Skip to content

Asmara, the cleanest city in Africa

We hope translation of the interview with President Isaias Afwerki will be completed by next Monday or Tuesday. The interview is 4 hours long and we want to make sure that the translation is as accurate as possible. Until then, here are more photos from the beautiful city of Asmara, the cleanest city in Africa. It is more clean and safe than Washington DC. By contrast, the savage Woyannes turned Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s once beautiful and vibrant capital, into the 6th dirtiest city in the world, according to Forbes Magazine.

Roma Cinima, Asmara. It is amazing how clean Asmara is, even by Western standard

Asmara’s Merkato

Despite the military preparedness due to the ongoing state of war with the Woyanne regime in Ethiopia, there is a massive residential housing development in Asmara. This construction site is at the outskirt of Asmara. Many of the houses are being built by Eritreans residing in Europe and the U.S. and some of them look like mansions.

More housing development.

Elias Kifle of Ethiopian Review (middle), Sileshi Tilahun of EPPF (left), and Arbegna Mengistu of EPPF Radio (right) at a cafe in Asmara, May 12, 2009. Arbegna Mengistu joined EPPF 5 years ago as a fighter. Before that, he was a reporter for Wonchif Newspaper in Addis Ababa. He joined EPPF when Woyanne tried to arrest him for reporting about EPPF activities. After serving as a fighter and political officer for several years, he was recently transferred to the EPPF press office to work on producing a radio program. In one of the many gun battles with the Woyanne army he was hit with a bullet that now causes him to limp when he walks. EPPF is full of patriotic Ethiopians like Arbegna Mengistu who are shedding their blood to free Ethiopia from the Woyanne fascist regime.

64 thoughts on “Asmara, the cleanest city in Africa

  1. no doubt asmara is cleaner than addis but it is not the cleanest in africa. there are cities like capetawn, port elisabeth, durban in south africa and gaborone in Botswana which are clean even though people in these cities consume as much as the west.

  2. With Woyanne in power our beloved motherland Ethiopia is going backward, let alone the city’s dirtiness. In every aspect Ethiopia need someone who can save her my people.

  3. incredible! beautiful asmara, it reminds one of milan or other italian towns fixated in the 1930’s. a day will come when we will be able to go to massawa for sand bathing. the two brotherly people will one day be free again. eritrea will start renovating it’s buildings, business will boom, there will not be bad feeling and everything will be fine. it is a matter of time.

  4. You could talk about a lot about Asmara. This will cast doubt on your neutrality when Ethiopia and Eritrea are discussed. I used to give you the benefit of the doubt and considered you objective and fair. I am not sure now and look forward the interview. It may tell more about you and Ethiopian Review! Addis Ababa is a very large City by Asmara Standard and it has a mixed level of quality. I am sure Mekele is cleaner than Asmara though.

  5. hi Elias and seleshi, I salute you for the extraordinary venture. I would call this a turning point. It is time to hope for constructive future. It is time let our senses towards good.

  6. Ochi! (Commenter 6 above). Don’t try to divert the discussion point. I don’t think we have to worry which city is cleaner than which. That is immaterial. What matters is how do we resolve the Weyane created “problem” and let our people be themselves again and enjoy their natural affinity with each other.

  7. I can not wait for this big interview. I am thinking you are going to bring a new reality between Eritrea and Ethiopia. This is going to drive Weyane nuts I am sure of that.

  8. Wow, this people have no shame at all, the inferiority complex is killing them alive. Instead of day dreaming about Mekele being cleaner than Asmara, fight and work with your Eritrean brothers to get rid of woyanne, the cancer of the Horn, and believe me the whole Ethiopia will be as clean as Asmara, and both people will live in peace and harmony.

  9. Thank you for the beautiful pictures from my home town, I hope you having a great time, can’t wait to listen to the interview, keep up the good work, your contribution to Ethiopia will be vindicated when one day Eritreans and Ethiopians will live as brotherly neighbors and travel wherever they want in Eritrea and Ethiopia. That time is not far away, the weak Woyanne regime doesn’t have the popular base to keep Ethiopians hostage for long, the main issue is to achieve unity of purpose of all peace and justice loving Ethiopians.

  10. For those who still have dilemma about the future fate of the two similar nations it is only the matter of time. They will be together again. And for those of you who aggravate the difference, there is nothing to feel inferior by Eritrea, because Eritrea is not richer or bigger.

