Independence Day Blues and Illegitimate Rulers

On the occasion of the approaching Eritrean Independence Day, I would like to suggest some meaningful activities. Eritreans have danced enough despite the sufferings. They celebrated Independence Day religiously, always counting, and now we have reached the 32nd anniversary. What does numbers mean if the real oppression is ignored and we only focus on the emotional independence? Unfortunately, the independence Eritreans dreamed of has been twisted and deformed. In the 32nd anniversary, I wish Eritreans reflected and contemplated on the affairs of the peoples’ predicament.

Since 1991, the ruling party has forced citizens and ruling party members alike to a game of Musical Chair. Only one person stayed put on the last chair, most are out. Some became prisoners, some were exiled, frozen, died or humiliated—except a few. That should be the focus, not the propaganda theatrics that doesn’t add anything to the real problems of the nation.

The Struggle era EPLF held its first congress in 1977, the second in 1984, it held its third and last after Eritrea’s independence, in 1994. That is when it inherited the legacy of the EPLF and renamed its party PFDJ. At that congress it elected a 75-member central committee (CC). It supplements it with 75 handpicked people to make a 150-member national council. That national council met a few times before it was relegated to irrelevance.But what is more significant is the fate of the majority of the 75 members of the CC.

As difficult as it was, awate.com prepared a list of the CC members and it used to update it. The last update was done in 2015. Now in 2023, surely there are many changes, a few updated below. But with full confidence, one say the PFDJ is illegitimate as per common-sense and as per its own charter. The fact that the CC didn’t meet after 1994, three-decades ago, makes it defunct. Even if the PFDJ claims it’s still leading the party, it’s not possible. How can a CC of 75 be considered legitimate without holding a congress for decades and more than half of its members are either in jail, in exile, or dead? The PFDJ is illegitimate, and it doesn’t have a quorum to even rule as a party.

The CC members are a small sample of what Eritreans have been going through for the last three-decades. But there are many citizens, thousands of them who were made to disappear. For instance, I know Sheikh Mohammed Mranet, a judge who was napped a few weeks after the independence of Eritrea never to be seen again. His children grew up and now have their own children who ask, “why we don’t meet our grandfather.” That grandfather was the young man I know, the man who recruited me to the struggle when I was in Grade 8. How I wish he aged gracefully in his home, free, with his family, and watching his grandchildren grow up!

The noise of the never-ending PFDJ celebrations buries the cries of the people. Why is it that only a few people only advocate for them? Why is the nation accepting such injustice and abuse? Ironically, many  Eritreans proudly boast their culture upholds the principle of justice, and it’s fair! The number of people who should have raised their voices should have been much more, but it is not. Except for the few dedicated activist, including the children of Petros Solomon and Aster Yohannes, Vanessa Tsehaye, and Saleh Younis, and a few others. Many seem to be forgetting the prisoners. That’s what the PFDJ betted on—with time, everything will be forgotten, and they can get away with their injustices.

I never imagined I would compare the government of independent Eritrea with others, or that it would be this cruel. Even Haile Selassie, equipped with feudal values, made gestures, and released prisoners on national occasions…or when his family members got married, or had children! Can’t an Eritrean ruler be as compassionate?

There are many prisoners off the radar—some accused of collaborating with past Ethiopian rulers, or for  being members of other political parties. How can a legitimate government keep people in jail without trail for decades. It’s appalling and inhuman.

It gets worse with the supporters of the regime. They use all tools to silence people speak up. They are loud and obnoxious. They open their mouth to silence people and to kill their conscience. But they have no moral courage to speak against the injustices and tell the PFDJ that Eritreans do not deserve such cruel treatment. They wouldn’t; they would rather see the conscious join them and be as complacent as they are.

For those who do not care about the suffering of their people: your dancing and shouting has no impact on the nation. It just trivializes the real human problems and elongates the injustices. Just remember that.

