice crusade is continuing unabated and with no let up.

The never ending lies and deceit and the mis/disinformation campaigns to defame, discredit, demonize, vilify and melanie Eritrea, its people and leadership is a career of choice of some third rate affirmative action diplomats at the State Department. Their satellite NGOs are on the frontlines implementing their diabolic evil agendas.

We don't have WMDs in Eritrea. We abhor terrorism and fought against it when fighting terrorism was not fancy. We don't want to destabilize nations and never engaged in human trafficking. Extremism of any kind isn't part of the Eritrean political culture. These are all anatemas in the Eritrean nation of reason and sanity.

On the contrary, when it comes to Eritrean affairs today, human traffickers are labelled as human right advocates, wet pants, turn coats, sellouts, hooligans and garden variety criminals as democracy advocates and self reliance and our can do spirit as isolationist. Our dedication, commitment, national service and love of country as slavery and upholding the public trust, leading by example and having incorruptible personality as a dictatorship.

Amazingly, the Eritrean traitors, enemies and detractors who are in the habit of finishing their midnight oils conspiring to strangulate, suffocate and kill Eritrea are its human right and democracy advocates. A classic case of hypocrisy at its zenith and a clear example of the fact that trusting the foxes in sheep clothing is tantamount to committing political suicide.

The anti-Eritrea cottage industry which most of them are a one person pseudo businesses are mushrooming. It's a growth industry dominated by some swindlers who have none of the Eritrea's best interest at heart except fattening their pockets at the cost of the misery, pain and suffering of Eritreans. These multi-million dollar conglomerate is a playground of some unsavory characters with questionable motives and agendas.

The values, beliefs and principles that made the armed struggle for independence a success is applied now in the building of the Eritrea of our dreams and worthy of our martyrs sacrifices. Democratic governance and social justice are the foundations of our struggle. Unity in diversity, self reliance, gender equality and criticism and self criticism are pillars of our nation building endeavours.

An independent economic and political and international policies based on mutual respect, trust and partnership, respect for national integrity, sovereignty and boundaries, peaceful coexistence, cooperation and integration on all the economic, political, security, social and cultural developments and creating a safe neighbourhood is what Eritrea strives for.

These lofty ideals are our WMDs and are giving the powers that be sleepless nights. Eritrea is the antithesis to the American hegemonic drive and domination. Eritrea's quest for survival is a just cause which is part and parcel of the struggle for the liberty, freedom, justice, fairness, equality and human dignity of all the masses that are yearning to be free.

Eritrea is leading the way. The struggle to save humanity from the Neocon excesses is now before it's too late. We are in a new Cold War - a war between the subjugation and domination of the uni-polar world or a multi-polar world where opposing voices are heard and given a fair chance and consideration. I hope this time around Africa isn't going be the battleground. Africa is still licking its Cold War wounds.

Finally, no one, I mean no one, has the right or moral standing to teach or lecture the Eritrean people about the virtues of freedom, democracy, justice, rule of law and human dignity. For, they had paid and are still paying dearly for wanting to be free and masters of their own destiny.

These time tested and proven formulas are the tools we need to build the Eritrea of the future and not the nauseating lectures coming from the disingenuous and corrupt powers that are in the habit of corrupting, intimidating, abusing, molesting, raping, exploiting and destroying nations.

The Eritrean Revolution

The End Is Near for the Ethiopian Regime

By Hillal,

The Tigrayan revolution is a total failure. The march from Dedebit to Dedebit had already began. Dedebit is the birthplace of the TPLF and certainly it would be its final resting place i.e. if the Tigrayans are kind enough to allow it.

Tigray is at a crossroads now. The dream of Abbay Tigray is dead and buried thanks to the wise, experienced and farsighted Eritrean leadership. The Enver Hoxa, Albanian communist dogma following political adolescents had to be brought back to the real world of modern politics kicking and screaming against their will.

After the Eritreans handed the keys to the Menelik Palace to the thankless Weyannes, what followed next was an Ethiopian nightmare. Ethiopians had to endure the dignity of being ruled by a bunch of uncultured peasants - a minority of a minority Tribal Junta suffering from an inferiority complex laden mindset with no moral or ethical compass.

Ethiopia became a de facto a Tigrayan colony. Ethiopians become aliens in their own homeland. Everything and anything in Ethiopia were put on the chopping block. Women and children were sold to the lowest bidder. Land was leased for US $ 1.38/hectare/year/century -a deal of the century indeed.

A claim of an economy at 12% annual growth per annum, on an auto pilot and on cloud nine turned out to be a voodoo economics existing only in the figment of their imaginations. The reality on the ground was the mushrooming of toxic condos, perennial shortage of water and electricity, National Bank full of fake gold and an Apparatchik on a looting spree of more than 12 billion dollars.

Ethnic Apartheid and Article 39 became the laws of the land. Ethiopia become balkanized into ethnic enclaves and Bantu lands. The divide and rule policy of the colonizers were applied mercilessly in Ethiopia to weaken and squash dissent against the barbaric leadership by the Ethiopian people.