  11. TO #6: here we go again. why do you have a problem with Elias writing about what he is witnessing with his own eyes? could you be a woyane agent who is allergic to hearing anything positive about Eritrea? FYI, it’s not Elias only who has said this before about the beautiful Asmara. I challenge you to find one negative article written about the beautiful, clean and tranquil city of Asmara! Learn to handle the truth.

  12. Esey eliyas!!!

    yehenen weyanena banda hulea qes eyalk adbenelegn…meches bante mehed yaldebene yemeles asheker(helenawen yeshete) yelem.
    arif yehone abeshasheqenena madebenehen melaw ethiopiawi wedotal.
    berta we are with you. take care!!!

  13. Yes, Asmara is very clean and beautiful. It was even much better in the 1960s and earlier 1970s during the reign of the Haileselassie era. At least in that era there was a lot of economic freedom, despite the fact there was absence of political freedom.

    Asmara could even be more beautiful and clean under a democratic regime and under a government that believes in the rule of law. Asmara is most probably the safest city in the world. This credit goes to the Eritrean people, because they are an extremely moral and religious people. The people of Asmara do not need any guidance. They know how to run their affairs.

    As for Addis, though it is chaotic, at least there is a relatively better economic freedom than in Asmara. Thus, for me right now, I would prefer living in Addis than in Asmara. And this is coming from a person who was born and raised in Asmara. It is sad that Asmara was much better under a regime that many Eritreans considered foreign than under a regime that in a name is considered Eritrean. Fair is fair.

    Addis and Asmara complement each other . I do not see them as one substituting the other. Under regimes that believe in the rule of law and democracy both cities have a great future, and they will amaze Westerners for what they can offer.

  14. sewoch zim belacheu atenchachu eliyas teru argo weyanen eyadebene new eliyas benateh bemiqetelew demo asmera mebrat endemayquwaret minamin eyalek….yehenen yedekeme weyane anjet adebenelegn…..lol

  15. If politics were reality and spoken from the heart, no one would have a problem. it is amazing to see how people exchange ideas when they are simply put in categories. now you talk about, which city is cleaner ?I wish we had built more human resources in the half century bloodiest war that we all victims of. Some one has to think beyond these two people in power. We, Eritreans know what we feel about Isaias. Some one must think the precious time that we spend for nothing. We have to capitalized the human resource, and then there is nothing that can impair you to build walls. We, Eritreans and Ethiopians must think for the bright future of our people. Let’s work together and over come the prejudice and stereotypes that we trade to each other. we get nothing from war and killings that we all witnesses in the horn of Africa. Why this? Do we really deserve it? No, no one deserves displacement, war, and killings.

  16. Yes, Asmara is very clean and beautiful. It was even much better in the 1960s and earlier 1970s during the reign of the Haileselassie era. At least in that era there was a lot of economic freedom, despite the fact there was absence of political freedom.

    Asmara could even be more beautiful and clean under a democratic regime and under a government that believes in the rule of law. Asmara is most probably the safest city in the world. This credit goes to the Eritrean people, because they are an extremely moral and religious people. The people of Asmara do not need any guidance. They know how to run their affairs.

    As for Addis, though it is chaotic, at least there is a relatively better economic freedom than in Asmara. Thus, for me right now, I would prefer living in Addis than in Asmara. And this is coming from a person who was born and raised in Asmara. It is sad that Asmara was much better under a regime that many Eritreans considered foreign than under a regime that in a name is considered Eritrean. Fair is fair.

    Addis and Asmara complement each other . I do not see them as one substituting the other. Under regimes that believe in the rule of law and democracy both cities have a great future, and they will amaze Westerners for what they can offer.

  17. elias, already killed so many woyanes with his pen and pencil. My god, one individual elias, burn the hell out of the Trash woyane and their supporter. Good job elias, and God Bless you.

  18. # 4 Anonymous,
    Let me tell you Woyanne trash, elias is well protected by million Ethiopians, and including million Eritreans. I can assure you that, you filthy Woyanne. We will knock every woyane door and crucify you. Mark my word.

  19. Eritrea was not part of Ethiopia during the most critical era of african history, thus the rise of Eritrean nationalism. Lets accept Eritrean nationalism and make partnership with them to overthrow the racist woyane regime. Men that was how meles got to power, we need to wake up!! Bravo Elias, for your smart political view. We are on your side !!!

  20. Selam Elias and colleague,
    Before even reading the Interview let me congratulate you all for the courage and open-mindedness taking the trip. That by itself is huge, lest to say. This and similar efforts between the citizens of the two countries will send a chilling message to those who would not want see peace and togetherness between the two nations.

