Eritrean independence, a failed political project
Eritrean independence is a failed political project. The Eritrean struggle has resulted in the installation of a 35-year-long tyranny that has brought neither prosperity nor political freedom. What is independence for a nation that has lived under decades of tyranny? As we speak, Eritrea is a land of zero politics: there are no elections, no opposition, no freedom of expression, no constitution, no parliament, no free press, and no access to modern technology or meaningful economic activity. Literally speaking, Eritrea is a political desert devoid of all human and democratic rights a complete political and economic vacuum.
Eritrean Independence: A Dream Hijacked by Tyranny
For many who lived through the decades of war against Ethiopia, Eritrean independence was once a beacon of hope—a promise of self-determination, dignity, and a future built by Eritreans, for Eritreans. But today, that promise lies in ruins.
Eritrean independence has become a failed political project. The liberation struggle, which should have ushered in democracy and prosperity, instead installed a 35-year-long tyranny—one of the harshest and most secretive dictatorships on earth. The heroes of the revolution have become the very oppressors they once fought against.
What does independence even mean for a nation that has lived under decades of unbroken tyranny?
As we speak, Eritrea is a land of zero politics. Let that sink in:
- No elections – Not a single national election has been held since independence in 1993.
- No opposition – Political dissent is crushed before it can form.
- No freedom of expression – Speaking out can lead to indefinite detention without trial.
- No constitution – The 1997 constitution was ratified but never implemented.
- No parliament – The legislature has not met in decades.
- No free press – All media is state-controlled; independent journalism is nonexistent.
- No access to modern technology – Internet penetration is among the lowest in the world, and what exists is tightly controlled.
- No meaningful economic activity – Most citizens survive through subsistence farming or remittances from abroad, while the state militarizes society.
Literally speaking, Eritrea is a political desert devoid of all human and democratic rights. It is not just a country in crisis; it is a complete political and economic vacuum. Generations have grown up knowing nothing but fear, forced conscription, and stagnation. The national project of liberation has been replaced by a national project of control.
When a nation wins its freedom but loses all freedoms within, has it truly won anything at all?
It is time to speak honestly about Eritrea not to dishonor the sacrifices of the past, but to honor them by demanding a different future. A future of democracy, human rights, and real independence not just from foreign rule, but from tyranny at home.
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