Ethnic conflicts were systematically encouraged, genocidal massacres became tactical acts of deterrence, mass resettlements became political tools, food aid and rape became weapons of war and hunting political opponents like wild animals became routine signature actions.

The Ethiopians had made their choices clear in the 2005 elections. They voted enemies to throw the Tribal Junta out of power. 200 youngsters had to be slaughtered in the streets of Addis in a broad day light while the international media cameras were recording the events. Even, the US Humvees were used to terrorize the peaceful demonstrators.

50,000 young Ethiopians were imprisoned in the Dedesa concentration camp. They were saved by contaminated blades purposely to infect them with the deadly HIV virus and many were eaten by alligators. The deafening silence of the international community was astounding.

Oromo forests were torched and multi-nationals were given a free hand to operate without environmental safety standards. Today, the environmental degradation of Oromia is a national emergency. The Oromia waters and springs are contaminated and people are getting sick.

The crimes against humanity rap sheet of the Tribal Junta is long. As if the Gambella and Ogaden massacres weren't enough, the Ogaden camels were injected with toxic serum to destroy the fabric of the Somali society. Tigrayan prostitutes infected with the deadly HIV virus were sent to the "Mahel Ager" as a population control method.

War of aggression against Eritrea was declared to win some Ethiopian die hard nationalists and as a cover up to its atrocities and barbaric acts. It was a disaster that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of young recruits used as "Fenji regatches". The tragedy is that the coward peasant Weyanne commanders were shooting at the young recruits from behind and sending them to their early deaths.

The most cruel of them all is the feeding of all Ethiopian children born after the Border War with salt mined in Tigray without the proper international standards. These were meant to hurt the Eritrean economy. Eritrean salt mined from the sea has Iodine added to it as per the international standards. The Ethiopian Iodine deficiency epidemic is out of control now.

The government in Addis isn't an Ethiopian government but a surrogate, puppet and stooge of the powers that be. It has none of the Ethiopia's best interests at heart. It's ink on an intensive care pampered and taken care of by the foreign powers and special interest groups. When we find that the US ambassador to Ethiopia is the US Viceroy in Addis, it's doubly troubling.

Ethiopians are saying now enough is enough. Peaceful and armed struggles are engulfing the nation far and wide. The Ethiopian volcano is ready to explode. The Tribal Junta had made enemies left and right - Ethiopians and neighboring nations alike. All are waiting for the most opportune time to settle their own scores. The final outcome of the gathering Ethiopian peoples is difficult to predict.

Ethiopian democratic and progressive forces and all stakeholders in the future of Ethiopia need to unite and coordinate their activities and devise and draw a road map. Without a unified action plan and with the Tribal Junta's poisonous political intrigues and machinations driving the nation into Armageddon the end game could be catastrophic. The ethnically cleansed military makes the outcome more precarious.

Everybody knows that we are in a transition period. Change is coming and it could be violent or not violent depending on the wisdom and farsightedness of those that love Ethiopia. For the Tribal Junta losing power means the final nail in their coffin. Thus, the removal of this political cancer is of paramount importance by any means necessary. The people of Tigray have to decide and abandon the sinking Tribal Junta ship and join the silent Ethiopian majority. The TPDM is the answer to this noble call for action.

Dictator Meles Zenawi with his son

Beautiful Eritrean landscape taken from the Semenawi Bahri area

By Yosef Tesfasilase,

ERITREA: A NEW NATION WITH THE OLDEST CIVILIZATION IN AFRICA. Eritrea is located on the Horn of Africa (North East Africa), and borders with Ethiopia on the south, Djibouti on the south-east, Sudan on the north-west, and Red Sea on the north along with Dahlak Archipelago and other small islands. Eritrea, with a land area of about 125.000 km2, is roughly the size of England, or the state of Pennsylvania, USA. The coastline measures around 1.200 km and off it there are over 350 islands, of which 210 comprise the area of the Dahlak Archipelago.

WEATHER & CLIMATE:‘Three seasons in two hours’. There is no time of year that is particularly unsuitable for visiting Eritrea. Eritrea is located at the highest landmass of the African continent. Eritrea has a variety of climatic conditions. The country has three major zones- the central highlands, the coastal region, and western lowlands. Each zone has a different climatic condition. Asmara, the capital of city of Eritrea, has a wonderful climate all year around (average temperature roughly 59 Fahrenheit, 16 Celsius).

HISTORY: Eritrea was forcefully annexed by Ethiopia under the Emperor Haile Selassie. In April 1993, after 30 years of war with Ethiopian regime, Eritrean people have voted unanimously in favor of their independence. However, Eritrea might have been a new nation on map but it’s the oldest civilization in Africa.  Adulis was an ancient port of Red Sea coast and it was important in staging post in the trade between Mediterranean, southern Arabia, East Africa, and Indian Ocean before Ethiopia was discovered by King Menelik II. Today, many archaeologists are investigating to find an answer to ‘the buried civilization’.