    Keep it high !
    Regards,
    the bostonian

  21. Elias, one of the reason why people love and respect you, among many things, is because you simply tell the truth just the way it is! However this very truth, as we all know, with Woyanne and their foot solders obviously doesn’t settle well, because they are allergic to the word of truth! Any ways, you are doing such a wonderful job in expediting the demise of Woyanne by standing for the truth and more importantly for being, so to say, the long over due bridge b/n the brotherly people of Ethiopia and Eritrea to get rid of the cancer/Woyanne once and for all!

  22. Selamta Elias and colleague,

    Before even reading the Interview let me congratulate you all for the courage and open-mindedness taking the trip. That by itself is huge, lest to say. This and similar efforts between the citizens of the two countries, will send a chilling message to those who would not want see peace and togetherness between the two nations.

    Keep it high !
    The bostonian

  23. Thank you for the beutiful pictures. We Eritreans and Ethiopians can live in harmony as neighborly brothers if we both have the caurage to fight for peace. Most of us that grew up during the war have responsibilty to bring peace to our region. All the human loss and the material loss for the last 50 years could have made the two great nations rich and peacefull. We have enough resources to feed and educate our people if we have the poletical will to put the peoples interest first. Our people deserve better!

  24. hi elias, I think you did a good job. we are the same people as a long run we become a good neighbour. I am waiting to listen about Isayas interview. I wish all the best to both countrys……….

  25. It’s quite refreshing to see there are some Ethiopians who are open-minded. It’s high time Ethiopians (and Africans in general) realize who dedicates their life for them and who steals peoples’ wealth and deposit it in western Europian banks. This is not about Eritrea; this is about Ethiopia and its future. Eritrea is on course and has proved it is capable of moving forward even in the worst of circumstances in regards to its southern border. As for Ethiopia, if it’s going to have any future, its people need to stand up for their rights and realize what’s important. Hence, people like Elias are indispensable if the eyes of the Ethiopian masses are to be opened. I wish and pray peace and prosperity for the entire of Africa! Go Elias!!
    **If we always do what we always did, we will always get what we always got.**
    Indianapolis

  26. For those of you who do not know the distance or the time it takes to fly between Addis and Asmara LESS THAN ONE HOUR; I REPEAT! IT TAKES LESS THAN ONE HOUR. Ladies and gentleman! the people of Ethio-Eritrea need each other more than the aid agencies; we can prosper together ones the narrow minded weyane mafia are eradicated from the face of the earth. What both nations need is/are leaders who are visioners that united their own people and region; NOT THE WEYANE MAFIA DIVISION AMONG EHNIC GROUPS AND INCITE HATRED BETWEEN ETHIO-ERITREA, AND SOMALIA. If the horn of Africa has to transform in the 21st century the unity of Ethio-Eritrea is very vital and lets not get trapped into the weyanes selve-serving hoopla! Peace to Ethio-Eri people!

  27. The racist woyane blocked the transit gates between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Elias is opening millions Ethio/Eritrean eyes. Once the communication and understanding among the people is fluid, no problem. The oppressive regime in Ethiopia is going to be history. Then, the cooperation in art, literature, economy and cultural/technology research is going to a modum vivendi between the two sovereign states and people.

    Viva Elias. Good bless you.
    Viva Mama Ethiopia.

    Mamo

  28. Ato Elias,
    I’m sure your enemies, including those bluffing here, are secretly admiring your courage and unwavaring determination to fight for your people.
    Looking forward to the interview videos, and your safe return.
    -Eritrawit

  29. Nice pictures. I am looking forward to the day when Ethiopians can visit Asmara and other Eritrean cities and Eritreans can visit Addis Abeba and the rest of our beautiful country.

  30. Yes it is still a clean city. I have seen it during the days of Haile Selassie I and it was spotless then also. The British had tried to run it down during their brief occupation by selling some of the factories as scrap and hauling away the docks from Massawa and Asab. I think the Isaias government should take the British government to court and have it cough up what it took in the 40’s with interest. That was a heinous act by the British. In any case, I believe it is still clean but it can be a stretch to claim it is the cleanest in Africa. I believe it should be the safest in Africa. It shows how resilient are the Eritrean people. By the way, I was expecting more pictures of the city.

