Eritrea responds to African intellectuals ‘cherry picking’ on its progress
The Eritrean government responded on Thursday to a letter sent earlier this week by more than 100 Africans seeking dialogue on democratic space, calling them “a motley network of African writers and journalists” they say chose a “rather inappropriate” communication strategy in their outreach.
Asmara acknowledged the letter in a statement that defended the Horn of Africa nation’s positions, disputing the letter writers’ sense that Eritrea is being left behind as the continent moves forward and calling it “political cherry picking.”
The nation is “earnestly working to recoup lost time and opportunity to address critical issues of nation-building – in all its dimensions – with a redoubled sense of purpose and urgency,” the statement said, adding that it is Eritreans alone who will determine their future.
The government listed its many challenges across six decades, and questioned where all of these African allies were during its more arduous historical passages.
“In all these difficult decades, ‘voices of conscience’ in the wider international community – and especially African voices; official or otherwise – were conspicuous for their absence and deafening silence,” the Eritrean government said. It also questioned the intent behind the letter, noting that “external powers” tend to use African voices to advance their own subversive agendas.
“The majority of the signatories have undoubtedly been influenced by the narratives on Eritrea produced over the last 20 years,” the statement said. “None of them have firsthand knowledge of, or have ever visited, the country. When one skims through the list, there is not even a single individual who has penned one single article on the predicaments of Eritrea in all those decades when it faced enormous existential threats.”
Eritrea’s place in Africa remains intact, the nation is well supported by Africans and it contributes to international initiatives, it said. If the letter writers hold a genuine interest in Eritrea, they’re welcome to visit.
To see the complete Eritrean response, check here.
To read more on the original letter sent to Asmara, check here.
Image: Government of Eritrea file
I , as an Eritrean, absolutely support the responds given by our government. Where in the hell were these idiots when 80,000 Eritreans expelled from Ethiopia , three generations, and thrown out into mountains and deserts for days ? Have they ever criticized Meles Zenawi for that inhumane act ? Where in the hell were these scavengers when Eritrea was isolated for 20 years and sanctioned unjustly by UN ? Why now ? Because Eritrea is finally in the right track and peace with Ethiopia ? Were they expecting Eritrea to fail ? Have they ever spoken or written about the simple life of its Leader , Issias Afeworki ? Probably the only leader in Africa who is not corrupt at all and with no private plane, villa or 50 inch waist like these pigs ? Please do not write on behalf us, the Eritrean people. We are fine and are with our government. Go to hell.
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