On the occasion of the approaching Eritrean Independence Day, I would like to suggest some meaningful activities. Eritreans have danced enough despite the sufferings. They celebrated Independence Day religiously, always counting. Now we have reached the 32^nd anniversary. What does numbers mean if the real oppression is ignored, and the focus stays on the emotional independence? Unfortunately, the independence Eritreans dreamed of has been twisted and deformed. In the 32^nd anniversary, I wish Eritreans reflected and contemplated on the affairs of the peoples’ predicament.

Since 1991, the ruling party has forced citizens and ruling party members alike to a game of musical chair. Only one person stayed put on the last chair, many are out. Some became prisoners, some were exiled, frozen, died or humiliated—except for a few. That should be the focus, not the propaganda theatrics that doesn’t add anything to the real problems of the nation.

The Struggle era EPLF held its first congress in 1977, the second in 1984, it held its third and last after Eritrea’s independence, in 1994. That is when it inherited the legacy of the EPLF and renamed its party PFDJ. At that congress it elected a 75-member central committee (CC). It supplements it with 75 handpicked people to make a 150-member national council which met only a few times before it was relegated to irrelevance. But what is more significant is the fate of the majority of the 75 CC-members.

As difficult as it was, awate.com prepared a list of the CC members and used to update it. The last update was done in 2015. Now in 2023, surely there are many changes, but I have updated it as much as I can. One can confidently say the PFDJ is illegitimate as per common-sense and as per its own charter. The fact that the central committee didn’t meet after 1994 three-decades makes it defunct. Even if the PFDJ claims it’s still leading the party, it’s not possible. How can a CC of 75 members be considered legitimate without holding a congress for decades and more than half of its members are either in jail, in exile, or dead? The PFDJ is illegitimate, and it doesn’t have a quorum to even rule as a party.

The CC members are a small sample of what Eritreans have been going through for the last three-decades. But there are many citizens, the thousands who were made to disappear. For instance, I know Sheikh Mohammed Mranet, a judge who was napped a few weeks after the independence of Eritrea never to be seen again. His children grew up and have children who ask, “why they don’t meet our grandfather.” That grandfather was the young man I know who recruited me to the struggle when I was in Grade 8. How I wish he aged in his home free, with his family watching his grandchildren grow up!

The noise of the never-ending PFDJ celebration buries the cries of the people. Why is it that only a few people only advocate for them? Why is the nation accepting such injustice and abuse? And Eritreans proudly boast their culture upholds the principle of justice, and how they are fair! The number of people who should have raised their voices should have been much more, but it is not. Except for the few dedicated activist, including the children of Petros Solomon and Aster Yohannes, Vanessa Tsehaye, and Saleh Younis, and a few others. Many seem to be forgetting the prisoners. That’s what the PFDJ betted on—with time, everything will be forgotten, and they can get away with their injustices.

I never imagined I would compare the government of independent Eritrea to be this cruel. Eve Haile Selassie, based on his feudal values, made gestures, and released prisoners on national occasions…even when his family members got married, or had children. Can’t an Eritrean ruler be as compassionate? There are many prisoners off the radar—some accused of collaborating with past Ethiopian rulers or being members of political parties. How can a legitimate government. Keep people in jail without trail for decades. It’s appalling and inhuman.

It even gets worse with the supports of the regime. They use all tools to silence people like me. They are loud and obnoxious. They open their mouth to silence us and to kill our conscience. But they have no moral courage to speak against the injustices and tell the PFDJ that Eritreans do not deserve such cruel treatment. But they wouldn’t; they would rather see us join them and be as complacent as they are.

For those who do not care about the suffering of their people, your dancing and shouting has no impact of the nation. It just trivializes the real human issue and elongates the injustices. Just remember that.

