Tag: eritrea
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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.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…
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The Circular Ethiopian-Eritrean Border Saga
Ethiopia has come a long way. In the last fifty years, it traveled the longest distance from where it started compared to many African and Middle Eastern countries. The Epic journey took it out from the darkest abyss of a feudal system lorded over by Emperor Haile Selassie, through a bloody Dergue Marxist revolution that…
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Eritrea: Eid Prayer Celebrated Under Heavily Armed Guards
For the first time in remembered history, Eritrean Muslims performed Eid Al Fitr prayers under heavy military presence. Security forces had tightly surrounded several prayer fields and major mosques in the country where thousands of people congregated for the early morning Eid prayer. In the capital city, Asmara, the security forces brought along a fire…
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Ethiopian PM Abiy Unscrambles The Algiers Agreement
The Algiers Agreement is a peace treaty, which came about after 29 months of bloodshed, displacement and negotiations between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Named after the city where it was signed, the Agreement was a culmination of several agreements—OAU’s Framework Agreement, Modalities for its Implementation–that the two parties inked while they were fighting. And part of the…
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Excerpts From Awate Discussion Forum
As editors, we frequently find comments that we believe could be brilliant articles if expanded. And we wonder: if the brilliant members of the Awate Discussion Forum could articulate their ideas in such a manner, as comments, what would they produce if they spent some time to present their ideas in an article format! Today…
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The Arsonists’ Fire and a Bucket of Water
Into the noise with a small bucket of water, trying to help put down the fire that the arsonists started. If you like the water in the bucket, well and good. If you don’t, “you are forgiven”. If you like what you watch, be prepared for more. Also, kindly do not forget to like, share,…
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Eritrea: Ethiopia’s Achilles’ heel–Will PM Abyi Ahmed Succeed in Bringing Peace?
Following the Ethiopian political developments has become a roller coaster for Eritreans. As much as they are impressed by the developments, they are worried about what happens next. Ethiopian politics do influence Eritrea and the entire region greatly. The recent election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was well received by the people of the Horn…
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Eritrea: Ruling Party and Children’s Rights
In a news it released on its website, the Eritrean ruling party (PFDJ) said it concluded a seminar where the topic was children’s rights. The news indicated the two-day seminar was held between 12-13 April 2018 and claimed, “encouraging results have been registered in the country in implementation of Children’s right.” The PFDJ also claimed,…
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An Envious Eritrean Congratulating Ethiopia
Americans do not declare something over, “until the fat lady sings”. It’s a colloquial language referring to a fat lady who apparently used to sing before the end of Operas. For the last six-weeks, everybody was waiting for the Ethiopian Parliament to sing and officially declare a prime minister. It did, and as many expected,…
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Isaias-Saudi-UAE Alliance: Tails Trying to Wag the World
This is an Eritrean perspective, but probably it reflects the views of all victims alike. And Eritrea is ruled by a ruthless tyrant and complacent neighbors. Now regional countries are conspiring against Eritreans. That is more than a double whammy, it’s quintet interest arrayed against the interest of Eritreans. Isaias Afwerki, the Eritrean president, has…