Asmara July 27, 2026 — The mysterious murder of Mrs. Setoum Mousa Naib, the widow of the late Mohammed Ali Alamin, has shocked many Eritreans. She was found brutally killed with an axe inside her home in the Tira Volo neighborhood of Asmara. She is survived by two sons.
Setoum, who was in her mid-seventies, had lived as a private citizen since returning from Canada four years ago, following the death of her husband in Africa. She had spent many years living in Canada before returning to Eritrea.
Three days after the murder, Eritrean state media had not reported the incident. And due to a systemic deficiency in credible investigative institutions, crimes frequently remain unresolved.
This issue is compounded when state actors are implicated; historically, the government has failed to self-investigate, as evidenced by the thousands of detainees who have died in custody without formal charges or trials.
In the absence of official information, the public has been left to speculate about the motive behind the killing. According to available information, security officers have interrogated a young maid who had been assisting Sitom in her home.
The Tira Volo neighborhood, where the murder occurred, is considered one of the most heavily secured residential areas in Eritrea and is home to many senior government officials.
During the 1960s and 1970s, most of Tira Volo’s residents were Americans working at Kagnew Station and members of the Italian community. Beginning in 1991, after Eritrea achieved independence, many of the neighborhood’s high-end homes were confiscated and reassigned to senior officials of the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).
Mohammed Ali Alamin
Mohammed Ali Alamin lived in Kuwait until the mid-1980s and was widely known as a supporter of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Forces (PLF). Through his extensive connections, he secured scholarships and employment opportunities for many Eritreans.
Although he continued cooperating with the ruling party after independence, several officials have indicated that he later developed differences with some members of the government.
Background
In 1977, a major split occurred within the PLF, which was led by the late Osman Saleh Sabbe. Isaias Afwerki broke away with a faction of the organization. From that point onward, Sabbe was regarded as a political adversary by Isaias and his associates.
Mohammed Ali Alamin sided with the Isaias faction and played an important role in establishing strong relations with Kuwait. His efforts helped make Kuwait one of the Eritrean liberation struggle’s most important supporters, providing arms, financial assistance, and other logistical support.
Kuwait also became the only country to host a residence for wounded Eritrean fighters after they received medical treatment in Kuwaiti hospitals.
Mohammed Ali Alamin maintained close relationships with journalists, intellectuals, and members of Kuwait’s business community. He also had close ties with the late Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, who briefly served as Emir of Kuwait in 2006 until his death in 2008.
During the 1980s, Mohammed Ali Alamin gradually withdrew from politics and devoted his attention to business ventures in several East African countries, including Uganda.
Murder in One of Eritrea’s Most Secure Neighborhoods
Setoum’s killing has raised many questions because it occurred in Tira Volo, one of Eritrea’s most secure neighborhoods.
Following Eritrea’s independence in 1991, many of the neighborhood’s former American and Italian-owned homes were allocated to senior government officials. The area has long been regarded as one of the country’s most closely guarded residential districts.
The murder is particularly embarrassing for a government that frequently highlights Eritrea’s tight security.
According to available information, investigators have found no signs of burglary or evidence that valuables were stolen from the house.
In the absence of an official explanation, various theories have emerged regarding possible financial, political, or personal motives, including the possibility of grievances or vendettas related to her late husband. None of these theories has been officially confirmed.
The killing is one of the most high-profile violent incidents reported in Eritrea in recent years. The country has not witnessed an incident of similar prominence since the attempted assassination of General Sebhat Ephrem in December 2018.
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