NB: The following list was prepared by Awate Team, updated for Negarit

Abdella Jaber	ARRESTED		The Director of PFDJ’s Organizational Affairs, Abdella Jaber was considered instrumental in organizing Eritreans in the Middle East and he did the groundwork for the Eritrea-brokered  Sudanese peace agreement between Khartoum and the Eastern Front. Arrested in 2013 allegedly for his involvement in Forto 2013, the attempt to take over the Ministry of Information and demand democratic changes. His whereabouts are unknown.
Ahmed Haj Ali	ARRESTED		Served as Minister of Tourism and later Minister of Energy and Mining. The first Eritrean Ambassador to hoist the Eritrean flag at the UN. He was employed in that capacity until 2013 when he, along with Abdella Jaber and Mustapha Nurhussein (former governor of the South Zone) was arrested for his alleged role in Forto 2013, the attempt to take over the Ministry of Information and demand democratic changes.
Alamin Sheik Saleh	ARRESTED		When the G-15 were G-19, they included people like Alamin Sheik Saleh. He retracted his endorsement under heavy pressure from the President’s Office. He was frozen not long after, and subsequently arrested and is reportedly in jail he was.
Beraki Gebreselassie	ARRESTED		A teacher, co-founder of Revolutionary School, and Minister of Information during the time that Eritrea had a brief relatively free press, Beraki was a member of the G-15, and he was arrested on September 18, 2001. For nearly 13 years, he has been in prison in the deserts of  Eilla-Eiro.
Berhane Gebrezgiher	ARRESTED		Was in charge of the National Reserve during the 1998-2000 border war with Ethiopia when he was demoted, which generated a chain of letters to Isaias Afwerki. Was a member of the G-15, arrested on September 18, 2001. Presumed to be at Eilla-Eiro although some opposition news outlets have also reported that he died in detention.
Berhane Abrehe	ARRESTED		FROZEN: The former Minister of Finance had a falling out with Isaias Afwerki over the need for budgets and audits. A graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he was Director of Macroeconomic policy before he became minister. Is in poor health. Has no government or party portfolio and is otherwise frozen. He was arrested after he write a book critical of ghe system
Ermias Debessai	ARRESTED		The former chief of Red Sea Trading Corporation (“09”) who is also known as “Papayo” was sentenced by the Special Court for “corruption”, served time, was released and subsequently arrested in December 2003, with his sister Senait, who was a popular member of EPLF’s cultural troupe. They have been in jail for over a decade.
Germano Nati	ARRESTED		political activist, cadre, governor, administrator, Nati was a member of the G-15, and arrested on September 18, 2001. He is presumed to be in Eilla-Eiro, although some opposition groups have reported that he is dead and published a death certificate attributing his death to kidney failure.
Haile Woldetensae	ARRESTED		Also known as “Derue”, Haile, who was Eritrea’s Foreign Minister during the Eritrea-Ethiopia border war (98-00), was a member of the G-15, and arrested on September 18, 2001 when the round-up of G-15 was initiated. A prison guard who escaped says that Haile, who suffers from diabetes, was losing his eyesight when he last saw him.
Mohammed A. Omaro	ARRESTED		One of the founders of EPLF and later PFDJ, Omaro held a series of ambassadorial positions including Kenya and Nigeria. He returned to Eritrea in 2014 and was subsequently arrested.
Mustafa Nur-Hussien	ARRESTED		Along with Abdella Jaber and Ahmed Haj Ali, Mustapha Nurhussein was arrested shortly after Forto 2013, the attempt to take over the Ministry of Information and demand democratic change. His whereabouts is unknown.
Petros Solomon	ARRESTED		Formerly Eritrea’s Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, Petros Solomon, renowned for his role during the War of Independence, was a member of the G-15, and arrested on September 18, 2001 when the round-up of G-15 was initiated. He is in Eilla-Eiro prison in the remote deserts of Eritrea. His wife, Aster Yohannes, was arrested three years later when she returned from the United States, where she was completing her studies. Her mother and her children eventually joined the long list of the exiled.