DEMOGRAPHICS: Eritrea has a roughly population of 6 million inhabitants. Although Eritrea has nine heterogeneous tribes but the fabric of the society is homogeneous by any standard. All nine tribes have lived in harmonious environments and have an utmost respect for each other since the cradle of civilization. The tribes that are Afro-Asiatic speaking communities of Cushitic branches: Tigrinya, Tigre, Afar, Rashaida, Saho, Bilen, and Beja. The rest tribes that are Nilo-Saharan communities: Kunama, and Nara. All Eritrean tribes, then and now, have put their Eritrean nationality as a first priority than their ethnicity. Perhaps it’s extremely difficult to fathom that homogeneous society-such as Eritrea-does exist in Africa continent in which tribalism conflicts are a way of life….

RELIGION & LANGUAGE: Roughly 50% the population adheres to Christianity, Islam 48%, and while 2% of the population follows other religions including traditional African religion. The major languages are Tigrinya, Tigre, Arabic, and English. Also, in Eritrea there are other languages are spoken in Eritrea: Bilen, Afar, Kunama, Saho and etc.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Since Eritrean independence, the government has done a marvelous jobs in building a quality of roads, communications, dams, hospitals, colleges, and schools-primary and secondary. Even though under extreme hostile conditions at local level and international level which it was created by the belligerent Ethiopian regime, yet the Eritrean government has relentlessly been in making major improvement for the its people.

SAFETY: Eritrea is one of the safest countries in the world. The people of Eritrea are known for their superb hospitality and utmost tenderness-care when guests arrived in their country. A person could venture on the roads of Eritrea without any concern of safety because the whole lands of the country is safe to travel anytime. Many tourists have returned so many times to Eritrea because they feel safer than their own native land. Some of tourists are extremely happy in Eritrea that they have eventually decided to make it their permanent residency. Eritrea: the land of nobles, the land of extraordinary, and the land of beautiful people!

ERITREA: MAKE A MEMORABLE JOURNEY TO THE BIBLICAL RED SEA AS MOSES DID!

Eritrean train riding above the clouds

Dan Connell organized Eritrean opposition youth protest in Washington, D.C.

ERITREA: The Modern Day Carpetbaggers and Scalawags

By Sophia Tesfmariam,

When the monkey sees a nice fruit in the tree that can’t be grasped, then the monkey says the fruit is rotten-African Proverb


The African proverb reminds me of the naysayers who insist on pushing their narratives on the State of Eritrea, regardless of the evidence, facts and realities on the ground. Acting like the jealous lover who insists on killing his/her mate so as to not allow others to have her/him, Eritrea’s modern day scalawags and carpetbaggers are burning the midnight oil, not to mention abusing US and European tax payer’s monies, to advance their narratives on the nation,  its government and people. Realizing that they cannot have a say   in Eritrea’s economic and political life, have decided that they will instead tarnish its image, with the hopes of bringing the Eritrean people to their knees…

Eritrea is indeed surprising many who may have been disillusioned or influenced by the aggressive, well-funded (NED and George Soros) 14-year long defamation and vilification campaign against the State of Eritrea and its leadership. They are now realizing that the naysayers were nothing more than the Eritrean version of carpetbaggers and scalawags. Eritrea’s self -reliant economic policies are being touted as the way for Africa, that Eritrea’s ability to develop its social capital adds to the sustainability of the gains made etc. etc.

I chose the title for good reason. The term “carpetbagger” refers to a traveler who arrives in a new region with only a satchel (or carpetbag) of possessions, and who attempts to profit from or gain control over his new surroundings, often against the will or consent of the original inhabitants. In the post-US Civil War south, carpetbaggers were Northerners who moved to the South to take advantage of the unstable social, financial, and political climate. These transient characters moved south carrying all their possessions in a carpet-bag, they moved to the South after the Civil War to get rich, to take over all jobs, land and money.The reconstruction era in the South gave birth to new enemies who were in a unique position to exploit those in dire straits. While their stated mission was to rebuild the war-torn Confederate states; their personal mission was to make money – and they didn’t care how they did it.

Scalawags in American history refers to Southern whites who formed a Republican coalition with black freedmen and Northern newcomers (carpetbaggers) to take control of the state and local governments. Some misguided, selfish and myopic Eritrean “academics and intellectuals” in the Eritrean Diaspora are good examples of scalawags. Those who work with Eritrea’s enemies to undermine Eritrea’s development. Those who betray the trust of  Eritrea’s martyrs to advance narrow personal agendas. Those who have used their academic and other institutional contacts and networks to undermine the Eritrean government and people. Those who insist on creating conflicts in the otherwise tight knit and tolerant Eritrean Diaspora Communities. Those who insist on advancing their illicit agendas through intimidation and harassment of members of the Eritrean Diaspora who refuse to follow their anti-Eritrea agendas…Hasusat and Kede’at in Tigrinya.

