Curated

30 Years In The Making: Eritrea’s Descent To One-Man Rule

Posted On October 10, 2018

The following is compiled from a string of posts tweeted by Wulad9 (@DeqiWoldeMikel), a prolific writer using the Twitter platform.  It provides cursory information (each of which can be expanded into an essay) on how President Isaias Afwerki came to be the undisputed tyrant of Eritrea, whose powers are so unchecked he feels no qualms about grooming his son for an executive position despite the fact that he is transparently unqualified.  How did the Eritrean revolution, known for producing fearless grenade-jumpers get reduced to its current sad state where soldiers at every level–from the rank and file to the general–watch paralyzed as their country’s sovereignty is negotiated without their knowledge, much less input?   The following gives a clue.  A good companion piece for this is to read awate.com’s “Chronology of the Reform Movement” (the rise and fall of the G-15) and Dan Connell’s “Conversation With Eritrean Political Prisoners.”

There’s a consistent question that I keep being asked to address. How did Isaias Afewerki consolidate absolute control within #EPLF prior to #Eritrea|n liberation?

Specifically, how did he overcome much more powerful personalities?

Will concentrate on one event & its culmination

(A) The 1986 “Three Privileges” Campaign:

1. 1978 – 85 was the most daunting period for the #Eritrea|n liberation movements. Having not only survived Derg’s massive 8 onslaughts to decimate them, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Army (#EPLA) showed capabilities no one thought possible.

2. This was a time where Isias Afewerki noticed his power diminishing. #EPLA commanders not only had full admiration & belief of the rank & file, but also the populace as they’d protected them throughout the invasions.

3. Demise of the Eritrean Liberation Front (#ELF) with it, left them in full control of #Eritrea.

4. Isaias applied the 2nd thing he learned in China. Creation & management of a secret #Eritrea|n Party, Eritrean People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) was first in 70s.

5. Now came indirectly sidelining & eliminating opponents.

6. The was the exact thing Mao (his hero) did when relegated after failure of great leap forward, “cultural revolution”.

7. Without the knowledge of any of the other #Eritrea|n leaders, Isaias would go on a months-long campaign throughout the liberated zones & run seminars on the “3 privileges” with the rank & file.

8. Those being “womanizing, drinking & material advantages.”

9. Isaias would display his true mastery of language (Arabic in China btw) & understanding the value of reputation amongst #Eritrea|ns

10. To conservative peasants being taught Marxist/egalitarian values while living in hellish Spartan conditions, what he told them bordered on infamy.

11. Without naming names specifically, Isaias discussed in depth about the different lives of the fighters & the #Eritrea|n leadership.

12. He spoke of opulence that needs to extinguished.

13. Thousands of fighters & mid level rank were left with the impression he’s the only “honest” one.

14. This “moral crusade” by Isias would culminate in the mysterious death of his biggest & most powerful foe: Ibrahim Afa.

15. It would be followed by dilution of Central Committee (CC) & Executive Committee (EC) of EPLF & EPRP by bringing in his own “yes men”. Same men running wild in #Eritrea now.

16. It also set precedent.

17. It set the stage for reducing the powers of Ogbe Abraha, Mesfin Hagos, Petros Solomon, Ali Said Abdela, Sebhat Efrem etc

18. After #Eritrea|n independence, repeated in 1994 when creating PFDJ, economic purge in 90s for “corruption”.

19. But especially in 2001 for “treason” of G15.

(B) The May 20 1993 Rebellion

1. What started as demands for consultations being ignored for 2 yrs – pay, purpose – regarding #EPLA, quickly ramps up when novice units (who joined #Eritrea|n struggle after ’89) take over Asmara Airport & Banks.

2. Escalates when veteran Commando & Mechanized Units join.

3. A humiliated Isaias is marched for 3 km to the stadium to face off with the #Eritrea|n military, where he was berated in front of thousands.

4. One would even quip to his face: “Menn mera’t geyrikin tkwhala?!”. Meaning “who made you the bride that you consider this YOUR occasion?!”

5. Isaias folds & tells them “You are right! Pay will be coming soon & you won’t stand idle anymore.”

6. Within 3 month’s, Isaias would remobilize security services, arrest over 70 of the most powerful #Eritrea|n commanders (some not involved) & charge them for up to 15 yrs in a Secret Court.

7. Over the next few years, remainder of the influential commanders would be kept busy in wars in Sudan & the unnecessary ones with Yemen & Djibouti.

8. Some of our best #Eritrea|n units would even be sent to Rwanda where they fought their way to Kinshasa, Congo to take down Mobutu.

9. This is the first of 3 purges before the literal hijacking of #Eritrea that took place in 2001.

10. The others are to do with the Economic and Political pillars which I will add on as well.

11. Between 1991 – 95, #Eritrea had 4 Defence Ministers: Ali Said Abdella, Petros Solomon, Mesfin Hagos & Sebhat Efrem respectively.

12. Each resisting the haphazard manner in which matters of Military & National Security were managed by President Isaias.

13. With severe resistance to removing Mesfin Hagos – war time hero & most respected by all rank & file – Isaias would promote 37 Major & Brigadier Generals to dilute resistance & foster infighting.

14. Also promoted Sebhat Efrem as #Eritrea|s first full General; leaping his superiors.

15. Was paralleled by repeated military restructuring which weakened it.

16. Plus foreign forays even #Eritrea|s Foreign Ministers were informed of – after the fact – from Intl. News (Sudan 94, Hanish 96).

17. With the most capable military & intelligence relegated, border war came next.

18. Handling of the #Eritrea|n & #Ethiopia|n border war would bring these contradictions to the fore. In fact, Isaias’s meddling got worse.

19. Exemplified by firing Gen. Ogbe Abraha in midst of war; refusing to let Petros & Hagos participate; ordering Assab abandoned, & losing the West.

20. All of these men, along with many others would be labeled “defeatists” to cover PIAs failures; & risk he put #Eritrea in; & purged.

21. Along with all reporters arrested that started to expose this.

22. In 2001, Isias would instate anathema to EPLFs core identity, the 5 zones (military commands) of ELF

(C) The February 1994 PFDJ Congress

1.1994, EPLF at its last congress votes to disband & create a Mass Front – PFDJ – to set stage for a democratic #Eritrea.

2. Isaias Afwerki uses opportunity to purge almost ALL senior, collective leadership of EPLF under guise of needing “new blood”.

3. Most were younger.

4. Starting 1992, Isias had started to reconfigure #Eritrea|n Armed Forces. Unable to relegate/push out its most powerful members (E.g Mesfin Hagos), he instead completely diluted its hierarchy by promoting 37 Maj/Brig Generals.

5. Even promoting Sebhat to full General above seniors.

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30 Years In The Making: Eritrea’s Descent To One-Man Rule
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