Stefanos Seyoum	ARRESTED		Stephanos’s last post was Director General of Inland Revenue where he made noise wondering why Red Sea Trading Corporation was immune from paying taxes. A member of the G-15, he was arrested on September 18, 2001 when the round-up of G-15 was initiated. He is in Eilla-Eiro prison in the remote deserts of Eritrea.
Alamin M. Said	DIED		The Secretary of the PFDJ makes occasional appearances on official party businesses but the party he is Secretary to rarely meets at organizational level (has been 20 years.) His position is largely ceremonial and he is in poor health.
Ahmed Omer Kakai	DIED		The major general was once commander of the Aseb Front. He appears to be frozen as not much is heard about him.
Naizgi Kiflu	DIED DENIED BURIAL		DIED, DENIED BURIAL: The veteran EPLF fighter died in London in 2013. For three months, his family pleaded with Isaias Afwerki to allow his remains to return to Eritrea. They were denied and he was buried in London.
Adhanom G/Mariam	DIED IN EXILE		EXILED. Was a member of the G-15, one of 3 who were not arrested because they were outside the country on September 18, 2001 when the round-up of G-15 was initiated. He was an attorney, governor of Seraye county , is an active member of the opposition organizations and one of the leaders of the Eritrean People’s Movement.
Ali Said Abdella	DIED IN OFFICE		DIED IN OFFICE ABRUPTLY: Was named Foreign Minister when Haile “Derue” Woldetensae was shifted to Ministry of Trade/Industry in 2000 (and subsequently arrested in 2001 with the G-15.) Held the position of Foreign Minister until he died suddenly in 2005. Some of the opposition media reported that there was foul play involved and the government reported that it had performed an autopsy and he had died of a heart attack.
Andemikael Kahsai	DIED IN OFFICE		DIED IN OFFICE ABRUPTLY: Former Ambassador to the US and Italy (after the expulsion of Eritrea’s ambassador to Italy), Andemichael died mysteriously in Asmara after allegedly falling down a flight of stairs.
Gebrezgiher A/Mariam	DIED IN OFFICE		DIED IN OFFICE: Also known as “Wuchu”, Major General Gerezgheir passed away in April 2014 after battling an unspecified illness and receiving treatment in Italy. He was posthumously promoted to Chief of Staff.
Saleh Mekki	DIED IN OFFICE		DIED IN OFFICE (ABRUPTLY): The Minister of Health died suddenly, reportedly of a heart attack, on October 2nd 2009. A member of the mass organizations in the US, Saleh Mekki returned home after independence and he was appointed minister of marine resources and later ministry of health.
Woldemikael Gebremariam	DIED IN OFFICE		DIED IN OFFICE (ABRUPTLY) in August 2013, when he was the Minister of Local Government. Because his predecessor, Mahmoud Sheriffo, was ALSO the Vice President, many assumed Weldemikael was also the Vice President, when he wasn’t. Neither is, for that matter, his successor. The Minister of Local Government is just that: NOT the vice president. There are no vice presidents in Eritrea.
Aster Fissehatsion	DIED IN PRISON		DIED IN PRISON: Was a Director in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and a member of the G-15, who was arrested on September 18, 2001. According to an escaped prison guard, Aster died shortly after her transfer from the Embatkala prison to Eilla-Eiro. (She was one of two female prisoners: the other being Meriam Hagos, Director of Cinemas.)
Hamid Himid	DIED IN PRISON		DIED IN PRISON. Was a member of the G-15, arrested on September 18, 2001. According to an escaped prison guard at  Eilla-Eiro, Hamid Himid died in Eilla-Eiro prison.
Mahmud Sheriffo	DIED IN PRISON		DIED IN PRISON. The former and only vice-president (in the history of post-independent Eritrea), Sheriffo was a member of the G-15, arrested on September 18, 2001. According to an escaped prison guard at Eilla-Eiro, Mahmoud Sheriffo died in prison in Embatkala, before the prisoners were moved to Eilla-Eiro.
Ogbe Abraha	DIED IN PRISON		DIED IN PRISON. Renown during the War of Independence, and one of only two full generals, Ogbe was Chief of Staff of the Eritrean Defense Forces until he was demoted and stripped of his rank by Isaias Afwerki in 2001 for daring to criticize the way the Eritrea-Ethiopia war was executed. A member of the G-15, he was arrested on September 18, 2001. According to an escaped prison guard at  Eilla-Eiro, Ogbe Abraha attempted to commit suicide, didn’t succeed, but died shortly thereafter in prison in Embatkala, before the prisoners were moved to Eilla-Eiro.