The mercenary Eritreans, members of the Eritrean Quislings League (EQL), are today playing the role of the scalawags-for in their warped minds, these culturally blind Eritreans who want to undermine their own cultures and presuppositions in a bid to become “westernized”, believe the West and its institutions, which denied and suppressed the rights of the Eritrean people for over half a century, knows what is best for Eritrea and its people, and those who fought for their rights and sacrificed life and limb for Eritrea, for just as long, somehow do not. Serving those who are responsible for the massacre of thousands of Eritreans, the destruction of their homes and villages, those responsible for the desecration of cemeteries of Eritrea’s fallen heroes, is somehow supposed to make them more acceptable to the West and garner them preferred positions in their circles.

For the modern day carpetbaggers, their mission of exploitation and plunder has caused havoc in Africa using the language of “human rights”, “democracy”, “freedom of expression”, “freedom of religion”, “war on terror”, and now “human trafficking”… sugar coated pretexts for more deadly, more insidious and more widespread intervention in the sovereignty of African states-especially those not amenable to the West and its tentacle organizations such as the IMF and World Bank.

The carpetbaggers, along with some disgruntled NGOs, and academics with no knowledge of Eritrea or her people, have partnered with self-serving defectors and their coterie and have pretty much the same missions or worse than that of the western missionaries that enabled the colonization of Africa. As an Eritrean-American, while  flabbergasted, and sometimes even flattered, by the enormous amount of literature on Post-independence Eritrea by individuals and groups, neither I , nor the vast Eritrean Diaspora was hoodwinked by them.

Considering the fact that for over 30 years, and especially during the struggle for Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia, there was an unspoken gag on the name “Eritrea” from being mentioned in the mainstream media or in western academic institutions. In the meantime, Ethiopia’s true history was adjusted and re-written, the Ethiopian myth was perpetuated, and distorted to justify Ethiopian colonization of Eritrea. While there was some literature on Eritrea written by those who visited Eritrea and believed in the Eritrean struggle, it is in no way comparative to the number of “academic” and other reports that have been produced in the last 23 years-the last 14 making up the majority.

What is shamefully absent is the voice of the so-called “intellectuals and professionals” who have been co-opted and silenced by the very institutions that have been at the root of the suffering of the Eritrean people for so many decades. Choosing to advance their own personal careers at the expense of the Eritrean people, set out to serve as the “Eritrean Faces” for the anti-Eritrea defamation and vilification campaigns. The Eritrean Diaspora-whose hearts and minds they have been unable to win, continues to reject their many gimmicks and ploys. But there are some gullible young Eritreans who have been caught up in the deceit and they are unknowingly being used to advance the agendas of Eritrea’s enemies and it is important to expose them for what they are and set the record straight.

These self-serving individuals feign concern about the people of Eritrea but have done everything they can-with the help of their handlers-to strangulate Eritrea’s economy and isolate Eritrea diplomatically and politically. And true to their nature, and almost on cue, a whimper of their stench lingers in the air whenever the minority regime in Ethiopia finds itself in some kind of quagmire. It is as if they are attached at the hops with the minority regime in Ethiopia…

The 1998-2000 Eritrea Ethiopia border conflict ended when the Ethiopian regime was forced to sign the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on 19 June 2000. Successive offensives against Eritrea and the regime’s last ditch effort to capture the Port City of Assab failed miserably, forcing it to return to the negotiating table. Eritrean villages were destroyed, Martyrs cemeteries desecrated, over a million were displaced from their homes and villages, but the “Eritrean Academics and Professionals” were busy working with the enemy to undermine Eritrea and its leadership.

Two such individuals, Assefaw Tekeste and Bereket Habte Selassie met in Japan with Kifle Wodajo and Endrias Eshete, advisors to Meles Zenawi. The meeting in Japan took place during the third offensive, in early June 2000, to be exact. This happened a couple of months prior to Dr. Bereket and the infamous B-13 meeting in Berlin. Despite Dr. Bereket’s claim that these two men, Andreas Eshete and Kifle Wedajo being just “interlocutors” in this meeting arranged by Peace Boat, it is a known fact that they were not merely there for conversations, but were in fact representing Meles’ government. Of all the individual Ethiopians in the Diaspora, how is it that Peace Boat decided to pick two of Meles Zenawi’s advisors to converse with two anti-GoE and anti-PIA Eritreans?

Bereket Habte Selassie attempted to insult the intelligence of the Eritrean people by writing the following when questioned by this author:

“…Early in the Spring of 2000, they approached me and Dr. Asefaw with a view to exploring ways of (a) helping in finding ways to end the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and (b) planning the creation of institutions of higher learning as well as small industries in or around the areas of the conflict (in this case Badme) after the conflict is over…”

While Eritreans all over the world waited anxiously for the war to end, this man and his accomplices met with enemy agents and now want us to believe that it was all perfectly innocent and was done for the benefit of Eritrea. As this author said back then, the moon is right and he was born with the star of good luck on his palm!!!

But soon after in October of 2000, the Eritrean Diaspora would be introduced to a group of self-professed “Academics and Professionals”, better known as the Berlin 13 with Bereket Habte Selassie and Assefaw Tekeste played the leading roles. Coincidence?

