Tag: eritrea
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Saudi Dissident Journalist Allegedly Murdered in Turkey
On a March 29,2018 editorial we speculated that if the Saudi heir apparent Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS, so baptized by Thomas Friedman), succeeds in disbanding the religious police, curtailing the power of the religious authority, and allowing women to drive, it would be a welcome change. However, we expressed skepticism that “ the top to
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Eritrean Ethiopian Cross-Border Trade Facing Hiccups
The euphoria of the first few days of cross-border trading between Eritrea and Ethiopia is now facing reality. Impulsive moving of goods between the two countries has now slowed down due to many factors, but mainly due to a shortage of Nakfa currency. The border was opened without any declared policy or planning to organize
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Former Eritrean officials Pledge Support For Berhane Abrehe
Five former Eritrean officials issued a joint statement in support of Berhane Abrehe, the former minister of finance who is openly challenging Isaias Afwerki to step down. The officials who live in exile declared their unequivocal support for the “the call made to depose Isaias from his position and hand power over to the people.”
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The Captivating, But Dubious Politics of Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed
Since Dr. Abiy Ahmed burst onto the Ethiopian political scene as the country’s new prime minister under five months ago, much has been said and written about his background, vision and reformist agenda as well as the support he has been gaining as a leader. The level of public support that met PM Abiy Ahmed’s
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Why Eritreans Must Support Berhane Abrehe
Recently we saw some books published, it’s a humble attempt to add to the efforts of reviving Eritrean literature, and uncovering history. That we consider a promising development. A few weeks ago, Mr. Semere Beyene, the SBS journalist launched a book entitled “Hulfet”, then Mr. Hailesellassie Woldu launched his much-awaited book, the historical biography of
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Assab: The Eritrean Nose
Was he right? Paulo Neruda! In his verses (as re-recounted in the movie Il Postino) in respect to an aquatic-terrestrial symbiotic relationship? At least, one (I, for example) would subscribe to the imaginative bliss it engenders in the mind. According to Neruda, with each “Wefari Bahri“, with each washing of the waters to the shore,
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Happy Brick Day to You
[This was the maiden awate.on-forge.com editorial, “The Pencil” that appeared on September 1, 2000. The first day of the launch published the following articles: 1. A Call to End the Awate Era By Saleh Younis, Sept. 1, 2000 2. Freedom of Expression – By Dawit Mesfin, Sept. 1, 2000 3. If Hamid Idris Awate Were Alive!
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Leaked List of PFDJ Diaspora Task Force
On May 21, 2018, Gedab News reported that it received a leaked document with a list of operatives in the Diaspora which the PFDJ created to operate within “a new strategy to combat media that sheds a negative light on Eritrea”. The task force is part of the many affiliate organizations in the Diaspora. The
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Ethiopian Election 2020 and the Implementation of the Algiers’ Agreement
So far, no agreement has been reached between the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments regarding the demarcation of the supposedly vital borders which were the cause of the devasting two-year war of 1998-2000. The undemarcated border was the excuse by the Eritrean ruling party for the two-decades of economic stagnation and the abuse of human rights
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The Abiy Phenomenon
How volatile human affairs are! A couple of decades ago, who would have thought the wave of democratization that swept the globe after the collapse of the Soviet Union would suffer such a reversal in such a short time? The world had seemed to be moving inexorably towards freedom and democracy and many experts believed
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Eritrean-Ethiopian Border Crossing at Um-Hajar Closed
Reports from Eritrea indicated that the border crossing from the Eritrean town of Um-Hajar to the Ethiopian town of Humera has been closed. The road between the two towns run through a bridge over the Settit River which forms a natural border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Humera and Um-Hajar towns form two tips of an obtuse
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Pm Abiy and the Rehabilitation of Dictators
Just as Eritreans were reeling from the bizarre remarks Isaias Afeworki made during his visit to Ethiopia on July 14, they were stunned by another man who claims to be a prophet, a healer, and an exorcist ranting about how the Gospel will be victorious, in front of the Asmara Palace Hotel, upon his arrival
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UN Sanctions Against Eritrea to Remain in Force
The UN imposed sanctions against Eritrea will remain in place despite the statements by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who said he will work to help lift it. Somalia’s president has also made similar statements during his visit to Asmara on July 28 explaining “the move would help the economic integration of the region.”
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Ethiopia & Eritrea: A Faustian “Peace” Bargain with the Devil?
The question of economic opportunities being given to our neighbors before Eritreans, calls for a separate analysis. The question of spiritual proselytizing in public being given to our neighbors in Amharic before Eritreans call for a separate analysis. The question of refugees right to return being left untouched so far when Eritreans are languishing at
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Djibouti Objects to the Lifting Of UN Sanctions on Eritrea
In a press statement he released on July 10, 2018, the Council President Olof Skoog (Sweden) stated, “The members of the Security Council commended the signing of the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship on 9 July 2018 by the President of the State of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, and the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic
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Prime Minister Abiy’s Call Triggers Cautious Optimism
In our editorial published a month ago (1), we reiterated our long-standing position on the need for an end to the hostility between Eritrea and Ethiopia. We also hoped Isaias Afwerki would reconsider PM Abiy Ahmed’s proffer for peace rather than take a dismissive position as stated by his spokesperson tweeting the “ball is in your
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Ethiopian Airlines Will Resume Flights to Asmara
This morning, the Ethiopian prime minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed concluded a two-day visit to Asmara after signing several agreements. The major item of his talks in Eritrea was a peace agreement, though its content was on the table since 2004. However, the Eritrean government had refused to dialogue with the Ethiopian government insisting the latter pull out its troops
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Bridge Over Mereb and Other Rivers
[This article is being republished on awate.on-forge.com with the consent of the Editorial Team of Discourse Magazine to which it was contributed. The maiden edition of the magazine which is published by The Ethiopian Foreign Relations Strategic Studies Institute appeared on Thursday, 19 January 2017. In a 2010 interview, I asked the late PM Meles Zenawi if Eritrean ports
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Eritrea-Ethiopia On June 20, 2018: Martyrs’ Day Observances
That the wisdom of PM Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia being evident by now is to state the obvious. His rapid response to the Asmara regime when it pronounced it was sending a team to negotiate peace between the two neighboring countries is obvious that the man is as genuine as they come. What is also
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Winds of Change… Are we ready?
“Unity of purpose brings purposeful citizens together and accords them leverage to effect meaningful change.” A new reality is unfolding! Are we ready? Winds of change are blowing… It appears the 20-year “no-war and no-peace” that defined the regime in Eritrea and its opposition is giving way for a new reality. The majority of our