Omer Hassen Tewil	DIED IN PRISON		DIED IN PRISON: Major General Omer Hassen Tewil was one of Eritrea’s five zonal commanders. Shortly after Forto 2013, he was suspected of having a hand in the “coup attempt” and arrested. He reportedly died in jail in May 2014.
Saleh Idris Kekya	DIED IN PRISON		DIED IN PRISON. Saleh, once the Director of the Office of the President, and Minister of Transporation, was a member of the G-15, and arrested on September 18, 2001. According to an escaped prison guard at  Eilla-Eiro, Saleh Idris Kekya died in Eilla-Eiro shortly after his transfer from Embatkala as he was unable to cope with the harsh climate.
Mohammed O. Redo	DIED, CONFIRMED		CONFIRMED Long ago: Omer Redo hails from Afar. in 1990 before being assigned to Radio Dimtsi Hafash Afar program, he was around afar area in department of political organization of EPLF. He was decent and taciturn man with full of integrity. Shortly after independence served as Ambassador to Yemen. and passed away after a short illness.
Woledmichael Abraha		DIED	OCCUPIED: Appointed Minister of Local Government after Woldemichael Gebremariam passed away abruptly.
Andeberhan W/Giorgis	EXILED		EXILED: Held a number of positions including ambassador to the EU. Joined the field from the US, after getting an MBA from University of Colorado.  For a long time after he left the country and his association with the regime, he was tight-lipped and had nothing to say. Surfaced in 2013 as a spokesperson for the Eritrean Forum, more commonly known as “Medrekh.”
Haile Menkorious	EXILED		EXILED. Was a member of the G-15, one of 3 who were not arrested because they were outside the country on September 18, 2001 when the round-up of G-15 was initiated. A graduate of Harvard University, he is Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union as well as Under-Secretary-General of the UN.
Mesfin Hagos	EXILED		EXILED. Was a member of the G-15, one of 3 who were not arrested because they were outside the country on September 18, 2001 when the round-up of G-15 was initiated. He is part of the leadership of Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP.)
Mohammed B. Blatta	EXILED		EXILED: A former member of the ELF leadership, Mohammed Berhan Blatta was a member of the G-15 before he disassociated himself from the group and was spared prison. He left the country and now lives in exile.
Muhyadin Shengeb	EXILED		EXILED: The long-time chairman of National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), left the party and the country in 2004. Not much was heard from him for 10 years but he is now part of the leadership of Eritrean Forum, also known as “Medrek.”
Abrahaley Kifle	FROZEN		FROZEN. Former ELF (Sagem) member who joined the EPLF after the implosion of ELF. Has held a series of posts including as liaison for the UN commission monitoring the Eritrea-Ethiopia border (UNMEE); consul-general in Mekele; charge d’affairs in Holland. Was long considered up-and-coming after he was offered multiple portfolios.He appears to have been frozen: not much is heard about him.
Ahmed Tahir Baduri	FROZEN		FROZEN: Served in various capacities including UN Ambassador and appeared to be on fast track to become Foreign Minister particularly when younger versions of himself were blocked advancement opportunities. Now a shadow of his old self, roaming in Asmara.
Alamin Siraj	FROZEN		FROZEN: Was Eritrea’s Sports Commissioner in the 1990s. He has no role in the party or the government now.
Salma Hassen	FROZEN		FROZEN: Moved to Eritrea from the United States where she held posts as zonal administrator (Anseba Region) and Minister of Labor and Human Welfare. There are reports, still unconfirmed, that she has been frozen.
Worku Tesfamikael	FROZEN		FROZEN: Was formerly the Minister of Tourism. Appears to be frozen and has no governmental or ministerial portfolio. Likely in NUEW.
Abraha Kassa	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED. Long-standing head of National Security. Usually avoids the limelight but, in 2014, he participated in a symposium on human smuggling where he blamed the United States for being behind the massive exodus of Eritreans from Eritrea.