So what did the “Academics and Professionals” do?

These self-professed “Academics and Professionals” had a secret meeting in Berlin and came up with a letter to the President of Eritrea. That letter was leaked by the Ethiopian regime and its surrogates at Awate.com. Explaining how that happened, Araya Debessay, a member of the Berlin 13, in an email sent to this author and others in 2001 stated the following:

“…How Awate.com received an advance copy of the letter is an item that needs clarification since this has been a point of contention among those who speculate on how the letter was leaked. The version that was posted by Awate.com is not the final version that was mailed to PIA. Salih Gadi, the owner of Awate.com who was invited but unable to attend the meeting has been a distant on-line participant, and as a result he was getting copies of the drafts of the letter. At the last minute, it was decided that the signatories of the letter should be only those who met in Berlin. As a result, Salih Gadi did not receive a copy of the final version of the letter, and what was posted at Awate.com, a day after the scanned version of the authentic letter was published in Dehai, is an earlier version of the letter…”

It has since become known that Awate.com, as were the Berlin 13 and some members of the G-15 (members of the Eritrean government),  were working closely with Meles Zenawi’s minority regime and its handlers. In the letter to the President of Eritrea, the Berlin 13 found it prudent to question “the nature and style of our leadership in the post-independence period”. They then went on to insult the President of Eritrea, blame Eritrea for the Eritrea Ethiopia border conflict and presume to give the President advise on how to run the nation. They ended their self-serving letter with this ultimatum:

“…On our side, we will spare no effort to help secure Eritrea’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. At the same time, we will endeavor to promote a culture of openness, tolerance, accountability and rule of law. To these ends, we intend to broaden our base by convening a larger meeting which will consider your response to this letter. The idea is to begin and institutionalize a government/civil society dialogue on a continuing basis as a critical part of a healthy development of our future…”

The President of Eritrea, however, was magnanimous enough to meet with them in Asmara. The group met with President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara on November 25th, bringing yet another letter with them. In this document they stated that they were not a political group and made a formal request to work with the government “as much as possible.” They denied having anything to do with leaking their original Berlin letter. The President expressed his views about the group and their opinions and decided that he did “not see any substantive issue on the paper outside the publicity given to it”. Bereket Habte Selassie did not attend the meeting.

Araya Debessay, someone whose hate-filled obsession with the President of Eritrea has prevented him from making any meaningful intellectual contribution to the country or its people, is one of those that has made it his raison d’etre to seek and find Eritreans in the Diaspora who could help advance his anti-Eritrea agendas. Working closely with Assefaw Tekeste and Paulos Tesfagiorgis, he continues to show his utter contempt for the Eritrean people and insists on insulting their intelligence with open letters and manifestos.

Before this author addresses his latest attempt, let us take a look at his sordid record.

On 8 October 2000 in his article, “Meeting of Eritrean Academics and Professionals in Berlin”.  Araya Debessay writing about the letter to the President of Eritrea and his group’s agenda, said the following:

“…The letter concurs with the Eritrean National Assembly’s recent resolution condemning the criminal acts of the Ethiopian government, and condemns the many egregious acts of violence, vandalism, rape and theft that have been perpetrated, and are being perpetrated, by agents of the said government against innocent Eritreans. In this respect, we pledge to commit our intellectual and financial resources in the ongoing effort to mobilize support…The gathering in Berlin also decided to call a larger meeting within the next few months to follow up on developments in our country and to take appropriate measures to help secure Eritrea’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty… On the international front, the group commits itself to continue its efforts in supporting the Government’s diplomatic efforts through its lobbying and media relations activities and to promote the image Eritrea as a friendly and peace loving country. Finally, the group reaffirmed its commitment to support all nation building and social and economic development programs…”

Contrary to what he said in that October 2000 article, Araya Debessay and his coteries set out to do just the opposite. In one of their articles posted in Asmarino, which according to Wikileaks, is an anti-Eritrea CIA funded site, surrogates of the Berlin 13 wrote the following:

“…Like-minded Eritrean-Americans with a firm dedication to democracy will need to build an informal and consequently formal network that is action-oriented… Through this network, letters that expose the autocratic nature of Issaias’ government will need to be drafted, finalized, and distributed to US government representatives, World Bank, IMF, Amnesty International and other organizations… Also, key messages that publicize the tyrannical orientation of the system of government in Eritrea will need to be disseminated electronically, i.e. inside popular Web-sites, as well as physically, i.e. attending forums sponsored or attended by representatives of the Eritrean government…”

In the last 14 years, Eritreans have seen what the likes of Araya Debessay, Bereket Habte Selassie and Paulos Tesfagiorgis and their coteries, the “Eritrean Faces” that served to advance the agendas of Eritrea’s historical enemies, have done to undermine Eritrea diplomatically, economically and politically. They have been instrumental in producing the volumes of unsubstantiated articles and reports about the Government and people of Eritrea. Establishing one and two-man NGOs, these un-elected individuals with no mandate from the people, have flooded American and European institutions of government with letters and petitions on behalf of the Eritrean people.

