African Vision Sport & Education Development

Eritrean kids understand and deeply appreciate the value of their Independence month. A proud generation! 🇪🇷✨ #EritreanYouth #ValueofFreedom#EritreanYouth #FutureOfEritrea

The 2-month EDF inter-department sports competition, featuring 6 sports, concluded at Asmara Stadium before a large crowd in a vibrant atmosphere with cultural performances. Team Sabur beat Walta 2–0 in the final. Kudos to all EDF members & the organizers. 🇪🇷 #Eritrea

Development Rooted in Independence, Self-Reliance, Social Justice, and Collective Responsibility Bana Negusse For decades, Eritrea has been the subject of persistent misunderstanding and misrepresentation. While some of this stems from genuine misconceptions and a limited understanding of the country’s historical and political context, other narratives have been shaped by deliberate efforts to undermine Eritrea’s image within broader geopolitical and politicized campaigns. Over this time period, among the most misunderstood aspects of Eritrea’s national experience has been its vision of development – a distinct approach rooted in the country’s history, sovereignty, and aspirations for self-reliance. Understanding this vision requires moving beyond prevailing narratives to examine the principles, priorities, and long-term objectives that guide the country’s development trajectory. To begin, Eritrea’s development vision has deep roots in the country’s modern history. A useful place to start is the decades-long armed liberation struggle. While the immediate objective was national independence, the struggle was also waged in pursuit of social justice, gender equality, poverty eradication, human rights, and shared prosperity. These aspirations did not emerge in response to external agendas; they were integral to the nation’s identity and struggle from the outset. The country’s development vision and approach also has been clearly articulated in official documents and declarations. A central example is the National Charter, adopted in February 1994 in the historic town of Nakfa, which continues to serve as a guiding vision for the country. The Charter outlines Eritrea’s aspirations to build a prosperous, unified, and just nation in which all citizens, irrespective of background, can fulfill their potential in a peaceful, healthy, and sustainable environment. Importantly, these aspirations have not remained abstract. Eritrea has consistently sought to translate them into tangible outcomes, particularly through its unwavering commitment to social justice and equity. The country has worked to ensure that historically vulnerable and marginalized groups have equal opportunities to thrive and participate in national development. This commitment is reflected in the provision of free healthcare and education at all levels, alongside a range of social protection measures designed to safeguard disadvantaged citizens and promote a more equitable society. Notably, Eritrea has pursued these policies despite its status as a young, developing country – a reality that makes such universal commitments particularly ambitious. In doing so, it distinguishes itself not only from many developing countries where comparable services remain inaccessible to significant segments of the population, but also from wealthier, developed states that struggle to guarantee equitable access to essential services. This reflects a deliberate choice to place inclusivity, fairness, and human dignity at the center of national development, even amid considerable resource constraints. One of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of Eritrea’s development model is its emphasis on self-reliance and its approach to foreign assistance. While some critics characterize this stance as “isolationist” or “autarkic,” such labels overlook its underlying rationale. To be certain, Eritrea does not reject international partnerships. Rather, it insists that they be genuine, equitable, and complementary to national priorities. External assistance is welcomed when it addresses specific, locally identified needs, helps bridge temporary resource gaps, and strengthens national institutions. It is resisted when it comes with onerous conditionalities or risks fostering structural dependency. One practical illustration of this approach is Eritrea’s cooperation with the United Nations system. