President isaias met and held talks with saudi Crown PrinCe
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Vol. 26 No. 103 saturday, February 22, 2020 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA
President Isaias met and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince
President Isaias Afwerki and Eritrean side and Saudi Foreign
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan
Salman bin Abdulaziz met in bin Abdullah, and State Minister
Riyadh in the evening hours of 19 and member of the Cabinet, Dr.
February and discussed on bilateral Issam bin Saad bin Saeed.
relations and on comprehensive
Red Sea cooperation. President Isaias had also met
on 18 February with several
In the meeting, President Isaias Saudi business people that have
underlined the profound economic interest in investing in Eritrea in
and social transformation the sectors of energy, fisheries,
underway in the Kingdom of agriculture and mining. President
Saudi Arabia is of immense Isaias on his part pointing out on
significance. the potential economic synergy
between the two countries assured
Crown Prince Mohammed bin the business people that Eritrea
Salman on his part stressed on welcomes Saudi investment.
the need to institutionalize the
cooperation among the Red Sea President Isaias Afwerki
and Gulf of Aden countries to returned home on 20 February
better promote peace and security concluding three-day working visit
in order to collectively benefit resources and opportunities in the The meeting was attended by Foreign Affairs, Presidential to Saudi Arabia at an invitation of
from the huge human and natural region. Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Advisor, Mr. Yemane Gebrab on King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Call for early preparations for
rain-fed farming Eritrea participates in international forums
Eritrea has participated at the 10th was to discuss on the efforts being the office of the United Nations in
Session of World Urban Forum as exerted to build human and social Geneva.
well as at the 75th Convention on capital, to build a sustainable urban At the meeting the Eritrean
the Elimination of All Forms of future with a special focus on youth delegation presented its 6th report
Discrimination against Women. and women as well as innovation of focusing on the developments
urban solutions in housing, mobility registered in avoiding political,
The Eritrean Ambassador in and planning. socio-economic as well as cultural
Kenya, Mr. Beyene Russom discriminations against women in
participated at the 10th Session of In the same vein, an Eritrean Eritrea.
World Urban Forum held from 8 delegation headed by Ms. Tekea
to 13 February in Abu Dhabi, the Tesfamicael, President of the The delegation also said the
The Governor of the Southern region, Mr. Habteab Tesfatsion called on United Arab Emirates, representing National Union of Eritrean Women, Eritrean Government since the armed
the farmers of the region to make the necessary preparations for the coming Eritrea and as a Chairman of the UN participated at the 75th regular struggle for national independence
rain-fed farming. The call was made during a meeting he conducted with Human Settlement Program and as Convention on the Elimination of has been committed to ensure the
farmers of 43 administrative areas of Mendefera and Dubarwa sub zones. member of advisory committee of All Forms of Discrimination against rights and development of Eritrean
the forum. The objective of the forum Women held on 14 February at women.
At the meetings conducted from 11 to 19 February, Mr. Habteab
reminded farmers to undertake soil and water conservation activities as
well as farmland preparations before the start of the coming rainy season.
Pointing out that in the previous rainy season weeds had negative impact
on agricultural produce, the Governor of the Southern region Mr. Habteab
Tesfatsion also called on the farmers to apply crop rotation and other
natural weed control techniques. Mr. Habteab further reminded the farmers
to make use of expert advises.
Mr. Yemane Abay, Director General of Agriculture and Land department
in the Southern region on his part, gave extensive briefing on scientific
ways of increasing agricultural produce and productivity and called on the
farmers to reinforce the use of composite in their farming activities.
Mr. Yemane further reminded farmers to avoid use of substandard anti-
weed and anti-pest drugs and processed fertilizers for they deplete the soil
of its rich contents and reduce production and called on them to use select
seed.
Participants on their part called for increased professional support,
encourage collective farming a well as government machinery support
among others.
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No. 103 2
Interview with President
Isaias Afwerki
Part III: Regional Issues
It is what we actually see on the timing of elections, now envisaged discourse must be more profound relationships between Sudan and
It is to be remembered that ground in all the ethnic based for 2020, is another dimension and nuanced to be constructive Eritrea, we may have to look back
on 7 and 9 February 2020, Regions. This is manifested in all which may further compound the and productive. at political developments in the
National media outlets, Eri- its dimensions; political, cultural, prevailing political polarization. 1950s, 1960s, 1970s etc. As we
Tv and Dimtsi Hafash Radio social, economic and security This should not be another bone of We can invoke our experiences know, a major shift occurred in
Programme, have conducted sectors. The fragmentation of contention or polarization. In the of the last 30 years. In many ways, the political landscape of Sudan
exclusive interview with His society has degenerated to its final analysis, what is of paramount what we are saying now is not new. in 1989. Still, it would be more
Excellency President Isaias smallest units. importance is the substance of Our position now is not different logical to see the different segments
Afwerki on range of subjects the transition; the calendar of the from what it was in 1994. Had that in their complementarity; as one
focusing both on regional and The panacea does not lie in elections is arguably secondary folly been avoided then, all the integral whole. And we cannot
domestic issues. Excerpts of addressing the outward symptoms to that central objective. External problems that ensued thereafter also look at these continuums
the third part of the interview of the malaise but in uprooting actors – including pundits, certain would not have occurred. The distinctly from our own history.