The regime in Ethiopia and its handlers have come up with various ploys to amend, revise, reverse and even annul the EEBC’s decisions. The regime has also employed distractive, disruptive mercenary Eritreans to advance its agendas against the State of Eritrea and divert international attention away from its violation of international law and occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories. Paulos Tesfagiorgis, Bereket Habte Selassie and Assefaw Tekeste, self-proclaimed “intellectuals”, have played leading roles in organizing these miscreant individuals and groups.

In addition to organizing various conferences in Ethiopia and in neighboring states, the EQL have worked to recruit young educated Eritreans to defect and join their groups. Today, Paulos Tesfagiorgis and his handlers have concocted another ploy to reward Ethiopia. From “transitional justice”, these miscreants are now touting a new initiative-“HOPE”-Horn of Africa Peace Engagement. This latest shenanigan is part and parcel of the various schemes advanced by the regime and its handlers, tunes to which these mercenary foot soldiers have dutifully marched. As part of the new initiative orchestrated by Tesfagiorgis and his group, a series of meetings/conferences have been held. They have been held in London, Atlanta and Djibouti. At the 2010 meeting held in Atlanta, GA. they proposed, among other things, the following:

“…establishing the border town of Badme as a neutral zone recognised by both Eritrea and Ethiopia to be run by faith groups…”

This is the same proposal advanced by the minority regime and its cadres once they realized that the independent Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission had awarded Badme, the casus belli for the Eritrea Ethiopia border conflict to Eritrea.

A friend forwarded a letter that was sent to him by Araya Debessay, similar to other letters that have been sent out by the good Professor to others he foolishly believes agree with his outlook on Eritrea and its future.Today, Araya Debessay, a member of Paulos Tefagiorgis’ cyber AstroTurf NGOs,  is back again and this time he is once again trying to resuscitate the fledgling anti-Eritrea campaign. Araya Debessay

After 14 years, there are three constants that stand out-his obsession with the President of Eritrea, his contempt for the people of Eritrea, and his warped notion of what the role of the Eritrean intellectual ought to be. Suffice it to mention excerpts from his latest “Open Letter to My Fellow Eritreans”, which he intends to disseminate in Tigrinya and Arabic when it has been cleaned up. This self-professed intellectual, who is obviously detached from the reality in Eritrea, as he has not been there since 2000, begins his 11-page letter with this:

“…our country is in the worst situation possible. The economy is in ruins with a galloping inflation rate that has left many families begging for day-to-day survival. For many families, it is through the generous remittances from family members in the Diaspora that they are barely able to sustaining themselves…”

If that were true, Araya Debessay and his cohorts would be celebrating, not bemoaning the situation in Eritrea. Blemishing Eritrea’s image, distorting the exaggerating the realities is their way of making themselves feel relevant. They have somehow convinced themselves that Eritreans lacked intellectual capital and that they could continue to blackmail the people and government. Not anymore. Thanks to the sound economic and social policies of the Government of Eritrea and the gallant work done by the people, Eritrea today is one of a few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that is on track to meet or exceed 7 out 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Access to healthcare, education and potable water has greatly improved the lives of the people. The mining and other industries are doing quite well, despite efforts by Araya Debessay and his cohorts to halt the progress and hold Eritrea’s development hostage.

This professor who has no relations with the vast Eritrean Diaspora and has no firsthand knowledge of its activities and relations to Eritrea said:

“…it seems most Eritreans in the Diaspora have given up on Eritrea, leaving the fate of Eritrea to some divine intervention…”

If this Professor knew a thing or two about Eritreans, he would know that they are a tight knit, vibrant, productive community, very much engaged with their country of origin. From participating in the economic, social and political life of Eritrea, they are also instrumental in combatting and frustrating the ongoing anti-Eritrea efforts of his partners and their sponsors. Convincing himself that the unified people of Eritrea are in need of his intervention, he wants to create what he calls a “Global Union of Eritreans in the Diaspora”.

Araya Debessay states in his letter that:

“…Many nations and the International Community as a whole could not support our cause up to now and the main reason for their reluctance is the fact that we are too fragmented and they do not know whom to deal with and whom to trust and support. With the election of the Global Leadership, a body that will have the legitimacy and the mandate given to it by every Eritrean in the Diaspora, our Global leaders will get the attention of the International community and will be able to comfortably appear in any forum to speak effectively on behalf of the Eritreans in the Diaspora and on behalf the voiceless at home…”

 What he does not seem to understand is that the vast majority of the Eritrean Diaspora also does not trust them, but more importantly rejected them in 2000, and will reject them again, as they do not represent them in any way. Of course those in their coterie (mostly family members) will remain as their only constituents. Insulting the intelligence of the Eritrean Diaspora, Araya Debessay wrote:

Anti-Eritrea individuals and groups
These are the individuals and groups who make up the Eritrean Quislings League (EQL)

