Mekelle፡Addis Abab,Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Eritrean Blue Revolutionary Front Makes Historic Visit to Washington, DC, in Push for Democratic Transition
In a major diplomatic milestone, a high-level delegation from the Eritrean Blue Revolutionary Front (EBRF) concluded a historic visit to Washington, DC, between July 21 and 24, meeting with senior U.S. policy-makers and members of Congress. The visit is being hailed as a significant step toward international engagement for Eritrean pro-democracy forces.
Led by Beyene Gerezgher, Bereket Kahasi, and Dawit Teferi, the EBRF delegation held consultations with Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Dr. Mark Milosch, Executive Director of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. The team also met with professional staff from the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, and the offices of key Senators and Representatives including Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA).
In addition, the delegation had a closed-door discussion with Ambassador Tibor Nagy, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and one of Washington’s foremost experts on the Horn of Africa.
The meetings were arranged with the assistance of Elias Gerasoulis of Moran Global Strategies (MGS), a prominent Washington lobbying firm known for its Africa-focused work. Mr. Gerasoulis was recently retained by the EBRF as their lead U.S. lobbyist.
In a statement released following the visit, the EBRF diplomatic team described the trip as “historic,” noting that U.S. officials expressed keen interest in supporting a viable democratic alternative to Eritrea’s authoritarian regime led by President Isaias Afwerki.
“We had a historic visit to Washington, DC, where we had the opportunity to discuss democratic transition in Eritrea with senior U.S. officials,” said the EBRF team. “The U.S. government has been eager to partner with a serious democratic alternative to the Isaias Afwerki regime for a long time, which we are now providing. We look forward to working closely with the U.S. government, and thank Mr. Gerasoulis and Moran Global Strategies for facilitating EBRF’s successful visit.”
Mr. Gerasoulis echoed the sentiment, saying: “It is an honor to represent the EBRF in Washington, DC. The EBRF had a highly successful visit the first of many to come. I am excited for our partnership, which will help bring freedom and liberty to the people of Eritrea.”
The visit comes at a time of increased international scrutiny on Eritrea’s human rights record, regional military activities, and political repression. The EBRF’s emergence as a visible and organized opposition movement is expected to raise the profile of Eritrean democracy advocates both in Washington and globally.
The delegation’s visit marks a bold diplomatic push to gain international backing for a post-Isaias era, signaling a new chapter in Eritrea’s long fight for democracy and human rights.
Source፡EBRF official website
