Tag: Isaias Afwerki
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The Courage to Be Eritrean: Navigating a Moment of Crisis
Eritrea stands at a precipice, a chasm in the unfolding narrative of our nation. This juncture demands not merely the reflex of action, but a descent into the very core of our being—a profound interrogation of what it means to be Eritrean. As the shadow of Ethiopia’s threatened war for Assab looms, we are compelled…
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Eritrea’s Unanswered Question: 34 Years of Isaias Afwerki’s Rule
Eritrea’s Unanswered Question: What 34 Years of Isaias Afwerki’s Rule Reveal About Sovereignty and Survival In the beginning was the question—etched into the soul of the nation itself: Can Eritrea survive—and thrive—as a truly sovereign, independent state? For decades, global powers insisted we could not. Italy once tried to sell Eritrea to Belgium, citing economic…
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The Eritrean Regime and Its Neighbors
On May 24, 1991, Eritreans achieved their long-sought independence, formally recognized on May 24, 1993. Yet, true freedom remained elusive. The organization that became the ruling government legally solidified its hold—not through popular consent, but through brute force, injustice, and external alliances and considerations. Those early days were euphoric; few foresaw the wars and displacements…
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“Military Communique #1: Coup d’ Etat”
This was a common radio announcement, preceded by martial music and read in the deep voice of an officer. Immediately, fear engulfed listeners, followed by intense discussions and swirling rumors. Most people in the so-called third world instantly recognized it as a coup d’état—usually in a country they couldn’t even locate on a map. A…
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The UAE and the Horn of Africa – A Swirl of Interests and Alliances
Last time I said I would cover the UAE… Here it is. Now, this isn’t a comprehensive history. It’s a sketch—basic pointers you can expand on. But it’s important to know where you stand and what circles surround you. People are born into families that grow into clans, tribes, regions, and nations. Let’s focus on…
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Hail Ethiopia, Hail Peace!
“Abiy’s provocative declaration has now become a rallying cry for some Ethiopian extremists.” “No claimed ancient bloodline can legitimize ownership—leaving aside political decisions.” “You shall not covet the Eritrean Red Sea.”
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Delusion and Confusion: Awet NeHafash or Awet Nwedi Afom
Isaias Afwerki vs. Reality: A Speech Drenched in Delusion. That was illustrated in his last public appearance to deliver the Independence Day speech. As usual, it was a speech drenched in delusion. Listening to Isaias Afwerki’s speeches should be classified as punishment. They are stale, tedious, and laced with bitter pronouncements that parch the tongue.…
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Aferkebu Bun Dereja – Stop the Empire
In Eritrean tradition, coffee is served in three rounds—Awel, Dereja, and Bereka. This is Aferkebu Bun Dereja, the second round in a conversation about empire, exile, and the ongoing silencing of Eritrean voices. We explore how authoritarian power survives in modern disguise, how dissent is criminalized, and why Eritrea today is flying on autopilot—with no…
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Wobbly Thrones of Tyrants and Echoes of Empires
Ancient empires ruled with swords—today’s regimes rule through propaganda, proxies, and fear. From Baathist Iraq to Abiy’s Ethiopia, the playbook of power, deception, and oppression remains the same. This piece reflects on history, misinformation, and the urgent need for genuine national healing in Eritrea and beyond. #Negarit321
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Between Approbation and Anathema Justice Suffers
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity.” Faulkner, W. (1955), “Requiem for a Nun” This is a reflection on the insightful conversation between Daniel Teklai and Saleh “Gadi”…
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Thanks to Dr. MK Omar, Inputs Enriching the Eritrean Library
Many Eritreans are for sure not well aware of how much poor the Eritrean library still is. Records of the colonial period were themselves scanty on top of being mostly distorted or written by less informed authors. But nothing can be done about that except regretting that it was so. Eritreans of the first two…
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Excuse Me PFDJ, I’m Sorry
Rumors about Isaias Afwerki grooming his son, Abraham, to take over the presidency of Eritrea. Is it just a father passing down his legacy, or does it reflect a broader trend in global politics where dynasties and nepotism take center stage? Should Abraham be blamed for his father’s actions? The political system in Eritrea, along…
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Negarit 308: The Ethiopian Red Sea Craze
Over a week ago, I started to record an episode that I didn’t finish. This is what I prepared: For the last five or six months, I have been suffering from a nasty papilloma growth in my nostril. Tomorrow, I will lie on an operation table to get rid of it. Those of you who…
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What is the PFDJ problem with the UN?
If you are oblivious to how things work, you risk feeding on every propaganda or rumor and endlessly blaming everyone but yourself. There is a danger of forgetting the root cause, thus point your fingers in the wrong direction. For instance, if you misplace any of your clothes, you would make sure to check the…
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Brezidenti Isaias Named to Lead IGAD
Usually, there are a few people who get knee jerk reaction whenever Isaias is mentioned in a negative tone or criticized. Given the situation at home, I wish they get used to it. Isaias is not your pet, but a man who is ruthlessly ruling Eritreans unelected, for a too long. It’s better to swallow…
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Isaias Calls for Intifada in Eritrea
Recently a usual “interview” of Isaias Afwerki was aired on Eritrean television; none of the people I talked to expected something new, but somehow all had the urge to listen to it. The interview was widely spread, thanks to the many Youtubers who rushed to publish it. People speak to the public because they have…
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A Secret Letter To President Donald Trump
Satire: republished twice since 2016, and the following is a slightly updated version of it.11 Eight years ago, on November 8, 2008, I published Isaias’ congratulatory letter to the then president elect, Obama. On Nov. 9, 2016, I published Isaias’ congratulatory letter to president-elect Donald Trump. You will notice the two letters seem to have…
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Isaias and Abiy: The Fallout
Often times, news surfaces only to be quickly subdued and forgotten, though it occasionally reemerges in surprising ways. Below is a brief list of key events: After the liberation of Massawa in 1990, Isaias returned from London where he attended a meeting between the TPLF and EPLF to discuss the future of the two countries.…
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A Corporal Warned Eritrea!
In 2021, Negarit 147, I raised the issue of SFO Safer, an oil tanker that was stranded across the Hodeida, a Yemeni port on the Red Sea since 2015. At the time, it carried over a million barrels of oil. SFO Safer used as a storage tank for Yemeni oil that was piped from the…