Almaz Ljam	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Has always been low profile. Even some of her colleagues within the Central Committee have no idea who she is. She is a manager in one of Eritrea’s six administrative zones, the Central Zone.
Amna Nur-Hussein	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: A nurse in the armed struggle, she climbed the PFDJ ladder and, when Saleh Mekki passed away, she succeeded him in the job of Minister of Health.
Asemrom Gebrezgiher	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Major General and head of Logistics of the defense forces.
Askalu Menkerios	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Despite the fact that her husband was outed by Wikiileaks as being anti-Isaias Afwerki and subsequently arrested, Askalu continues to serve as Minister of Tourism after a stint as Minister of Labor and Social Welfare.
Fana Tesfamariam	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Governor Southern Region administrative office. Until recently she was the mayor of Massawa, although, in the parlance of the ruling party, “Mayor” and “Governor” are titles too threatening to Isaias Afwerki so she is known as the “Administrator of the Sub-zone of Massawa.”
Filipos W/yohannes	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: After the death of Major General Wuchu, Filipos was named as Chief of Staff of Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF). Filipos is ascendant (for now) and he is rumored to either become the Defense Minister or to report to a future Defense Minister.
Fozia Hashim	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Fozia Hashim is the Justice Minister that many humanitarian organizations send their (futile) appeal letters to, unaware that she has nothing to say about justice other than as it pertains to enforcing organizational dictates.
Giorgis Teklemikael	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: A former member of ELF (Sagem), Girogis is the Minister of Trade and Industry. Formerly the Minister of Transport and Communication, Giorgis is soft-spoken, not much is known about him.
Hagos Gebrehiwet	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Also known as “Kisha”, Hagos is the Director of PFDJ’s Economic Affairs Department and, more importantly, boss of Red Sea Trading Corporation (“09”), the parastatal company with its hands in every industry. One of its companies, Sembel Serehat Hatsinin Entseytn, actually constructed the Eilla Eiro prison where most of the political prisoners and private journalists were/are kept.
Haile Mehtsun	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Brigadier General Haile, who was Eritrea’s first Health Minister, is Chief of Military Hospitals. A prison guard who escaped from Eritrea, Eyob Bahta, reported that Haile is the medical doctor who visited the G-15 at Eilla-Eiro.
Haile Samuel	OCCUPIED		Also known as “China”, the Maj General is one of five commanders of Eritrea’s five Command Zones.
Hamed M. Karikare	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: The major general is the Commander of Eritrean Naval Forces.
Issa Ahmed Issa	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Was Eritrea’s ambassador to Sudan until 2011. And after a haitus he has been in that position to date. He (or his namesake) is occasionally mentioned in the news media in ad-hoc roles, such as organizing festivals.
Leul Ghebreab	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Replaced by Ms. Teka Tesfamichael. She was the chairwoman of the National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW), last seen at the Bologna Festival chairing a meeting.
Musa Rabá	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: The police chief was one of the signatories when the G-15 were G-19; he disassociated himself from the group under heavy pressure from the president’s office.
Osman M. Omer	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Eritrea’s ambassador to Egypt was ambassador to UAE, and governor (Administrator) of Denkalia (Southern Red Sea) region.
Osman Saleh	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: A former teacher, Eritrea’s Foreign Minister (formerly its Minister of Education) is often accompanied by Yemane Gebreab, the political director of PFDJ, the ruling party.