follow: the underlying political structure think thanks and research centres enormous losses and sacrifices
of institutionalized ethnicity. This – are often not helpful as they incurred could have been avoided. Since the 1950s, or even before,
must be the overarching objective. tend to prescribe solutions that are The challenge now is to eschew there was no country in our region,
Differences within society and neither viable nor in consonance recurrence of another debacle in a in comparative terms that had a
Mr. President, what should we one country on the basis of with the specific contexts and proactive way. In this sense, it is fairly advanced political culture
expect from now onwards? distinct political programmes and local realities. vital for us to follow developments as Sudan. The influence of the
choices are natural. But creating As far as we are concerned, our in Ethiopia closely so as to avoid Sudan on Eritrean politics, and
Any prognosis of potential trends a permanent chasm on the basis position is not ambivalent. We potentially negative ramifications. even in Egypt, was not negligible
must be predicated on a thorough especially in terms of the beginning
appraisal of the prevailing reality of the armed liberations struggle.
on the ground. In this sense, The political culture in the Sudan
the inevitable consequence was peerless in comparison to other
of politicised ethnicity is that African countries. Divisions
fragmentation is not confined along religious and ethnic lines
to and does not stop at the large were non-existent in Sudan in the
building blocs. It cascades down 1950s and 60s or known. Except
to the clan and sub-clan levels the traditional political parties,
even within the “unitary’ ethnic such as UMMA, the political
constituency. It becomes a recipe, makeup of Sudan had its own
as it were, for spiralling strife political features.
between and within separate ethnic
groups because the political leaders At the end of the Cold-War,
embroiled in the scheme stoke “Political Islam” emerged as a
further division to maintain and new trend. This had nothing to
consolidate their power. This is do with Islam or religion. It was
not abstract or academic inference. concocted to disrupt the prevalent
advanced political culture. How
did the Islamic movement emerge
and develop? In 1983, at the time
of Numeri and when Political
Islam was at its incipient stage,
of ethnicity is toxic that will only strongly believe that the policy the National Islamic Front (NIF)
destroy the unity and cohesion of institutionalized ethnicity is Mr. President, now to revert did not represent even 5% of the
Published Every of any country. The specific toxic and obsolete. In our view, to the Sudan; a new change people’s political outlook within
Published Every institutional forms and systems eradication of this malaise will has occurred in Sudan too. the existing political parties.
Saturday & Wednesday
Published Every of the alternative framework can serve the best interests of Ethiopia. Subsequently, exchange of It never exceeded that figure
Wednesday & Saturday
Saturday & Wednesday be worked out. These can evolve Furthermore, Eritrea and the visits and meetings have and thereafter in spite of the NIF’s
with time as they are dynamic; not region as a whole will also benefit continue to take place between cravings to assume power.
Acting
Acting Editor
Editor immutable beliefs and precepts as from this. Ethiopia is not like the Government of Eritrea and
Acting Editor
Amanuel Mesfun providential books. any other country. The spill over the Transitional Government In 1989, the NIF seized power
Amanuel
Amanuel Mesfun
Mesfun effects in the region (Somalia and of Sudan. What is the current through a military coup. This
amme@zena.gov.er The overriding task is to reverse elsewhere) cannot be underrated. political situation in Sudan? And political agenda that was imposed
amme@zena.gov.er
the politics of ethnicity and foster Geography and geopolitics have what would be the role of Sudan through a coup plunged Sudan into
P.O.Box:
P.O.Box: 247 social cohesion as well as unleash their own importance. History also in the ongoing effort to forge a unimaginable political quagmire,
P.O.Box: 247
247 offers invaluable lessons.
Tel: positive forces in society through new chapter of regional peace
Tel: 11-41-14
11-41-14 economic stasis and perennial
Fax: articulation and nurturing of and cooperation? insecurity.
Fax: 12-77-49
12-77-49 consensus on the new alternatives. The new relationship we are
E-mail:
E-mail: cultivating with Ethiopia is on
We have to recognize this is Developments in Ethiopia and To downgrade a country like
profile@zena.gov.er
profile@ zena.gov.er
eritreaprofilenews@gmail.com not easy as there are political the right track. We also believe Sudan directly influence us more Sudan, which had such an advanced
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12-50-13 leaders who are keen to exploit that differing options floated to than any other situation in the political culture, is no less than a
the inherited and entrenched uproot and eliminate toxic and region. Perhaps the similarities high crime. This is especially so
Layout sentiments of ethnic politics to politicized ethnicity should not between the trajectories in the when seen in the context of the
Layout
Layout create cleavages within the forces
serve their narrow interests. The recent decades and current propaganda and programme that
Azmera
Azmera Berhane
Azmera Berhane
Berhane political discourse propagated of change. Some of the generic developments in both countries the NIF had pronounced when they
Sara
Aida Alem
Sara Johar
Alem through different media outlets labels used – i.e. “federalists may not be that far apart.
corroborates these conflicting
situations. Controversy on the
versus unionists” are in themselves
shallow and unhelpful. The To understand the historical
continued on page 3
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No. 103 3
Interview with President
Isaias Afwerki
continued from page 2 Part III: Regional Issues
seized power in 1989 with what the blame lies. the name of Islam were the principal Sudan is now in a period of region; and, the opportunities for
transpired during the subsequent causes of the economic crisis. And transition which has its own promoting mutually beneficial
thirty years of their rule. What was Other crimes such as Darfur, more ominously, they made Sudan peculiarities in comparison to regional cooperation in economic
the situation in Sudan, in terms of Eastern Nile, Bahir Al-azraq (Blue the epicenter of terrorism and the ongoing process of change and security matters will be greater.
all the relevant parameters, during Nile) and Kordofan also followed regional destabilization. in Ethiopia. The direct internal These sentiments and positions are
those 30 years until the advent in its sequel. They (NIF) fomented challenge is political as there is mutually shared and reciprocated
of change yesterday through a social cleavages that were never Osama Bin Laden was operating assorted opposition movements by all Sudanese political forces
spontaneous popular uprising? heard of before. They were in Sudan in 1994 when we were essentially linked to the NIF engaged in the transition process.
