ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki on Thursday voiced hope that US president-elect Barack Obama will change his country’s policy in the Horn of Africa, a region blighted by conflicts.
“It is my utmost pleasure to convey to your excellency … my warmest congratulations … for your landslide victory and election as the 44th president of the United States,” Isaias said in a letter to Obama.
“Let me further avail of this historic occasion to express my ardent hope that US policy in our region will indeed change under your excellency’s presidency to pursue a constructive path to advance the causes of regional peace, justice and legality.”
Ties between the two nations have been frosty over the past few years, with Asmara accusing the US of backing arch-foe Ethiopia in its border dispute with Addis Ababa.
Washington claims the small African state has backed Islamist groups in Somalia, an allegation denied by Eritrea.
Asmara has called for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops, who, under US-backing, are in Mogadishu to prop up an ineffective transitional government. Last year, the US State Department included Eritrea alongside Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe on its list of “the world’s most systematic human rights violators.”
In addition, the US placed an arms ban on Asmara in October after allegations that it was supporting “terrorists” in Somalia, feared to be a future haven for extremist groups.
For its part, Eritrea banned the United States Agency for International Development from operating in the country in 2007 and also imposed curbs on US diplomats.
In response, Washington closed Eritrea’s consulate in Oakland, California.
5 thoughts on “Eritrea hopes Obama will change US policy in Horn of Africa”
Yes I agree with the President of Eritrea as to how US can benefit from the horn of Africa and especially from the peoples of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea; instead of sending more bombs, NGO’s, expired food products, and other corrupt diplomats to Addis to assist the ugliest man in Ethiopia it is our hope Obama understands the urgent need in the horn of Africa. WE NEED PEACE SO WE CAN DEVELOP OUR NATIONS, WE NEED PEACE SO WE CAN HAVE AN OPEN TRADE, WE NEED PEACE SO WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, WE NEED PEACE SO CAN FOCUS FOR TOMORROW, WE NEED SO OUR INTELLECTUALS CAN REMAIN IN THEIR MOTHER COUNTRY, WE NEED PEACE BECAUSE WE DID NOT BENEFIT FROM BLOOD SHED AND HATRED, WE NEED PEACE JUST WE HAVE PEACE WITH CANADA, MEXICO, AND OTHER COUNTRIES, WE NEED PEACE BECAUSE FOR OUR OWN SURVIVAL, WE NEED PEACE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT PEOPLE COULD DO IN A VERY PEACEFUL ENVIROMENT, AND FINALLY WE NEED PEACE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THE HORN ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
Yes, I support the Eritrean government call for a balanced approach to the many problems we have. To start with, I would hope that the “New America” under Barak be “fair and square” with all its dealings. I do not believe that any of the Horn people are asking the US for something unattainable or even unreasonable. All we are asking is the US needs to stop its “Double standard” approach to all issues. If it has a policy of “Equality, justice and good governance”, then that policy must be suggested [not enforced] as the most beneficial to humanity through the equilibrium of justice and fairness. in other words, what is spade is to one must still remain a spade to the other.
I would even go further than the reported message of President Isaias. I expect Barak to fully understand the “Unique” relationship of Eritrea and Ethiopia; and be instrumental in solving the myopic squabble that exist between our people primarily due to the incompetence, intransigence, belligerence and selfish attitude of the Weyane gangs that are ruling us by force. There shall not be any force that would be allowed to let Eritrean and Ethiopian blood spill any more just to appease some foreign powers! We Ethiopians and Eritreans [and soon, I hope, our Somali brothers and sisters] have to have the wisdom that we are destined to live side by side augmenting all our resources. We do not need hand outs. We have plenty and more of ours! let there be peace and I know we can do miracles!
There is no hope, while the old woyane friends like Susan Rice and Anthony Lake comming on board.
By sending this message President Isaias Afewerki is putting President elect Obama on notice to side with justice, legality and peace in our region, despite America’s unforgivable actions in our region in the last decade the president elect in the US is being given a chance to play a constructive role in our region. This message by no means gives the US carte blanche to do what it wants in our region, it is rather a discreet invitation for the US to reverse its war mongering policies in our region. No matter what the US policy in our region is it cannot defeat the will of the people when it is all said and done, it can side itself with the forces of peace and justice or with the forces of doom and gloom and end up losing in the long run.
This message also shows we Africans are capable of engaging with the powers of the day in a civilized way but in no way will we be their play things. The Eritrean people with their own effort have managed to assert their dignity and the Somali and Ethiopian people are on their way to asserting their dignity and freedom, the US has a chance to correct its policies but in no way will be allowed to step all over the indeginous people of the Horn in the future.
I hope Isaias Afewerki and President-Elect Barack Obama keep good relations, and problems in the Horn will disappear.