The Strathink Editorial Team

Our tagline here at strathink.net is “Information you can trust.” We take that seriously. We recently posted news about Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki’s health status and called upon the international community to consider ways to help Eritreans transition peacefully politically upon the death of the president. We are resolute in our belief that he is, indeed, suffering from a serious health problem. We don’t report rumors, only news.

Yesterday we posted the announcement of a meeting taking place today in Frankfurt, Germany among members of Eritrea’s opposition groups and representatives from civil society. We commend the groups as well as the sponsor, the Felsberger Institute, for engaging in a dialogue on transitioning to a post-Isayas Eritrea.

Some of the comments we received on our reports make a number of assumptions. First, we are not the Government of Ethiopia. Second, we are not Ethiopians. Most importantly, however, we take no joy in reporting on such an event. Our job is to report on what we see as critical issues in East Africa—whether on the violence in Burundi, the elections in Tanzania or the opening of an agro-park in Rwanda. And, although we prefer to report on the good news coming out of East Africa-news that is often ignored by an international media more interested in the salacious- we are obliged to report on any news that has a significant impact on the region.

The recent news coming out of Eritrea has not been good. The number of Eritreans leaving the country is staggering. This is not an opinion but a fact. They are crossing the border into Ethiopia. Fact. Ethiopia is responding in a positive way by allowing Eritreans to love outside the camps, work and even attend school on scholarships. Facts. Will this be helpful to Ethiopia in the future? Absolutely. Ethiopia needs a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood to thrive in the coming decades. Eritrea’s political stability and economic growth will benefit the entire region.

Eritreans are also seeking asylum in Europe, risking their lives over and over again before reaching their final destinations. Having arrived in a European country, Eritreans take their chances to be granted asylum and given economic and educational opportunities to begin their lives in a strange land. In the meantime, their own country is being drained of its most important resource—youth.

Inside Eritrea, we know that the people are living under onerous conditions—indefinite military service, lack of economic opportunities and a crushing state repression. We say this not because the United Nations says so. We say this because Eritreans say so.

Eritreans suffered under the successive governments of Haile Selassie and Mengistu Haile Mariam. They fought for 30 years under dangerous and harrowing conditions. People worldwide admired and respected the Eritrean people for their struggle against a mighty oppressor. With the installation of the current government, Eritrea finally was free from waging armed struggle. The people of Eritrea were hopeful and expecting great things from their government—the same people who led the war of liberation and won.

Unfortunately, the state became subsumed to the whims of one man. President Isayas Afewerki. He waged war not only on Ethiopia but other neighboring countries, including Yemen and Djibouti. He is supporting a number of opposition movements committed to havoc in neighboring countries, including Ginbot 7. His economic policies have proved disastrous for the Eritrean economy. There has been no progress made towards developing democratic institutions or even ratifying a long ago written constitution. Religious freedom is curtailed and too many political prisoners are languishing in prisons. For the last 15 years, the Eritrean President has held the country hostage to the notion that Ethiopia will invade Eritrea. This is hardly a solid foundation for a nation to thrive.

Eritreans have waited a long time for a new Eritrea to rise up and take its place among the great nations of Africa. Eritreans have waited a long time to compete globally by maximizing its natural resources to ensure economic prosperity for the coming generations of Eritreans. Eritreans have waited a long time to live in peace with its neighbors and send her sons and daughters to school instead of the military.

We leave President Isayas Afwerki’s health in the hands of a higher power. However, we are pulling for the people of Eritrea to take advantage of the current situation and take the steps necessary to facilitate a peaceful transition to fulfilling the promises made during the war for liberation.