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2022–2026 was jointly developed with the Eritrean government and aligned with national development priorities, including health, education, water and sanitation, food security, and institutional capacity-building. Eritrea has also engaged with regional and bilateral partners, as well as institutions such as the African Development Bank, on initiatives spanning renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and skills development. These partnerships reflect a broader commitment to international cooperation that advances peace, strengthens institutional and productive capacities, and promotes sustainable development. They also underscore Eritrea’s conviction that effective partnerships must be grounded in mutual respect, shared interests, and alignment with locally defined priorities. From Eritrea’s perspective, the foundation of development partnerships should also increasingly shift toward investment and trade, rather than debilitating and perpetual aid that becomes an indefinite fixture in recipient countries’ annual budgetary calculations. Eritrea’s strategic location, natural endowments, and comparative advantages – including its blue economy, tourism, and latent manufacturing potential – underscore the importance of anchoring its development strategy in robust investment and trade policies, within a broad framework of self-reliance. Unfortunately, Eritrea’s approach has sometimes placed it at odds with development partners accustomed to exercising disproportionate influence over funding flows and development strategies. The country also regards the term “donors” as problematic, given the hierarchical relationship it can imply. Yet this stance should not be mistaken for withdrawal from the international community. Instead, it reflects a well-principled determination to safeguard sovereignty, preserve national agency, and ensure that Eritrean citizens remain the primary architects of their country’s development. Today, as the international community increasingly scales back development assistance in many parts of the world, Eritrea’s approach appears not only principled but also prescient. Countries that have become heavily dependent on external aid face significant challenges as support diminishes, with potentially severe consequences for essential services and long-term development objectives. By contrast, Eritrea’s emphasis on building domestic capacity, minimizing reliance on external handouts, and prioritizing self-reliance, investment, and trade has helped reduce its vulnerability to such global shifts. Rather than relying exclusively on external resources, Eritrea continues to pursue development through domestic capacities, institutional resilience, social solidarity, and the mobilization of investment. This approach underscores the potential durability of a development strategy grounded in national ownership and the strengthening of internal capabilities. Crucially, complementing this emphasis on resilience is Eritrea’s strong tradition of solidarity, generosity, mutual support, and community. These values are reinforced by both tradition and faith, particularly Christianity and Islam. Christianity emphasizes charitable giving, while Islam enshrines Zakat, or almsgiving, as one of its five pillars. Across the country’s diverse ethnolinguistic communities, collective responsibility is likewise deeply valued. From an early age, Eritreans are taught that although communities are composed of individuals, individual well-being and flourishing depend in significant measure on the strength of the collective. This principle is evident in rural villages and urban neighbourhoods, where people routinely come together to cultivate fields, plant crops, build homes, and undertake community projects. Several years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this spirit of solidarity played an important role in mobilizing resources, sharing burdens, and helping communities navigate hardship. Underlying these traditions is a profound sense of duty and mutual obligation. In many respects, this can be understood as a social contract within an all-stakeholder society. Supporting those in need is widely regarded not merely as an act of kindness but as a moral responsibility. Nowhere is this more evident than in the enduring support extended to war veterans, the families of martyrs, and the contributions of the Eritrean diaspora. The immense sacrifices made for independence and sovereignty have fostered a collective responsibility to honor those who gave their lives or livelihoods and to preserve their legacy through continued acts of generosity and solidarity. Overall, Eritrea’s development story has too often been misunderstood, reduced to external frameworks, or mischaracterized through superficial labels. The reality is that the country’s policies and aspirations reflect a deep, historically grounded vision rooted in independence, self-reliance, social justice, and collective responsibility. Far from being isolationist or merely reactive, Eritrea’s approach represents an effort to pursue sustainable development on its own terms – one that is indigenous, resilient, and deeply connected to the lived experiences of its people. #Eritrea