This was sadly a period of immense bragging about “self- sufficiency” compelled to severe our diplomatic regime. The external dimension Both sides have accordingly
havoc and decline in political, and posing as “defenders and ties. Al-Qaeda was based there. too must be recognized as Sudan embarked on a structured and
economic, cultural, social and guardians of the oppressed people”. Eastern Sudan became a haven was isolated before periodic process of mutual
security sectors. These were hollow words. for terrorists. The 1989 coup consultation. Our long exposure to
leaders who presumably set out to The expectations are Sudan will and intimate knowledge of events
This may be irrelevant and After 30 years, what is the change Sudan became sponsors of restore and revert to its advanced in the Sudan is of course an asset.
imprudent today. But in my view, accumulated debt of Sudan? fundamentalist terrorism from the political culture and assume its
the separation of South Sudan was This is estimated at around 60- outset. Thereafter, they continued rightful place in the region. Sudan Still, the challenges are not easy
not inevitable. The rights of the 50 billion US dollars. 90 to to provide sanctuary to other had entered pacts and alliances and should not be underrated.
South Sudanese people could have 80 billion USD was reportedly terrorists including Boko Haram, with certain forces of regional Some of the political actors in
been addressed like other people’s looted and deposited in foreign Daesh etc. Even Carlos was destabilization. It was embroiled Sudan are powerful in terms of
rights. Separation was essentially banks. The Islamic agenda was there at one point in time. They in forums and networks alien to their economic muscle which can
triggered by the venal political obviously a convenient mask for plunged Sudan, against the will of the region. Rectification of these be misconstrued to create pressure.
stance that we have described otherwise uncouth kleptocrats the people, in a cauldron of fire follies and Sudan’s constructive The arsenal in their tool box is not
earlier. They may justify it bent on embezzling public funds. with all the attendant economic regional stance will contribute to negligible. They can funnel these
through different excuses, but the The spontaneous popular uprising problems. greater regional stability. This tools to stoke social mistrust and
original notion was to secure an that erupted was the inevitable Sudan must now be removed from will remove prevalent threats to discord. The same is true with
appropriate resolution of the issue response to the calamitous reality. the list of countries that sponsor our own security and prompt us to regional powers who harbor ill-
within a unity state. This should Sudan is one of the richest terrorism and focus its efforts work together for better results. will. Who are these powers? What
have been solved as an internal countries blessed with mineral to resolve inherited economic are their tentacles? In which sub-
Sudanese problem. The argument resources and agricultural potential. problems. As I underlined before, The government has embarked regions are they active? Which
is not about the fundamental right During the British colonial era, the the popular uprising did not stem on a transition period (3 to 4 years). instruments are at their disposal?
of the South Sudanese people to Gezira Cotton Project alone was from organizational or sensitization The political solutions floated will Here again, the complexities are
separate from the Sudan. And in billed for contributing almost 10% campaigns of political parties; it surely face a host of challenges evident.
any case, has South Sudan achieved of the (annual) revenues of Great was a spontaneous reaction to the and obstacles. Will the proposed
internal stability and peace? Is Britain. Sudan’s agricultural destruction of the country in 30 frameworks bring about enduring We should also take into account
the relationship with North Sudan potential and wealth is simply years of NIF rule. and sustainable solutions? What the perspectives of major global
cordial? When you examine the unparalleled. are the political, cultural, social, powers. What was their calculus in
events that unfolded from the In short, it has become now very economic and security hurdles that the region in the 1940s (after the
1990s until the ultimate separation, The vibrant industries and challenging to reform the political must be scaled? There are internal end of the Cold War) when they
was the latter inevitable? Were agricultural enterprises finally structure and get rid of their forces who seek to scuttle the were asserting that Eritrea “will not
there other alternatives? We know collapsed to the extent that the legacies. Today there are many process of change. There are also serve our interests? What are their
the developments that led to the country was beset by acute food opposition organizations operating external attempts to reverse the interests and what is the hierarchy
separation of South Sudan because shortages. In addition to the in different parts of the country. process by forces who consider the of these interests through their own
we were actively engaged in the political cleavages induced by the These were directly or indirectly change as a loss. prisms? The primary challenge in
process of resolving the problem. regime, rampant corruption and created by the former regime. our region is economic and the
And in retrospect, it is clear where embezzlement of public funds in For our part, we have no choice countries continue to grapple with
but to follow events closely. This daily challenges of food security.
is critical both for formulating Yet, all the powers that are exerting
informed choices and options as pressure these days have all along
well as to gauge and properly compounded the problems and
identify the modest contributions participated in the looting of the
that we can make. Again, we resources of the region.
cannot be bystanders or indifferent
to developments that unfold in our Regional players who had
immediate neighbors as would instrumentalized Sudan to advance
normally be the case for events in their subversive agendas cannot be
other distant countries. It must also expected to embrace the change
be noted that in the last 30 years, it with folded hands. They will try
was not only the people of Sudan to reverse the trend; they will use
who lost opportunities. We have their financial leverage to that end.
lost development opportunities We know these forces intimately.
as well. In the event, and as it is
the case with Ethiopia, our active The challenges for transition are
engagement is warranted for a thus complex and multi-faceted.
