Source: Eritrean Opposition Groups
We are writing to you as Eritrean Americans living in San Diego, united in our opposition to the dictatorial government in Eritrea. We are deeply concerned about the oppression of our fellow Eritrean people at home, the political instability, economic disaster, and social is integration in the Horn of Africa caused by the Eritrean government’s actions over the past 30 years. Eritrea remains a country without a constitution, independent media, parliament, or democratically elected government. The civil liberties we cherish – including the right to free speech, press, assembly, and even free movement within Eritrea – are nonexistent.
Recently, the Eritrean government has been planning to fund its war efforts by holding seminars for Eritrean communities in the US. For the past 25 years, our communities in the diaspora have been divided-two communities, two Orthodox sects, and disconnected Christians and Muslim communities. We urge the Embassy of Eritrea to stay away from conducting seminars in our cities. Any representative of the dictatorial regime here is not welcome; his presence will further divide us and trigger new conflicts. In San Diego, we are starting to heal as a community. Few years ago, we have established the “Eritrean Debes association” to mourn our dead together. We want to continue rebuilding our community that has been divided for so long.
In the past four years alone, the Eritrean government has committed serious human rights violations and war crimes in Tigray, conspiring with the central government of Ethiopia and assembling forces from neighboring countries, and across the maritime borders of the Red Sea. We are bewildered by Isayas’ actions now – In 2018, Isayas himself enticed Abiye with the allure of the Red Sea and the Port of Assab, with the intention to confuse or infuse him and his constituents in Ethiopia to focus on the ports’ issue. This strategic move was a calculated effort to shift attention and priorities. However, the current situation has taken a surprising turn, raising many questions. Why invade Tigray in 2020 and destroy it, only to now build solidarity with Tigray forces? The timing of the recently raised campaign to commemorate the 1975 massacre in Asmara feels deliberate, making us wonder about the historical context of other massacres, such as the Akeleguzay massacre targeting the Saho villages in 1968, the Ona & Baskedira massacre in 1970, the Agordat massacre 1975, and the Sheib massacre in 1988. We are being reminded of past atrocities of Asmara to stir emotions and rally support, with Isayas trying to gather anyone willing to overthrow Abiye. Eritrea is a sovereign nation and like in the Badme war in 1998 settled by a border commission, there are peaceful means of challenging any illegal claims. We hereby urge Eritreans, and the world community to read a finely written document by Eritrean scholars titled “Eritrean Sovereignty & Ethiopia’s Quest for Sea Access” written by a group of Eritrean scholars on the Red Sea Access at https://eritrea-focus.org/eritrean-sovereignty-and-ethiopias-quest-for-sea-access/ to understand the illegality of the claims by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
We also want to address an important and pressing matter that affects us all. The Eritrean government has been engaging in actions that not only oppress the people within the country but also extend their reach of transnational repression to our diaspora communities. The regime has designated diaspora Eritrean communities as the fourth administrative region, a move that has serious implications for us. They have targeted our communities for money extortion, imposing illegal taxation, and constantly following, spying on, and harassing members of our community. This approach aims to sow division and chaos among Eritreans, which is characteristic of the current regime. In light of these developments, we are calling upon all Eritreans to unite and stand strongly against these oppressive actions. We must continue to foster open dialogue and respond to the demands for change in Eritrea. Our unity is our strength, and together we can overcome these challenges and work towards a brighter future for all Eritreans. Let us remain vigilant and supportive of one another during these trying times. Your engagement and solidarity are crucial in our collective efforts to resist and counter these repressive measures.
While our ultimate goal is to remove the dictatorial system of Isayas and regain ownership of Eritrea by its own people, we must be cautious and strategic in our actions, and responses. We cannot blindly support any action that might further harm our country. It is crucial that Eritreans communicate our concerns and seek a unified approach to manage the current situation. Eritrea, Tigray, or Sudan can no longer sustain future wars. PM Abiye must also learn a lesson from the Somaliland Agreement of claiming access to the Indian Ocean and stop beating the drum of war to gain access to the Red Sea by force. The illegal verbal transfer of power from Eritrea to Abiye by Isayas in Addis in 2018 should not fool anyone into believing that Eritrea and Ethiopia are one country.
If the embassy representative plans to come to San Diego to hold a seminar ignoring our courteous appeal, we are prepared to challenge his visit both legally and peacefully. The US authorities and the public are already aware of the exploitative taxes imposed on the government supporters, and we are ready to take the following additional actions to effectively advance our collective mission.
1. We are calling on all Eritreans, community, and religious leaders to join us in stopping the divisive visit of Eritrean government authorities to our city.
2. We will be reporting every asylum applicant Eritrean attending your meeting to ensure transparency and accountability.
3. We will inform the proper authorities of the treasury about your tax collection scheme to expose any potentially fraudulent activities
4. We will make businesses, city, state, and federal governments, as well as law enforcement agencies, aware of your illegal presence in our city.
We will no longer remain divided; we will confront you as Eritreans together.
Eritreans for Peace & Justice
San Diego, California
April 5th, 2025
