Eritrea

Eritrea History

Eritrea: A Brief History

Eritrea is a small country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west and south, Sudan to the north, and Djibouti to the east. Eritrea has a population of about 5.5 million people, and its capital city is Asmara.
The history of Eritrea is long and complex. The region has been inhabited for thousands of years, and it has been ruled by a variety of different empires and kingdoms. In the 19th century, Eritrea was colonized by Italy. The Italians built roads, railways, and schools, and they introduced modern technology to the region. However, they also exploited the local people and treated them as second-class citizens.
After World War II, Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia. However, the Eritrean people did not want to be ruled by Ethiopia, and they launched a long and bloody war for independence. The war lasted for 30 years, and it ended in 1991 with Eritrean victory.
Eritrea is now an independent country. However, it has faced a number of challenges since independence. The country has been plagued by poverty, drought, and political instability. However, the Eritrean people have shown great resilience, and they have made significant progress in rebuilding their country.

Early History

The earliest known inhabitants of Eritrea were the Afar people, who arrived in the region around 3500 BC. The Afar were followed by the Beja people, who arrived around 2000 BC. The Beja were a nomadic people who herded cattle and goats.
In the 4th century AD, Christianity was introduced to Eritrea. Christianity quickly became the dominant religion in the region. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church was founded in the 12th century.
In the 16th century, Eritrea was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans ruled Eritrea for over 200 years. During this time, Eritrea was a major center of trade and commerce.

Italian Colonial Rule

In the late 19th century, Italy began to colonize Eritrea. The Italians built roads, railways, and schools. They also introduced modern technology to the region. However, the Italians also exploited the local people and treated them as second-class citizens.
In World War II, Eritrea was occupied by the British. After the war, Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia. However, the Eritrean people did not want to be ruled by Ethiopia, and they launched a long and bloody war for independence.

The Eritrean War of Independence

The Eritrean War of Independence lasted for 30 years. The war was fought between the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) and the Ethiopian government. The EPLF was a guerrilla army that fought for Eritrean independence. The Ethiopian government was a large and well-equipped army.
The war was long and bloody. Many people were killed, and many more were displaced from their homes. However, the EPLF eventually won the war. Eritrea gained its independence on May 24, 1993.

Independent Eritrea

Eritrea is now an independent country. However, it has faced a number of challenges since independence. The country has been plagued by poverty, drought, and political instability. However, the Eritrean people have shown great resilience, and they have made significant progress in rebuilding their country.
Eritrea is a country with a rich and diverse history. The Eritrean people have faced many challenges over the years, but they have always shown great resilience. Eritrea is a country with a bright future, and its people are determined to build a better life for themselves and their children.

Yemane Asfedai
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01

Eritrean Government in Exile – Eritrea-GiE

Introduction

In late 2002, Ethiopia, Sudan and Yemen announced that they would assist the Eritrean opposition parties in exile at the state level. The opposition forces, meanwhile, held a meeting in Addis Ababa that lasted nearly two months. They came under the united umbrella of the Eritrean National Alliance. These countries then signed an agreement in what is customarily called the Sanaa Forum. As a final step, the coalition of opposition parties and the Senate Forum came into operation. However, it wasn’t implemented as expected. 

Soon the countries beyond Sanaa invited the leaders of the National Alliance to Khartoum. Yes, the leaders of the Sana’a Forum invited the Eritrean opposition leaders to President Bashir’s compound for discussions and dinner. The next day, the Alliance leaders called a meeting of the withdrawn force and the EPLF opposition and declared solidarity.

The opposition forces formed an umbrella called the Alliance. Until the story is told in its entirety, one factor needs to be mentioned. That is the warning pointed out by a very high-ranking Sudanese government minister at the closing session: ”We will open the arms depots and the treasury of the Sudanese state for you, but if your struggle does not show positive results within two years, our aid will be cut off. As an addition, ”However, Sudan is your country and you are free to live as ordinary citizens,” he concluded. Two years later, the Sanaa Forum collapsed for its own sake, and the journey of opposition collapsed. Because of the blind ego of self- aggrandisement; the monsters of the PFDJ’s and it’s spies lurking within the parties, the only solution of the state was stumbled in exile.

Concerns of Eritreans in Exile

There are those who reject the government in exile vision of immigration out of concern, some of which resemble the views described below:

  • Will the governments of the world know about us?
  • would there be any country that supports us?
  • Will they allow us to open offices?
  • will they offer us financial and diplomatic support?
  • When there is a government established why seek government in exile?

Because of the mass flow of Eritrean refugees and endless internal and external wars, the countries of the world know that there is no responsible governance in Eritrea, so there is tendency a prejudice against Eritreans. As for the threat of civil war, the Eritrea – GiE is indeed  would become the cornerstone of peace.