raft of reasons: Sudan’s role in It requires capabilities to thwart
both bilateral and regional terms
is significant; positive change and
restoration to normalcy in Sudan
has considerable dividends to the
continued on page 5
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No. 103 4
deki hidrtna as bridge between cultures
Milka Teklom community considered them as one, he felt the trees moving the
lunatic. birds humming loudly as if they
I once went to an art exhibition by In the Scottish folklore, fairies were trying to talk to him; that’s
a young artist named Alazar Eyob; are divided into beneficial and when he heard the voice of two
the paintings were futuristic and malicious. That’s the same case females. One of the voices warned
based upon our culture. One of the in Eritrea; the malicious ones are him not to shoot and if he ever shot
pieces that totally dazzled me was called Sreiel. The infamous tale the deer dead it would be upon him,
a painting of a beautiful woman that illustrates the types of fairies but the other voice encouraged him
dressed in “zuria”, her black and is Yohannes Wedi Zemo’s tale. to shoot while the deer was so close
long hair braided in a traditional Yohannes, a bright young man to him. With arrogance, Yohannes
way. But what made the painting who lived on farming and herding told the voices, “I already got my
eye-catching were the woman’s livestock got married to a girl rifle ready and my knee is bent
features; there was something that a forest away from his village. down!” The moment he fired at the
was not quite human in her beauty In Tigrigna culture, after the deer Yohannes died.
especially her elf resembling honeymoon, the newlywed bride
pierced ear. After gazing for long I goes back to her parents’ house, As a generation that grew up
decided she was too good looking which is commonly called mlsote. looking at the television and
to be human and so she must be a During this time if the husband computer screen, a lot of our real
fairy, our traditional “gual hdrtna”. wants to visit the bride he must time has passed learning about
bring gift to his in-laws. Hence, other people’s culture without
In this modern era when Yohannes wanted to visit his wife in really and deeply understanding
technology and science rule, mlsote, holding a calf as a gift, and our own culture. I knew more about
believing in and talking about painting by Alazar Eyob started walking through the forest. tinker bell in the Peter pan than deki
fairies might seem superstitious. I In the middle of the forest the calf hidrtna or any other Eritrean fable.
don’t want to associate fairies with originated might differ from time with her too. So, aside from the scooted off and vanished into thin But still, the time isn’t over yet. we
religion because many years have to time since it was mostly orally opposition to the union of fairy and air. Knowing he would never find have so many interesting stories
passed in the world history labeling transmitted. The first notable literary human from the tribes, he planned the calf, Yohannes set off to hunt that we would have to pass on to
them demoted angels, demoted work based on them appeared in to marry her the same day as she deer in the forest. When he spotted our children.
pagan deities, demons and spirits of early 20th century in the book by married her mortal husband. Addey
the dead. Instead I want to associate Ghebre-Medhin Dighnei. Since Letu, in her 70s, was the only one
fairies with childhood memories then research papers and articles who observed the conundrum and
when our minds were full of have been written but in terms of was the only one who knew that
imagination and we believed every a book “Kelte Meraawti Nehanti when Wuba gave birth to a baby
story we were told. I remember my Meraat Abe Hade Meraa”, literally boy he was half human and half
grandmother narrating the fairy translated as two grooms for one fairy. Just like the Greek mythology
stories like this: bride at one wedding, is the best. of Hercules, the boy Wuba gave
birth to appeared to be extra smart
A long time ago a woman used The book is fictional and and powerful, and then the story
to live with her children. Some of incorporates the basic fairy folklores. continued on his discoveries and
them were extremely beautiful and The story begins in a fictional journey to his identity where at last
some of them were not that good village where an old woman named he served as a bridge between the
looking. One day a strange-looking Lettu could see and communicate humans and fairies.
man was on her porch begging for with the fairies. When Lettu was a
food. As is our custom the woman kid she used to have an eye disease Have you ever noticed fairy
invited him in and served him which was taking over her sight. stories are some of the few
food and drinks. When the beggar Advised by the elderly women in folklores that exist almost in every
was done eating he asked her to the village, Lettu’s mother treated culture? Even though their story of
bring out all her children so that he her child’s eyes, enabling her to see origination relates with the theory
could bless them. Concerned about deki hdrtna. Letu says that there is a of creation, belief in their existence
the evil eye, the woman hid her kingdom of fairies made up of three gives us a common understanding.
beautiful children and brought out tribes administered by one king. In Britain, especially in the
the ugly ones. The man smiled and Members of the first tribe were Victorian and Edwardian era, there
uttered a blessing saying “let the smart with good looks, and the king was a heightened interest in fairies,
hidden be hidden, never to be seen was from this tribe. Members of the declaring they were creatures that
by mortal eyes.” That was how the second tribe were fighters who were brought all the disabilities and
fairies and their fairy lands were physically strong and loyal. The misfortunes to children at birth.
created. My grandmother always third tribe were dumb and lazy, and They were known as misguiding
believed in their existence and most of the time they resented the travelers into their fairy lands,
respected their presence. Whenever first tribe. The main story revolved which is known as shikushuka in
we ate dinner she insisted we leave around the marriage of Wuba (the our tradition. People who claim
some for the fairies even when we most beautiful woman in Letu they were in shikushuka come
were not full. That made me mad a village) with a human like her, but back to their normal lives with the
lot of times. what she did not know was the son same stories of how beautiful the
The story of how the fairies of the king of fairy land was in love fairies are but most of the time the
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No. 103 5
Interview with President
Isaias Afwerki
continued from page 3 Part III: Regional Issues
external subversive schemes, These countries are very important This is not a new invention.