Your Excellency Commissioner @Bankole_Adeoye, the Algiers Agreement is fully implemented. Done and dusted! pca-cpa.org/ar/cases/99/ The question now is "Will the UNSC and the AU Rein in Ethiopia’s Expansionism and Aggression?" shabait.com/2026/10/21/will-…

Today the @AfricanGroupUN held an exchange with H.E. Lana Nusseibeh, candidate of the United Arab Emirates for the position of #UN Secretary-General, who presented her vision and priorities for the Organization. The discussion provided an opportunity to engage with #AU members states, on her candidacy and vision for the future of the United Nations and key issues related to Africa. #AfricaAtUN. #Agenda2063

Always good to catch up with UN Resident Coordinator Nahla Valji, @nahlav. We spoke about her work in Eritrea and how we can continue supporting her efforts there. Grateful for her leadership and commitment.

💉 The Gavi mission saw firsthand how immunization and essential health services reach remote communities. @gavi, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF & WHO also discussed priorities to strengthen immunization and Primary Health Care services to achieve Universal Health Coverage.

ብሳዋ ዝሓለፈ ተዓላማይ ዳርጋ ንዓላማይ ናቱ ወዲ ኩናማ ዘይፈልጥ የለን, ወዲ ኩናማ ሓደ ካብቶም መንሰያት ኤርትራ ንኹሉ እንተታት ቁሩባትን ብኣካልን ኣእምሮን ዝተህነጹን ክኾኑን ከይተሓለሉ ዝጽዕሩ ዘለዉ ኮስኮስቲ እዩ. #Eritrea #EDF #SAWA

President Isaias Afwerki met, at the Denden Guest House in the early evening hours today, Mr. Hu Changchun, China's Special Envoy for Horn of Africa Affairs. The extensive talks centered on bilateral ties and current developments in the region. Mr. Hu Changchun reiterated the PRC's position on the imperative of respecting Eritrea's sovereignty and territorial integrity. @hawelti #ERITREA #CHINA

Welcomed Mr. Guang Cong, Special Envoy of the @UN Secretary-General for the #HornOfAfrica, to the Permanent Mission of #Eritrea for an exchange of views on developments in the region. Discussed situation in #Sudan, #SouthSudan, and #Somalia, highlighting how external interventions are aggravating conflicts, deepening divisions, and undermining prospects for peace. Emphasized respect for national sovereignty, nationally owned political processes, and constructive international engagement. On #Eritrea–#Ethiopia relations, made it abundantly clear that any prospect of engagement with #Ethiopia's leadership on any level, requires a prior, public, unequivocal, and unconditional renunciation of coercion, threats, and the use of force, alongside unambiguous recognition of Eritrea's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. These are fundamental principles. Neither the @UN nor the @African_Union should normalize threats, entertain territorial claims, or reward coercive rhetoric. Dialogue must not legitimize the PP's conduct or create false equivalence. Also cautioned against the inadvertent instrumentalization of international representatives to advance #Ethiopia's political narratives, manufacture external endorsements, or portray diplomatic engagements as tacit approval of its conduct. The PP's ongoing photo-op diplomacy must not camouflage realities on the ground or obscure the consequences of impunity. Carefully staged diplomatic encounters and high-profile international appearances are not endorsements of government policies, conduct, or regional ambitions, nor should they shield the #Ethiopian leadership from scrutiny and accountability. The international community must look beyond diplomatic optics and confront the deteriorating situation within #Ethiopia, where the PP government continues to employ deadly force against its own population. Civilians have been killed, livelihoods and infrastructure destroyed, and communities subjected to violence and displacement across #Afar, #Amhara, #Benishangul-Gumuz, #Somali, Tigray, and Oromia regions . Civilian protection and accountability demand urgent international attention. Stressed that regional peace cannot be built by externalizing #Ethiopia's internal crises or pressuring Eritrea. Meaningful engagement requires trust, mutual respect, sovereign equality, and good faith, conditions that do not currently exist. The immediate priority must be to address the PP's threats and conduct that have undermined regional peace. #Eritrea will neither be drawn into #Ethiopia's internal political and security crises nor allow itself to become a convenient distraction from the challenges confronting the Ethiopian leadership. Those challenges must be addressed within Ethiopia, not externalized onto its neighbours.

التقى سعادة السفير مشعل بن حمدان الروقي بمعالي وزير خارجية دولة اريتريا السيد/عثمان صالح.

Rashaida women on the Red Sea coast of #Eritrea . 📷 Simon Hagos

The pragmatic Eritrean President indicates Africa's limited capabilities in Russia-Africa cooperative frameworks while emphasizing Russia's major role in strengthening multilateral relations.Such a visionary leader inAfrica is essential to elevating the continent in world affairs