“…the campaign that has been waged by Dr. Tewolde Tesfamarim, (Wedi Vaccaro) who has been visiting several cities in the US and Europe, and by Amanuel Eyassu of Assenna.com have contributed a great deal in mobilizing and encouraging Eritreans to form groups. In the United States for example, there are several cities that have already formed groups and they are growing. Among these cities are: Washington Metropolitan Area, Boston, Atlanta, Bay Area, San Diego, Denver, Indiana, etc.  And the same is true in many other parts of the world. I was pleased to read a report by Petros Tesfagiorgis at Asmarino.com about a group that was formed in London…For sure, there will be a need for highly competent and dedicated individuals to serve as a Lobbyist Group, Media Group, Funds Raising Group, Outreach Group, Think Tank Group, Seminars and Conferences organizing groups, Public Relations group, Foreign Relations Committee, Security Committee, etc…”

Haye…

The good Professor goes on:

“…For those who may have concerns about punitive measures that may be inflicted on them, should they dare to travel to visit their family members in Eritrea, or who fear for the safely of their loved ones and family members due to their association with the Union of Eritreans for Democratic Change, arrangements can be made to allow them to participate without revealing their identify. The least such individuals can do and should do is to unanimously show their support financially and other ways…”

How cowardice…so un-Eritrean.

Majority of the Diaspora continue support for the government and people of Eritrea in some of the most hostile nations-including the United States and Canada. They have stood up for their country and people, and most of all for justice. The best that Araya Debessay can hope for will be members of the Eritrean Quislings League (EQL):

“…an alliance of jilted and scorned individuals, of like-minded defeatists, self-serving defectors, deserters and draft dodgers, disgruntled runaway diplomats, pedophiles, rapists, deceitful counterfeiters, information launderers and an assortment of shameless scandalous opportunists disguised as “journalists”,  “human rights” and “democracy” activists, pawns who serve as runners for western fundamentalist Christian cartels and Western agencies and NGOs, self-professed “intellectuals and professionals”, and pseudo-intellectuals who call for academic freedom while engaging in academic dishonesty, a loathsome miscreant mercenary Eritrean elite who have spent the last 14 years slavishly parroting prepared anti-Eritrea propaganda, in exchange for pitiful stipends…”

As if the Eritrean Diaspora has not been following his destructive agendas for the last 14 years, the Professor offers the following n the EQL:

“…I understand there are over 30 political parties and groups at the present time…There are several civic organizations all over the world. To mention some that I am familiar with: (a) Eritrean Global Solidarity (EGS), which is US based organization that was formed in 2007 “to struggle for Justice, Human Rights and Democracy”. EGS “promises to struggle tenaciously to empower the peace loving Eritrean people in their quest for justice, human rights and democracy.” I am a member of the Advisory Group of EGS, (b) Eritreans to Facilitate National Dialogue (EFND), of which I am a founding member, was formed in August 2013 with “the sole aim to facilitate civilized and constructive dialog among Eritreans to help build a better foundation for Eritrea’s future.” And (c) Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea (CDRiE).  I was one of the founding members who created CDRiE…”

Araya Debessay ignores the dedicated, successful  professional youth who are making contributions to Eritrea’s economic, social and political development, those who are returning to Eritrea to provide technical support,  teach in the schools and colleges, and those who financially and morally supporting children in the orphanages, disabled veterans and families of Eritrea’s beloved Martyrs, but instead reaches out to groups such as the EYSC that are responsible for the destruction of Eritrean Community Centers in the Diaspora and intimidate and harass its members. He stands up for the rights of these hooligans and troublemakers in our midst and denies Eritreans the right to live in peace.

Once again, insulting the intelligence of the Eritrean people and adding salt to their wounds, the good professor elevates the stature of the three individuals who have been responsible for the suffering of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers, the trafficking of Eritrea’s youth, the detention of Eritrean youths in places such as Ethiopia, Israel, Libya and the United States, those responsible for the illegal adoption of Eritrean children born in Ethiopian refugee camps, to that of heroines. Here is what he said in his letter:

“…I would also like to take this opportunity to express my admiration to individual Eritreans for the exemplary role they are playing for the good of their country and the Eritrean people. Elsa Chirum, Dr. Alganesh Fisseha Ghandi, and Meron Estifanona  are some of those that come to mind among the many other individuals who have been doing remarkably outstanding job to help Eritrean refugees and to bring their plight to world attention.  Please continue your relentless effort in helping those who desperately need your help. You will be in the history books of Eritrea for what you are doing. I wish you all the best…”

Yes, history and the people of Eritrea will judge them harshly.

If he knew a thing or two about the majority of the Eritrean Diaspora that he labels “supporters of the government”, he would know that they are well organized and have close ties with their compatriots in Eritrea. Their priorities differ from that of the good professor and his ilk. The most important issues for the people of Eritrea today are:

1. The unconditional removal of Ethiopian forces from sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme


2. A repeal of the illegal, unjust and unfair sanctions imposed against the people Eritrea at the behest of United States and Ethiopia


3. An independent United Nations investigation into the luring and trafficking of Eritreans. That includes groups and individuals that Araya Debessay is involved with.