prudence in tackling internal because of their strategic and When the Horn of Africa Initiative
challenges and cohesion with its geographic location. The second was launched in the aftermath
ranks and constituent parts. It may group are the countries in the of the end of the Cold War, we
be premature now to discern with Horn of Africa, such as Somalia, participated from the beginning
absolute certainty how the process Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea with the frontline parties. The
will pan out. The political, security and others. The third category revitalization of IGAD followed
and above economic problems consists of the countries bordering in its sequel. The controversy
that the transition has to grapple the Red Sea, such as the Kingdom then was not about the name
with are not easy. What are the of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and of the organization but its core
options in respect to the latter in Yemen etc. And lastly, we find the objectives and functions; that the
particular – soliciting external Gulf States, which are an integral ultimate aim is to enhance regional
assistance, subsidy and loans; part of the neighboring countries. integration. The limited mandate
reviving domestic potential, etc. of drought was extended to
Cultivating internal consensus for These four regions are not include development and regional
whatever approach is preferred is only related by geography. They integration. Unfortunately, IGAD
another challenge. are also interlinked by shared became subservient to external
strategic, economic, political and agendas and a tool against Eritrea.
The recent disturbance in eastern security interests and affiliations.
Sudan is another dimension in the This is too palpable to merit more Invasion of Somalia occurred
spectrum. This was deliberately elaborate discourse. in 2006 through the collusion and
fomented by the internal and instigation of the TPLF, the US
external forces bent on rolling back Our domestic programmes are of Administration and others. The
the change underway. The situation course of paramount importance to cherished mechanism of regional
in eastern Sudan has a bearing on us. Our domestic priorities cannot integration was consequently
Eritrea. The scheme is thus driven be put to the backburner. Still, a scuttled. We suspended our
by their negative agenda against stable regional environment of membership and we are not and
Eritrea as it affords the architects mutual respect and cooperation is will not be there.
of this political mischief to “kill vital for us. This is not a choice or
two birds with one stone” option; it is a necessity. So we need But, the idea and commitment to
to interact with others and make regional cooperation in its widest
In the event, it is too early to modest contributions. The issue is sense that we are talking about capabilities – of all armed services
Let us examine, for instance,
say that Sudan has fully resolved not whether we have influence or now is not different, in essence, – the impact will be much effective.
issues on the Red Sea. The 11-
all its problems and is currently not. We may gauge the respective from what was contemplated then. We may then invite the support
point concept paper we submitted
progressing forward without influence and leverage of others We may sometimes exaggerate of extraneous forces through
summarized our view on the
obstacles. It is still in a transitional - that of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, by saying that we have a better mutual consultation when and
platform and mechanism envisaged.
phase. For our part, we will Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen and understanding of the imperative if warranted. This approach is
Clarification of objectives and
continue to monitor developments others in the wider neighborhood. of robust cooperation because equally valid for other regional
mechanism – which may be seen
and strive to make modest Obviously each country has its own we have acquired rich experience mechanisms of cooperation; in
in three phases – is of paramount
contributions. Our approach in specific influence or leverage that long ago, and overcome countless the Horn of Africa; the Nile Basin
importance. Irrespective of its
terms of cultivating positive is congruent with its capabilities. challenges. The issue is not about or the Gulf.
power or wealth, one country
interaction with the forces in the geographical or population size. cannot shoulder the obligations of
transition is not different from Irrespective of this factor, It is not about economic power. These are the skeleton or
the other littoral State. The legal
what is being done with Ethiopia. synergy is created where mutual It is about the quest for stability. essential contours. The specific
provisions must be clear too.
But in the final analysis, what is respect and cooperation flourish. And when it comes to stability and details can be worked out by expert
determinant is their perspective Stability that nurtures trust will peace, we are in the forefront in and professional committees.
The Somali problem cannot,
and programmes in this journey be enhanced too in this setting. terms of unequivocal choice and So there is no need to delve into
for instance, be solved by other
which is in its early phase. Economic development; the commitment. unnecessary controversy. This
countries but only by Somalis
betterment of citizen’s quality of themselves. Missiles and drones – broad roadmap can be taken as a
Mr. President, we would like life become more achievable in a For us, to work for the stability starting point.
or other imported technology – will
to focus now on the broader conducive climate of cooperation. of the neighborhood is not an not resolve the security situation
neighborhood and particularly Combatting threats to regional agenda for tomorrow or after It will also be essential to
in Somalia. In brief, each littoral
the Arabian Gulf. The security, money-laundering, illicit tomorrow. Taking stoke of our past examine broader global changes
States must first build its defense
Government of Eritrea has been arms trade, human trafficking; and experiences, the modalities will and trends and its ramifications
and security capabilities. One
exerting efforts to cultivate solid programmes of counter-terrorism have to be worked out meticulously to the neighborhood. What is the
littoral State cannot be a substitute
ties of friendship and partnership are more effective through and comprehensively. This is regional impact of developments
to another in this regard.
with Gulf countries, besides its collective and concerted action. not merely a matter of political in the Americas, Europe, and
endeavours in the Horn, pursuant goodwill. Asia? In today’s interdependent
Synergy will be acquired once
to its foreign policy of safe and The critical point is nurturing world, we cannot speak about
this is done on an individual
peaceful neighborhood. What is consensus on the underlying notion. Past experiences will surely be our neighborhood in isolation
littoral State basis. Extraneous
the progress in this regard? The geographical boundaries of the useful for drawing appropriate from global dimensions. The
powers can be involved if there is
constituent parts are not really a lessons. The new ties we are a need to buttress our collective interlinkages cannot be ignored.
