Tag: Isaias Afwerki
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His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, PM of Ethiopia
His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dear Dr. Abiy, Your Excellency, so far, you managed to give Ethiopia a powerful jolt of a positive energy while giving an energetic boost to the politics of the region. You admirably kept the momentum and direction of Ethiopian politics in pursuit of justice and…
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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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Berhane Becomes the First Casualty of the Jeddah Agreement
This morning, former minister Berhane Abrehe, who authored two books and publicly challenged Isaias Afwerki, warning him to avoid signing any national agreements before consulting the Eritrean parliament, was arrested in Asmara. His wife has been in jail for almost a year. The arrest was expected since many observers thought it was imminent. His arrest…
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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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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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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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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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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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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…
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A Citizen’s Letter to Isaias Afwerki
[The following is a letter penned by a person who lives in Eritrea. His name is withheld for his safety] …… To Isaias Afwerki Eritrea, March 13, 2018 Dear Isaias, You may not recognize me yet, but you are the cause of the scars I harbor and the anger with which I harbor it!!! I was…
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Acute Food Shortage In The Sahel Region of Eritrea
Reports from Northern Eritrea indicate the residents of the Sahel region are facing an acute shortage of foodstuff and other consumer items. Since the mid-1960s, the Northern Sahel region has hosted the bulk of the Eritrean liberation forces. Most of the war that raged against the Ethiopian occupation has been fought in that region. The…
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EL AL Pilots And African Refugees And Asylum Seekers
Israeli pilots refused to take part in “the illegal and inhumane deportations of African refugees and asylum seekers from Israel. Pilots of EL AL, the Israeli national carrier refuse to cooperate with the deportations of refugees and asylum seekers who were not provided with proper and legal vetting of their claims. For more than a…
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Eritrean Refugees in Israel and Reverse Operation Moses
on January 17, 2018, Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers and activist staged a mock slave auction outside the Knesset in Jerusalem to protest Israeli plans to deport them back to the country they escaped from or to third countries. While Israel offered Rwanda and Uganda to receive the asylees at $3500 per person, Libyan Militias and…
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The Eritrean Government Admits Its Banking Blunder
In an unusual admission to problems it faces, in yesterday’s edition of Haddas Eritrea, a Tigrinya newspaper it owns, the Eritrean government issued an editorial entitled “Appropriate Correction.” The editorial raises more questions than it answers as it fails to restore the exceeding loss of confidence in the government-owned financial institutions that allows depositors only…
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Eritrean Depositors Lose Control of Their Funds
In a move reminiscent of past campaigns, over the last few weeks, the Isaias Afwerki’s government has arrested many people and sealed their businesses. Government sources indicated the reason for the far-reaching arrests is to investigate alleged crimes of corruption. The doors of at least 200 businesses in Asmara and other places in Eritrea have…
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Isaias Afwerki Channels Haile DeruE in Interview With Eri-TV
1. Every time President Isaias Afwerki has an interview with his captive media (Eri-TV), a very large segment of the population take the very sensible decision of ignoring it, leaving a few of us obsessive types to watch it and divine meaning from it. Then the few of us who watched it disagree on what…
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With Qatar Gone, Eritrea Stalls To Avoid African Peacekeepers
Shortly after Eritrea and Djibouti sided with the Saudi Alliance against Qatar, the latter sent formal letters to both Djibouti and Eritrea, as well as to Mr. António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, informing them of its decision to withdraw its troops from their common border. Qatar had over 450 armed personnel guarding the buffer zone…
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A Stalemate Breaks Down in The Arabian Gulf
Generally, when there is a national conflict, the people follow. Their salvation can only come from wise friends—but only if the antagonists are willing to listen, and only if their friends are not inflaming their passions. Sadly, the confrontation in the Arabian Gulf is happening in the worst time when a friend both sides would…
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Eritrea Might Sever Diplomatic Ties with Qatar
In a press release issued by the Ministry of information yesterday, the Eritrean government supported the cutting of diplomatic ties by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain with the State of Qatar. In what seemed a concerted decision, last week the four countries severed their diplomatic ties with Qatar in unison. Their…