Eritrea Accuses the USA of Trying to Divide the Horn of Africa

The government of Eritrea through its information ministry have said they are happy and congratulate the citizens for their ‘defiance, resilience and patience’ in the face of the nearly a decade-old arms embargo and United Nations sanctions on the country which were lifted last week.

The government, however, stated that the decision to lift the sanctions will not deter their drive or make them withdraw their efforts in 'fighting for truth and justice’ because the sanctions were ‘unjust and illegal’.

We reported last week that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted to lift the arms embargo and sanctions on Eritrea. The voting went in favour of the country as the council unanimously voted for the sanctions to be removed.

You will recall that prior to this, Eritrea had made peace with the other countries in the Horn of Africa - Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The reconciliation was credited to Ethiopia's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, who has been on a diplomatic mission to unite the Horn of Africa since assuming office.

Ethiopia and Somalia were among the first nations to congratulate Eritrea after the sanctions were released.

The Eritrea Minister of Information, Yemane Meskel, said the victory was for the citizens who in the last decade continued to remain ‘defiance, resilience and patience’ despite the numerous negative implications of the sanctions.

A statement released by the government read:

…pays tribute to the vigorous defiance of the people of Eritrea inside the country and abroad against injustice

The country also thanked leaders of countries in the Horn of Africa for their continuous united and spirited call for the lifting of sanctions, especially at the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.

The government, however, did not have any kind words for the United States of America but rather accused the country of instigating the sanctions and continually trying to tear the Horn of Africa apart.

…why was Eritrea needlessly victimized? What were the dynamics that underpinned a travesty of international justice on this scale?

Eritrea accused the U.S. of fueling conflict in Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan, saying it was bent on pursuing divisive policies in the Horn of Africa

During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, the United States through its State Department’s assistant secretary for Africa had openly expressed the country's unwillingness to back the lifting of sanctions in Eritrea.

The State Department’s representative cited the detention of U.S. embassy local staff and several Americans in Eritrea for ‘politically-motivated reasons’, Eritrea’s past weapons purchases from North Korea which were highlighted in a U.N. report, jailing of religious and political prisoners and indefinite, obligatory national service, as well as a tightly-controlled system of government as reasons for its decision.

What are your thoughts?