Our initial reference frame was matter of controversy. Once there is cultivating with Ethiopia, Sudan, If we talk about counter-terrorism,
and pooled capability. If the
not one region but the neighborhood agreement on the desired goals and Somalia, the Gulf countries fall there is consensus in terms of
littoral States cannot coordinate
as a whole. In our lexicon, the objectives, these secondary issues within this larger framework. And eliminating the scourge. The
among themselves and pool their
neighborhood consists of four can be handled with flexibility. in all these instances, nurturing task is then reduced to practical
capabilities, the security of the
regions. First are the countries We can subsequently work out the consensus and the convergence of matters of organizational and
Red Sea will not be guaranteed
of the Nile Basin such as Sudan, most appropriate mechanisms. views are obviously cardinal pre- methodological configurations
by other external forces. When
Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, etc. requisites. for the desired concerted action.
we pool together our collective
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No. 103 6
The unforgettable massacres
Simon Weldemichael devastating losses during the 30 strict conformity to Machiavellian
years long war of Eritrean liberation. advice on holding the conquered.
Eritreans are remembering the 1975 Under the motto of “it is Eritrea’s Nicole Machiavelli, in his book “The
massacre in Asmara and its environs land that we want not its people”, prince”, claims that “there is no safe
under the theme “remembrance for successive Ethiopian governments way to retain them other than by
clear vision” as of 19th February. The committed untold suffering to ruining them.”
objective is to raise awareness of the exterminate the Eritrean people.
youth about Eritrea’s history. History The Wekiduba massacre, a village The massacre of Wekiduba
helps us understand where we came near Asmara, which happened on was not the first incident at that
from and be able to deal with today’s February 1, 1975, was one incident. time. Eight years earlier, in 1967,
challenges. Various programs are The Ethiopian army devastated the Haileslasie had given permission
underway including seminars, art village suspected of harboring the to his army to burn, loot, kill, rape
exhibition, films and testimony of liberation fighters. The Ethiopian and intimidate Eritreans. The main
the survivors of the massacres. In the committed by Ethiopian army over no sense of distinction between the army believed that to kill the fish target of Haileslasie army was
art exhibition, pictures that depict Eritreans. An Africa Watch Report military and civilian targets. Haggai one had to drain the sea. The the lowlands. For example, on
the atrocity committed in different shows that between February and Erlich, in his book ‘The struggle over tragic massacre of Wekiduba was February 11, 1967 the Ethiopian
corners of Asmara such as Zban April 1967 the Ethiopian army Eritrea 1962_1978’ quoted an Israeli most remembered by Eritreans as army committed a major massacre in
snqey, Bar Amanuel, Bar Tblets, Mai burned 62 villages. The soldiers advisor to the Eritrea-based Second black Saturday. To help the reader Adi Ibrahim, killing the people and
Temenai and surrounding villages were assisted by artillery and aerial Division of the Ethiopian armed understand the situation, I bring in burning the houses of Adi Ibrahim
like Wekiduba and Adi bakuakoy are bombardment using incendiaries forces as saying “The 2nd Division to your knowledge an eye witness and surrounding villages. Many
displayed for the public to see. (1991, 43). Dawit Woldegiorgis, who is very efficient in killing innocent account of a survivor of the massacre, villages were also burned that year
served in Eritrea as a colonial army people” (1983, p. 58). Hundreds of Zeremariam Tesfay. in eastern and western lowlands.
Successive governments of officer and governor, recounted the villages were burned and thousands
Ethiopia adopted different strategies devastation of villages suspected of of innocent people killed mercilessly Then only fourteen years of age, Ethiopian author, Zewde Reta, gave
to destroy Eritrea. Despite their harboring the freedom fighters. In his by the Ethiopian army. Zeremariam escaped miraculously an insincere remark on the treatment
immense material and human book “Red tears: War, Famine and and later joined the struggle to of Ethiopia: “in the [years] we have
destruction, nothing of substance Revolution in Ethiopia”, he witnessed When the Derg came to power, the contribute his share for independence. lived together … we should never
was achieved. the brutality of the Ethiopian massacre intensified. In 1975, the The full account of Zeremariam is forget that we Ethiopians have
army against the people and their greatest operation of the Ethiopian available in Tigrigna and English committed no offense against our
The history of Eritrea has been indiscriminate attack on civilians. army was to kill innocent people, in a book “Massacre at Wekiduba.” Eritrean brothers.” Colonizers and
shaped by the continuous struggle for Concurrent with the killing, the including women and children, in Zeremariam said, “In every house, chauvinists have a common tradition,
dignity and independence. Eritreans soldiers demanded food, destroyed and around Asmara. The disturbing there were two or three dead that is to refute and if possible to
have made enormous sacrifice for crops, killed animals, drove people violence conducted in Asmara was bodies. The ground was drenched justify all the destructive actions
their independence, unity, dignity from their land and committed manifested by drastic depopulation. with blood. After committing the committed against the colonized
and sovereignty. The tradition of many other untold stories of crime. Wire strangulation, arbitrary arrest, atrocities, the soldiers brought people. The refutation of Ethiopian
resistance and resilience of the people The Ethiopian army was a bunch shooting in the streets, bombing the in trucks. Stepping over the dead colonizers to such extent reveals
of Eritrea was demonstrated during of bandits in uniform. According to houses and other means of terror bodies, they hauled away anything their unrepentant mentality. This is
the twenty years of political struggle the author: “I remember soldiers were common. The youth were the of value from the houses… As the scoffing at the blood of the innocent
for independence (1941-1961), slaughtering cattle, eating what main target of killing. Many families morning progressed, the soldiers Eritreans in the streets of Asmara,
the thirty years of armed struggle Adi Ibrihim, Hirghigo, Omhajer,
for independence (1961-1991) Ona, Sheib, Wekiduba, Hazemo and
and the twenty years of resistance many other places.
