Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Eritrea፡A Nation Hijacked by a Criminal State Structure
Eritrea is not a normal functioning state governed by law or democratic principles. It resembles a mafia-style regime secretive, authoritarian, and structured to keep its people in permanent servitude. Beneath the façade of national sovereignty lies a ruthless power structure led by President Isaias Afwerki and a small circle of loyalists who have ruled unchallenged since independence in 1993.
For over 30 years, Eritrea has had no constitution, no elections, no independent judiciary, and no free press. There are no public institutions to hold leaders accountable. Decisions are made behind closed doors to serve the interests of the ruling elite, not the citizens. State finances are opaque, with revenues from mining and foreign remittances controlled without any public oversight just like a criminal syndicate.
One of the regime’s primary tools of control is indefinite national service. Thousands of Eritreans, especially youth, are forced into military or labor service under inhumane conditions and without fair pay. This system, originally justified as a patriotic duty, has become a method of enslavement, robbing generations of their futures and fueling mass migration.
But repression in Eritrea extends beyond its borders. The government engages in transnational repression spying on, threatening, and extorting Eritrean communities abroad. Through embassies and informants, it forces exiled citizens to pay “contributions” and remain silent. Those who speak out risk retaliation against family members still inside the country. Fear is not just domestic it follows Eritreans across the globe.
Propaganda is another key pillar of control. State media exists only to serve the regime’s narrative, labeling critics as traitors and framing all foreign concern as conspiracy. Young Eritreans are raised in an environment where loyalty replaces truth, and questioning authority is dangerous.
The tragedy is compounded by the fact that Eritrea’s story could have been different. Born from a hard-fought war of independence, the nation once held promise. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale of betrayal, repression, and squandered potential.
Yet hope persists. Eritreans inside and outside the country are organizing, speaking out, and demanding change. Movements like the #BlueRevolution reflect a growing desire for freedom, justice, and reform.
Eritrea is not just ruled by a dictator it is trapped in a system of systemic repression. But the voices of its people are rising, and the world must stand with them.
Writen by Freedom 4 Eritrea