The aforementioned questions stem from the experience of the Sanaa Forum. Let alone the experience of the Sena’a Forum, such experience will not reappear where the simple relationship between the TPLF and the opposition parties has been re-established. Let’s consider the first one as a purely better experience, but now let’s do what the future works holds for us.

A government in exile would have some weight by the international community once recognition and legitimacy established on the ground, not beforehand.

Government in exile achieves international legitimacy only when a democratically elected leadership is established. Before that, why ask for legal recognition?

The process of government in exile will be based once it embraces the digital technology and harness all the advantages emanating from this technology.

If the government in exile is democratically established and political observers and prominent media representatives will be  invited to witness and the government is led by democratic and competent Eritreans, we are likely to overcome the problems we face.

There are also those who say that the people of Eritrea should be united by a national assembly. But the National Congress is doing double fighting, so let us all arm ourselves in exile and seize the government de facto in Asmara and save our country.

The need for government in exile

The main need of the government in exile is to save the people of Eritrea from destruction. So far, no leadership has been built to implement this central goal. What was called the liberated land during the struggle, after independence the whole of Eritrea was established as a liberated land, not as a country. Our youth are sold like goats or swallowed by the sea, and the rest are excused. Countrymen, what is said has been said, what is cried has been stirred, you see, I have even choked on speech.

Therefore, through the government in exile to save the people and the country from destruction,

  • A democratically elected leadership is formed
  • A political vote is owned  and held
  • A diplomatic network is extended
  • A national treasury is established
  • A strategy and policy is formulated

Undoubtedly, our people in the diaspora are vast; and when they are reunited in exile by the government, they are immediately recognised as a legitimate option in the world. If his position is democratic, he can present himself as the sole representative of the people of Eritrea.

The government can not only advocate for Eritrean refugees in exile at the United Nations and non-governmental organisations, but also play its part in curbing the flow of Eritrean refugees in cooperation with relevant countries.

  • The government can be an actor in negotiations concerning Eritrea in exile.
  • The government in exile can end the bitter war between Eritrea and Tigray peacefully.
  • The government is political and peaceful in exile and can stir up popular movements at once.
  • When a dictatorship falls suddenly, the government stabilises the country in exile until elections are held.
  • Government leaders in exile have the right to negotiate with countries that own companies in Eritrea.
  • Heads of state in exile have the right to represent their citizens and their country in international courts.

Government Practices in Exile

How does the government rank in migration? Don’t be sad if pessimism pops up about whether we have anyone who deserves it, but move forward

The government has two tendencies in exile, one of which seeks to be politically based on values derived from the outcomes of the ELF and EPLF conferences. The second tendency, however, is to establish government in exile in a popular assembly. The hope of our people is that these two tendencies will work together to make the Eritrean government’s project in exile a success.

The dear Eritreans who want to empower the people use the following methods:

  • Sponsors 
  • Facilitators
  • Stakeholders 
  • Task forces

Those who claim that the people of Eritrea are self-empowered are guided by the following principles:

  • Owners of public legitimacy
  • Responsible for the registration of Eritreans in exile
  • Democratic Election Organising Committee officials
  • The legal leadership is formed by villages, towns, districts and district and can organise its own assemblies

During the liberation struggle, the leaderships of the ELF and the EPLF snatched the principle of village land from its owners. The people of Eritrea will achieve their freedom only when their land is returned to them. And the time is now. Similarly, the people of Eritrea have been robbed of their districts by the illegitimate rulers of Eritrea. The people of Eritrea will be free only when their provinces are restored to their normal places. And the time is now.

Democratic election of government in exile

The first step

The registration of Eritreans in exile is done in a database, villagers are registered on a private website and gradually consolidated into their districts and counties.

The second step

Since Eritrea is a country made up of villages, Woreda and Worejatat, the electoral system and the responsibility of calling a congress for government building in exile fall into the hands of Worejata leaders.

Candidates are selected from their hometown, city, district and district.

Once registration is complete; As a registered political force in exile, the people of Eritrea ensure their rights by establishing a government in exile. They have the right to form an organising committee.

Once membership is registered, citizenship is confirmed by personal testament.

Elections are directly for individuals, not for parties. Parties and bourgeois associations have their own assemblies.

The right to stand for election in the exile government is open to members of parliament, YIAKEL Movement, individual parties and civil society organisations, because they are necessary for the country.

Name:      A think tank of Ideas for the Government in Exile

The purpose:  To prepare, disseminate and formulate research;                           Implementation is to provide written advice.

About US:    We are volunteers who do not represent parties.

The role of experts and experienced in building an Eritrean state in exile

Think tank  groups humbly invites the government in exile, experts and experienced to consult and engage with us for success. Therefore, a body of experts and experienced people will be established.

Note: We have chosen a word ወረጃታት / district instead of አውራጃታት

Let’s fight for the government in exile

Eternal remembrance to our martyrs! 

Stockholm  19th Oct. 2021   HTB


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