Eritrea still standing, still tall!
Sanctions, psychological warfare, propaganda, funding of its opposition, support for often hostile neighbors – the West has tried everything to break Eritrea. But here it is, undefeated and proud, marching forward.
Some call it the “African Cuba”, or it could also be named the “African Vietnam”, but the truth is that Eritrea is like no other country on Earth, and it is happy to remain as such, unique.
“We do not want to be categorized”, I am told over and over again, and whenever I ask whether Eritrea is a socialist country.
“Look at Amílcar Cabral, from Guinea-Bissau”, I am told by Elias Amare, one of the most accomplished writers and thinkers in Eritrea, who is also a Senior Fellow at the ‘Peace Building Center for The Horn of Africa’ (PCHA). “Cabral always said: ‘Judge us on what we are doing on the ground’. The same can be applied to Eritrea.”
Most of the leaders of Eritrea, most of its thinkers, are either Marxists, or at least their hearts are very close to socialist ideals. But there is very little talk about socialism here, and there are almost no red banners. The Eritrean national flag is at the center of all that is happening, while independence, self-reliance, social justice and unity should be considered as basic pillars of the national ideology.
According to Elias Amare:
“Eritrea registered success, substantial achievements, in what the United Nations defines as ‘Millennium Development Goals’, in particular ensuring free primary education for all; ensuring women’s emancipation and equality of women in all fields. In healthcare, it achieved a dramatic reduction in infant mortality, as well as the reduction of maternal mortality. In this regard, Eritrea is considered exemplary in Africa; few other countries have attained that much. So, despite all the obstacles that the country faces, the picture is positive.”
“Eritrea continues on the national independent path. It has a progressive view in builPost too long. Click here to view the full text.