Romedan O. Awliay	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: The former Sports Commissioner is now the Administrator of the Central Zone.
Sebhat Ephrem	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED. Sebhat was the Top General and Defense Minister for a long time. After the long-promised reshuffling of ministers, he was reportedly going to be the Minister of Energy and Mines. But, lately, it appears that he has fallen off the favored list and may be headed to the frozen pile. He was shot at his home a few years ago , bad health and his public appearance is limited
Simon Gebredengel	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: the Deputy Director of National Security survived an assassination attempt in 2007 (the government media offered a typical promise to conduct a full investigation and then typically forgot to share its findings) when the military commanders started acting as warlords fighting over territories and dividing up loots among themselves. He has passed several loyalty tests and appears (APPEARS!) to be firmly in the insiders camp.
Teklai Habteselassie:	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Major General Teklai is the Commander of Eritrea’s Air Force. Husband of Leul Gebreab. He was promoted to the job when his predecessor, Commander Habtezion Hadgu, was arrested (he remains in prison) for criticizing Isaias Afwerki’s role in the Eritrea-Ethiopia border war.
Tesfai Gebreselassie	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED. Tesfai has had two jobs since 1993: as Minister of Energy and Mines; and as Minister of Land, Water & Environment. He has had the good fortune not to preside over power outages, and to preside over the gold rush (he was the government’s front man in its dealings with Nevsun.)
Yemane Gebreab	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: The Political Director of the ruling party, PFDJ, appears to have multiple portfolios including as godfather of YPFDJ, the youth franchise of the ruling party; the chaperone of the Foreign Minister and the imaginary “special advisor to the President.”
Yusuf Sayiqh	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED (but FADING): With the death or arrest of almost all of the senior Sahel-Semhar portion of the EPLF alliance, Yusuf is a loner: he recently attended the failed PFDJ festival in Bologna, but no one recognized or mentioned him.
Zahra Jaber	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED (barely): the last consequential positions she had were two decades ago as member of the Constitutional Commission of Eritrea and as Mayor of Keren.
Zemhret Yohannes	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Joined the EPLF from ELF (Saghem.) His official job is as Head of Research and Documentation of the PFDJ. An ideologue, he often chairs meetings in Europe to reinforce the message of the party: that more patience, and more sacrifice is required. Residing in Europe in bad health for continuous medical care.
Zemzem Abdella	OCCUPIED		OCCUPIED: Zemzem who? Nobody in the Central Committee appears to know who she is.
Isaias Afwerki	PRESIDENT: for life.		PRESIDENT: for life.
Berhane Zerai	UNKNOWN		UNKNOWN: Very little is known of this veteran EPLF combatant other than his nickname is “Tawla” and that he is handicapped veteran.
Hiwet Zemikael	UNKNOWN		UNKNOWN: Hiwet reportedly moved to the United States and now lives in Dallas where she has no political role with the party or government.
Mahmud Ali Herui	UNKNOWN		UNKNOWN: Formerly ambassador to Qatar, then to Saudi Arabia. Husband of Ruth Simon, the AFP reporter who was jailed for “reporting secret information told by Isaias in a press briefing”. He is the younger brother of high ranking army officer, Saleh Herui the commander of the battle for the liberation of Dekemhare, who languished in jail for a long time until he was released a broken man.
Mohammed Ali Jaber	UNKNOWN		UNKNOWN: formerly ambassador to Yemen and Djibouti, current situation unknown even by some of the remaining members of the Central Committee.
Nati Ibrahim	UNKNOWN		UNKNOWN: Nati Ibrahim was one of the signatories when the G-15 were G-19; he disassociated himself from the group under heavy pressure from the president’s office. His status now is unknown.
UNKOWN	UNKNOWN