and defense for independence and
sovereignty (1998-2018). In the After the attainment of the hard
course of the struggle, Eritreans have found peace, Eritreans decided to
paid enormous human and material concentrate on healing their wounds
sacrifice and received deep pain that and rebuilding their country. During
has survived up to now. his visit to Ethiopia, President
Issaias Afwerki expressed the
Eritrea acquired its uniqueness feeling of Eritreans this way: “I
in the incessant struggle that has feel boundless joy as I convey to
been conducted against domination. you the message of peace, love
Successive Ethiopian governments and good wishes of the people of
have tried anything possible to kill Eritrea…We have triumphed over
the physicality and spirituality of the toxic schemes of the past years
Eritrea. Many innocent people were aimed at sowing the seeds of hate,
massacred and deported but the resentment, and destruction.”
dream and fighting spirit of Eritreans Nevertheless, forgiveness should not
remained alive. The killing, torture be misunderstood as forgetfulness.
and deportation aimed to kill the The wounds left by successive
confidence and hope of Eritreans. governments of Ethiopia – the
The uniqueness of the Eritrean killing, burning of villages, pillage,
people and its leadership lay in the destruction and imprisonment -- takes
long and successful challenge to years to heal. We cannot forget the
Ethiopia’s hegemonic domination they wanted, and then leaving were made extinct that way. The began killing the roaming cattle and past but we consciously choose not
and its supporters. the rest to rot. Sometimes soldiers objective was to terrorize the people made meals out of them.” (Habtu, to dwell in the past. Remembrance
would kill cattle just to get the and force them to accept the colonial 2013; pp201_202) The massacre helps us to understand the past
Every place and every minute have livers” (1989, p. 82). rule. and dispossession perpetuated by and the ongoing struggle to build a
hosted incredible forms of atrocities For the Ethiopian army there was Many villages had suffered Ethiopian colonizers followed a country based on equality and unity.
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No.103 7
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position: Procurement Supervisor
Number required 1
Location: Based at Koka Gold Mine (Mining Site)
Reporting to: Commercial & Logistic Superintendent
• Follow-up the purchase request from End-Users to arrange procurement achieved
Purpose & Scope the Job. on time
• Supervise Procurement Section members’ daily work. Control the procurement
processing, ERP data maintenance, vendor service quality control.
• Review all procurement process daily to make sure no procedures stuck;
Duties: • Keep cleaning redundant items in ERP system with report weekly;
• Support buyers to coordinate all related sections and department;
• Support Foreign Purchaser between end users and suppliers;
• Contact Commercial Asmara office to follow up all the local purchase;
• Coordinate all working procedures with Warehouse and Commercial
Asmara office;
• Collect main vendor database and maintain qualified vendor list, update
every 3 months;
• Handle the paper work for Commercial visitors to site;
• Collect and keep all procurement hardcopy and soft copy documents in
order;
• Contact with Finance to follow PO’s payment status;
• Look after stock level when processing procurement and reconcile with
clients;
• Write weekly and monthly report to submit for superintendent and
manager;
• Any other related tasks assigned by the superintendent and manager.
• Highly knowledgeable in Computer skill & inter- personal communication
Knowledge & Skills Required:
Training & Education Required: - BA in Marketing management & Related field
- Five to eight years in Marketing management & related areas of work.
Experience Required:
•
Additional requirement for nationals • Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligations and provide evidence
of release paper from the Ministry of Defence. Clearance paper from office of the
Eritrean Police and present Medical Certificate and Clearance paper from current/
last employer.
• Only short list applicants considered as potential candidates for interview.
• Deadline for Application: 7 days from the date of this vacancy
announcement
Company salary scale
Salary
Address: Please mail your applications to: ZARA MINING SHARE CO. P. O. Box 2393. Asmara, Eritrea.
Note to Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to: Aliens Employment Permit Affairs P.O. Box 7940
Asmara, Eritrea.
Eritrea Profile, saturday, February 22, 2020 Vol. 26 No. 103 8
An insight into the literary genius’ mind.
Meet Solomon Dirar.
Bill
ion
Tem
e sgh
en
long history. We are few, diverse but
incredibly united. We stand up for
Solomon Dirar, a poet, playwright, author, researcher and historian, is one of the most each other no matter what. Peace or
prominent men of letters in Eritrea. He has signed his name in so many memorable Eritrean not, what matters the most to us as a
artistic works. Through his journey, that commenced in early 1980s, Solomon has written over people is ‘us’.
one hundred poems, many of which became lyrics for songs, has written some eighteen plays
and four screenplays, has published a series of historical articles in the Eritrean newspaper, Which leads me to think of your
Haddas Eritrea, and magazines and has authored four books. He is currently working on a upcoming film series that will soon
series of chronicles regarding the history of Eritrean workers’ movement while his most recent be aired on ERITV. Can you give
TV series is about to be aired on ERITV. Solomon’s craftiness touches hearts and, therefore, us a snippet?