Once again, the good professor and his ilk can do all of us a favor and crawl back into their holes as they are were not fit to speak on our behalf then, any more than they are today. Judging from what has transpired in the last 23-years since independence, and especially in the last 14 years since the Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Eritrea and the sudden mushrooming of non-descript cyber NGO’s calling themselves “human rights” and “democracy” activists, I am inclined to believe it is the latter.

The anti-Eritrea campaign has been long and varied, but the narrative remains the same-Independent Eritrea is not economically and politically viable. It is the same narrative of their forefathers. The use of “Eritrean faces”, such as that of Araya Debessay and his cohorts, as cover for the anti-Eritrea campaigns is also not new-it is one that has been used in the past. The difference today is that the Eritrean population is much more conscious, politically astute and media savvy…can easily spot the rot from a distance. More on Araya Debessay and the modern day and carpetbaggers and scalawags next time… and lest the good Professor deny the existence of such a letter, it will be published soon in its entirety.

Eritrea is developing 1,680 modern homes and shops in Asmara's Sembel, Space 2001 and Halibet districts

Eritrea: The Making of a Nation

By Hillal,


The making of a nation is difficult. If it were easy, the African nation making horror stories, tragedies and nightmares would have been a thing of the past. But, if we make history as our guide, it isn't an African only and only dilemma.

The American Civil War, French, Soviet, Chinese revolutions, European wars, Latin American military Juntas, Asian wars, coups and revolutions and the Arab feudal monarchs are all parts of the mosaic of nation building heartaches.

Today in the name of freedom, liberty and democracy destabilizing nations is the modus operandi of the powers that be. The Color, Twitter, Facebook and the so called Arab Spring revolutions are becoming the recipes for disaster for the targeted nations and peoples.

Studying the Eritrean experience gives us a glimpse at the painful struggle we went through in the first 15 years of the armed struggle. Eritreans had to fight Eritreans to make certain that the correct political line was followed to assure the destiny of a future united, strong, democratic, progressive, dynamic, assertive and self reliant Eritrea

US international policy makers tried to make the nation making agenda as their top policy priority. They failed miserably at implementing it. Today, the mere mention of it sends shock waves down the spines of all the American policy makers.

Declaring independence, waving a national flag, writing a constitution, conducting electrons and having a parliament aren't in themselves sufficient enough to build a nation which is united, democratic, strong and stable. A nation requires a leadership of high caliber that can lead and has the ability to listen to the heart beats of the masses.

A certain degree of economic development and a vibrant middle class are the key ingredients for democracy to flourish and to be nurtured. These requirements should be augmented by the increased level of political awareness of the masses. Without these preconditions in place talking about democracy is just an exercise in futility.

Timing is everything. No one with the right frame of mind in Eritrea is against the implementation of the lofty ideals and programs that are enshrined in the National Charter and the constitution. After all, the long protracted struggle for our liberation than and now is to make these ideals a reality on the ground.

We have a clear understanding of where we were, where we are now and where we are going, and what type of a nation we want to build. Above all, we definitely know who our friends and enemies are. The Eritrea of our dreams and worthy of our Martyrs sacrifices is a work in progress.

First and foremost though, the security and stability of the nation had to be secured. If a cloud of war is hovering above and the security of the nation is uncertain, speaking about democracy and civil liberties would be just an academic exercise.

Any Kind of political, economic, social, cultural and security changes we introduce in the country should be based on the subjective and objective parameters of the nation. Change for the sake of change, cosmetic change to look politically correct or be part of the pact, change prescribed by external powers or copying political models as they are from other experiences are not part of the Eritrean/Shaebia political culture.

Learning from other experiences is a noble trait but it could be effective only and only if our own rich experiences be it political, economic, social, cultural and security cultural dimensions are given paramount importance. The time has come not only for Eritrea but for all of Africa to have our own African agenda.

Democracy and good governance aren't European or American private domains. Their claims of being the champions of human rights and rule of law are blatant lies. Today, thanks to the Neocons megaphone and gunboat diplomacy, the internet, Wikileaks, Snowden and Bradley there is nothing left for the imagination. The financial meltdown and the corporate media becoming a propaganda organ of the state and special interest groups makes our doubts more authentic

Every African nation should devise its own model suitable to its internal dynamics. Especially, today when the loft ideal of liberty, democracy, justice, rule of law and human dignity are used as a cover up to intimidate, harass, bully, exploit, rape and molest nations it's urgency becomes more poignant.

The wisdom of multi party democracy, conduciveness of participatory democracy, creation of a political class and a robust system of checks and balances in an African contexts should be studied. A new democracy with African roots, by Africans, for Africans and of Africans is what Africa and Africans need..

Those that are in the habit of preaching us about these lofty ideals - the powers that be and their NGO merchants of misery - are always after their own economic and security interests and have none of Africa's best interest at heart. Greed, domination and hegemony are the tentacles of the morally and ethically bankrupt Unipolar and globalized world.