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The Dardanelles, The Nile, And The Red Sea
In December of 2010, Bouazizi, a frustrated Tunisian street vendor, set himself ablaze and soon died of his injuries. The immolation effectively depleted the tolerance capital of Tunisians and they toppled the 23-year dictatorship of Zen Al Abideen bin Ali. However, not many realized that the Tunisian uprising was the eye of the storm that…
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A Boy’s Odyssey into the Multicultural Nature of Eritrea
It sounds Like Tigrinya, but it is not Tigrinya. When I was thirteen years old, a kid I met during our trek to the Sudan once said this to mock me: “haa wo tekkal shweshsh[1]” as he skillfully navigated the bushes, donning his shorts, which were as tight and as short as todays boxers. I…
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Atlantic Council: Leaving Eritreans In The Cold
On December 8, the Atlantic Council, an American think-tank, organized a panel discussion on Eritrea. Entitled “Rethinking Eritrea”, the event was moderated by Bronwyn Bruton,the deputy director of the think tank’s Africa Center; and the panelists were Seth Kaplan, a professorial lecturer at Johns Hopkins University; Anthony Carroll, senior associate at the Center for Strategic…
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Undercover Lobbyist Rethinking Eritrea
The Atlantic Council (AC), an American Think Tank, is hosting a seminar, aptly entitled, “Rethinking Eritrea.” There is no Eritrean in the list of panelists, unless Dan Connell, a longtime friend of Eritrea is considered one. The meeting is scheduled for today, December 8, 2016, in Washington, DC, for the benefit of the deputy director…
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Gejeret 1975: Life Under Mengistu’s Derg
If you are from Gejeret, then you might remember where the residents of that neighborhood in Asmara found refuge in 1975. I was one of those who took refuge at San Francesco or Collegio La Salle, which was administered by the Kerenite Fratelli, Fr. Michael, Fr. Kahsay, Fratello Beyene, and Fr. Demsas. Later, I heard…
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Nile Politics: Eritrea, Sudan Ethiopia, Egypt
On November 28, 2016, Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki traveled to Egypt for a three-day visit and met Egypt’s president, Abdulfatah AlSisi. The official news outlets of the two countries didn’t disclose much about the visit except the usual boilerplate statement, ‘they held talks to boost bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.” However, several Egyptian…
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Recognizing Individuals: A Step Towards Transparency
Let’s pause and consider ourselves and identify “who is who” among those who are making history, by being in the foremost list of activist leaders, in the quest of justice for Eritrea. In today’s Eritrean political mindset, many may feel discomfort when individual dissidents are picked from the crowds of justice seekers pool. Though these…
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Qatar Airways Suspends Flight to Asmara
Amid fanfare and propaganda, in August, 2014, Qatar Airways announced it will launch a twice weekly flight to Asmara starting December 5, of the same year. The launching of the flight was considered a concession to appease Isaias Afwerki the ruler of Eritrea who continually frustrated Qatar’s mediation effort to resolve the border issue between…
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USE: The United States of Eritrea
Currently Eritrea is ruled by an undemocratic regime that, can’t be reformed, continues to violate basic human rights, and is unable to provide even bare necessities for most its citizens. And it has been condemned by human right organisations and the United Nations. Dwelling on that however, does not help. Instead, I would rather focus…
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Anatomy of a Proverb
I had a relative who won all her arguments, thanks to her toolbox full of proverbs and parables which she used naturally and effectively. I think now, in retrospect, that for her to have won all those arguments, she must have followed techniques whereby each argument is forced to turn itself to an angle which…
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Language and Religion In Eritrean Politics
(The following article (first published on June 29, 2011) was presented at a panel discussion under the theme “Eritrea’s Path towards Democracy: Dialogue on Constitutional Issues”. The event was held at the Universities at Shady Grove, Rockville, Maryland, on June 25, 2011; the organizers of the event assigned the topic to the presenter.) I didn’t choose…
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Ethiopian PM on a State Visit to Saudi Arabia
Bringing what seems an end to an almost two-year old speculation about worsening relations between Ethiopia and the Arab Gulf countries, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn is on the second day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia. However, diplomatic relations in the region are generally unstable and may change with any new development. On Sunday,…
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Eritrea: Language and Identity And Globalization
The article, “Abyssinia (Al Habasha): Origins and Language by: Professor JalaLuddin M.Saleh, Ph.D.” posted by Beyan Negash has generated a very good discussion on the origins of Ge’ez in relationship to Arabic. I have posted several clarification comments under the article. My assessment of the article itself comes from a limited world view but it…
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Ahmed Suwera: An Honorable Man Departs
Today, the Khartoum sun didn’t shine on the selfless Ahmed Suwera. He departed this world leaving behind a legacy of a dignified and inspirational life despite old age and neglect. The country for which he spent all his life was not welcoming. It has become a private ranch for a regime of tyranny. Ahmed Suwera…
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Etiyopia Hoy, May You Rejoice!
If not for the Ethiopian-Eritrean border war of 1998, the Eritrean ruling party (PFDJ) would have continued harassing anyone who criticized or expressed resentment towards its exclusive relations with Ethiopia. Instead of healing the old wounds between the two peoples, it used Ethiopia to expand its selfish commercial interests and bolster its security might. Between…
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UN Extends Arms Embargo On Eritrea
On November 5, 2016, the UN Security Council renewed the arms embargo it slapped Eritrea with since 2009 (resolution 1907). Ten member states voted for the resolution while five (Angola, China, Egypt, Russian Federation, and Venezuela) abstained. The Security Council also extended the mandate of the UN Somalia-Eritrea Minoring Group (SEMG) until December 15, 2017…
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UN Group Names Two Eritrean Pilots Missing In Italy
In a report is issued on 31 October 2016, the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group (UNSEMG) stated that two Eritrean Airforce captains didn’t report to the Italian Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea after their travel to Italy. According to the report, those who are granted visa by the embassy to visit Italy are required to report to…
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The Takfiri State
In this article we will try to understand and justify what might have happened to Eastern Bejastan but from a distance and in a way that I hope is more engaging. It is a bit weird to try to talk about something without talking about it. You shouldn’t take these things seriously anyway. What should…
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Hailemariam’s New Cabinet Includes Three Women
In a drastic overhaul of his government, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemarian Desalegn formed a new cabinet of 30 ministers. All previous ministers except nine left the cabinet. On Tuesday, November 1, 2016, the Ethiopian parliament approved the new appointments to the cabinet which is believed to be the most ethnically diverse cabinet in the history…
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Abyssinia-(Al Habasha) Origins and Language
*Introduction: Conducting a discourse on language in Eritrean context in dispassionate manner had proven next to impossible – if past experiences are any guide. But hope is not lost, as sheer coincidence would have it, recently, EMDHR sponsored seminar via PalTalk that took place earlier this month, and it was refreshing to hear Dr. Chefena’s approach on language…