Q&A has attempted to give its readers an insight into the literary genius’ mind.
In 1967 Emperor Haile Selassie
launched a vast taskforce to
inspired you and how you recorded persecute Eritrean Muslim
Thank you for your time, as an award they published it in long but the book is big and long.
the events in the form of a book? communities to introduce religious
Solomon. So far, you’ve put out a 1987.
segregation amongst the Eritrean
big number of diverse works of art. It is indeed. But I didn’t want
There are millions of instances people. Needless to say it was a
Did you start from a young age? So if it wasn’t for the competition to write just about the eighteen
in our history that are difficult to brutal and cruel operation that
Was this what you wanted to do you would have never explored minutes. I wanted to write about the
believe. Eritreans go beyond the tormented the people but failed to
from the beginning? your talent? Eritrean Commando in general. I
earthly power for national causes. achieve its aim. In Hazemo Sub
wanted to learn about the freedom
And this, ‘the eighteen minutes Zone, that same year, Muslims of
I can’t say my current occupation May be and maybe not. I would fighters who took part in the mission.
kudos’, was one of the many the Saho ethnic group and Christians
was a childhood aspiration. But at definitely have written poems but I wanted to know how the idea came
instances. You correctly said that it of the Tigrigna ethnic group of a
school I was fond of debates. It all not novels or lengthy writing of other and how the plans were laid out. In
became a myth. Especially amongst village called Una Gobay were
started when I joined the armed genre. What was most impressive general I wanted the book to capture
the youngest generations as it was a summoned by Ethiopian soldiers
struggle. As was common for the about our front is that, yes, we a piece of our history and all of the
heroic feat that was carried out in a and were told to separate in two
youth at the time, I dropped out were at war but we were young as people who were characters of the
clean way with the fall of only one groups based on their religion. They
of high school to join the armed well. We were enthusiastic about event. Freedom fighters, civilians
martyr, freedom fighter Mebrahitu refused. They refused to separate
struggle. In 1979, around the time of everything. We were encouraged and inside allies; every single one
Gebrihiwet. When you hear such imploring the soldiers either to kill
the strategic withdrawal, the Front to explore our talents and manifest of them.
things you might believe it is indeed them together or give them mercy.
announced that it would enhance it. The front was about liberation, Because you did a thorough
surreal. Therefore, that is how that But regardless damage was done
cultural activities. Everyone with yes, but it was mostly a social research, can you tell our readers
specific event became a myth. I in brutal ways. Villagers of Una
interest was told to join and talents revolution. the main reason behind the
wanted to document the event even Gobay stood together. Stories like
were being looked for. At that time Let’s take one of your books as mission?
before Independence. I got the these are common in Eritrea. A
I was a commissar and was looking a sample of your literally work. The Derg military was big and
idea while talking to a comrade, similar instance where Christians
for talented members myself. But ‘The Eritrean Commando’ has strong. War aircrafts attacked us
Andebrahan Berhe. I kept my were attacked was conducted by
that same year I lost my leg in a been referred to as a ‘must have’ constantly flying from Bahrdar
research even after Independence. the British administration through
battle and got summoned to the and ‘must read’ book. The book and Harer. Even after the strategic
With the same comrade, together, their Sudanese soldiers in Asmara
“disabled unit”. While I was there, in is an account of one of the most withdrawal war aircrafts were still
we first talked about doing research around Abashawl and then the
1983, I heard an announcement on memorable missions carried out by attacking us. But this time, flying
on the event that was invited by Muslim community came to rescue
Dmtsi Hafash. They were inviting a unit of the Eritrean commando from the Asmara Airport. They
journalists, to give an overview their Christian compatriots. It is
Eritreans anywhere -- the front itself, in 1984. Commonly known as assembled all of their aircrafts in
of the event. He was not directly a beautiful story that I always
the diaspora and wherever -- to ‘the eighteen minutes kudos’, the Asmara and moved their main base
involved in the action but he was wanted to tell and I am finally able
participate in a writing competition. mission that destroyed a whole here. Burning the Derg airbase was
one of the leaders that oversaw the to through the real facts that took
The theme was “women’s role in airport, bringing to ashes Derg’s first proposed in 1979 though the
mission. Though I published his place in Una Gobay in 1967.
the armed struggle”. I hesitated airforce base in only 18 minutes, mission was carried out after an
speech in the form of articles, I then Before we end can you comment
a lot before I decided to send my became a myth. You turned that investigation of five years in 1984.
vigorously continued my research. on today’s artistry?
piece. Contrary to my expectation into a book. Can you tell us what The fact that they had moved to
I won second place. I kept sending After a long time the book was their airbase to Asmara was a golden
finalized and published. If I am to speak about film and
my works to competitions opportunity to strike their air force
motion pictures, the trend in our
thereafter until I while on the ground. The commando
T h e country, as it is in many other part
won first units meticulously slipped through
of the world, is dictated by income.
place the strongest hold of the Derg air
Artists tend to produce films that’ll
in base and completely destroyed their
attract viewers and eventually make
airbase in 18 minutes!
profit. Making historical pieces is
not easy. It takes time and effort. If
What inspires you the most
we introduce an institution or work
to write your books, carry out
scheme to encourage our young
research and write screenplays?
artists, which by the way are very
Our people, our history, our
talented and visionary, I believe that
struggle and every social aspect that
more aspects of our history can be
defines us.
turned into pieces of art.
1986. And if you were to elaborate …
mission was Thank you again!
The piece was
entitled “Mekete”, and eighteen minutes We are a community that has a
Pleasure!
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