  31. Elias… wow what a man, you don’t need a gun to kill weyane, your pen is doing more damage to weyane and their followers. let the ink do its job. that’s all what u need. Now let weyane know the past is the past between Eritreans and Ethiopians, now is the time to leave the past to the history books and learn from our mistakes. As for weyane, this will send chill to their spine. no more ethnically divided Ethiopia, no more fight between Eritrea and Ethiopia. let’s work together for the good of our brotherly peoples. Noting that the solution lies in addressing the root cause, and not the
    consequences, indicated that “imposed on the brotherly people from the outside which has no authority and further aggravating the problem.

  32. nase says:

    “Please don’t try to make Addis’s problem just created by the present (woyane-Tigrians) administration. It was there for a long time”

    This is the fundamental problem the region faces because of you. You never think strait and do the right thing. You have very sick brain and empty soul when it comes about Ethiopia.

    You are trying to hide your criminal activities for 18 years about what was before you savage animals entered into the oldest African palace to rule the nation in Tribalism. Tribalism is a Tigrian created –ism like capitalism, communism and the likes for one thing which is at the expense of Ethiopia or using Ethiopia as row material to build their barren and stony dead Tigry (the legitimate and legal territory of Tigry we and the world know it is what was before 1991 boundary).

    How was the size of the territory Tigry 18 years ago? Before the vertile and vast land taken by force from Gonder, wollo and Afar.
    How was development in Tigry 18 years ago?
    How was Mekkele look like 18 years ago?
    And how was your Tigry 18 years ago and how is looking like now? Is it worst as it is happening in other parts of Ethiopia?

    With 18 years you are building Tigry while destroying the rest of Ethiopia using Ethnic policy and Kilil as means of weapons to affect Ethiopia in the long run, too.

    But let me tell you. it is about Time. This is a fair world. The paying back time will arrive at each of your doorstep. Until then, continue feeling the worst Satanic Empire ever existed on earth.
    The take and take, and the eye with eye time will come soon because of you are working for that for 18 years.

    Until then bye, you woyane-TPLF; you are the world first and number one Tribalist in the name of Tigry.

  33. Asmara Is Clean!true ! elias what you did really takes some courage or payment i am not sure which.

    The only reason woyane is not going to be defeated is because of the wrong direction the so called opposition parties and the diaspora supporters are going, elias goes to asmara and talks about how clean asmara is and how dirty addis ababa is, the supporters talk about how elias is the ethiopian hero, how woyane will be sleepless after hearing this, be honest to yourselves I dont know when we are going to wake up. Meles doesnt care if the whole d.c taxi drivers go and meet with essayas infact he is happy becuase they are wasting their time on a dead case.Meles has already done his homework when it comes to eritrea and everything that is associated with it.you know it is all bullshit, elias, birhanu, solomon tekalign,lencho leta, they can all go to mars let alone asmara in winning woyane it has no meaning for ethiopians in ethiopia who can bring the change and who need the change, But for some of us in the west it is a big deal

    we are acting like a little

  34. Is Elias the Obama of the horn of Africa? Is he bridging the gap between neighborly people who most believe is not possible to bridge? Elias has matured through out his political life and its refreshing watching a man transform into calculated, wise and firm political figure. I think it’s high time Elias stops supporting other political figures and looks onto himself to make changes happen. If he stands firm and leads his own political wing, then there is no reason why Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalians cant tap into their wallets and support him on his quest to slay the the one eyed crooked woyanne dragon fly.

    Bravo Elias, you have the whole horn of African peoples’ attention.

  35. It is great work Elias. You are successful in facilitating of the falling of woyane. This is the big issue of the people (both Ethiopians and Eritrean). We saw that your work is very acceptable by Ethiopian and Eritrean from day to day. I hope your interview with Essayas will happy the whole people. God bless you, Elias.

  36. teklu,

    I agree Cape Town is very clean and beautiful. But Port Elizabeth and Durban? Oh, no … not Durban … it is the dirtiest major city I saw in South Africa!!

  37. Elias,
    Beleive me or not, you will never visit and see Ethiopia again and you are showing us that you are the follower and worshipper of the brutal dictator in Africa-ISAIAS AFEWERKI. You are a banda who sold his country for sake of our historical enemies…….
    Previously I used to beleive that you are a nuetral journalist but now I realized that you are number one mercinery of Eritrean regim who works day and night for the big dictator in Eritrea…Shame on you
    Long live Ethiopia

  38. I have really appreciate your incredible initiative. This would be a landmark in the history of Ethiopian websites. You are exercising the real and brave journalistic adventure. And beyond any body’s explanation tomorrow you will be remembered as a hero who have fulfilled his task on building good relationship between people of the region.

Leave a Reply