TesfaNews.net: Reconsidering the Case of International Sanctions on Eritrea – 22 September
- Pro-government Eritrean newspaper TesfaNews publishes a critical account of the UN’s decision not to lift sanctions imposed on the country, describing them as ‘unwarranted’ and ‘unjust’.
- Tesfanews criticises Tibor Nagy’s view that despite the rapid, momentous changes unfolding throughout the Horn of Africa, it is too early to lift the sanctions on Eritrea. The article condemns the ‘continued imposition of sanctions against the country [which] can only be characterized as the continuation of a severe miscarriage of justice, politically-motivated, and not rooted in a genuine concern for international peace or security.’
- The statement was tweeted by Yemane Meskel, Eritrea’s Minister of Information.
Africanews.com: U.N. Security Council hails Eritrea’s diplomatic efforts in Ethiopia, Djibouti – 22 September
- Africanews reports on the official international recognition of Eritrea and Ethiopia’s continuing diplomatic efforts to implement peace.
- Members of the United Nations Security Council applauded the recent signature of the Jeddah agreement and recognised the participation of Saudi Arabia in contributing to the achievement of peace for the Horn of Africa.
- The Security Council members acknowledged the Jeddah meeting between Eritrea’s president Isaias Afwerki and Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, which may be significant to Eritrea’s quest for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the UN since 2009.
Deutsche Welle: Arab Gulf states in the Horn of Africa: What role do they play? – 23 September
- Deutsche Welle reportes on the rapprochement between the Gulf States and the Horn of Africa, pointing to the growing economic and military interests emerging from both sides.
- According to analysts, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are jointly positioning themselves as the major power houses among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Their involvement with the peace accord between their East African neighbours in Jeddah and the unprecedented talks they enabled between Djibouti and Eritrea puts them in a strategic business position.
- According to Elizabeth Dickinson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, the peace deal could also bring Ethiopia an economic upsurge of its own “if Ethiopia can use ports in Eritrea, as well as new ports under development in Somalia”.
- Deutsche Welle suggests the Horn of Africa is not only of economic interest to the Gulf States but also of military interest. It hosts some of the largest foreign military bases on the continent, including US, French, and Chinese bases. The UAE has a base in Eritrea and Djibouti is a base for Saudi troops, while Turkey and Qatar both have bases and close relations with Somalia and Sudan.
Africanews.com: Eritrea – Ethiopia hailed by Nobel laureate on 2018 World Peace day – 23 September
- Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee argues that the 2018 edition of World Peace Day had to be dedicated to Ethiopia and Eritrea.
- Gbowee tweeted that the two countries deserved credit “for putting their political differences aside and daring to invite peace back into their midst.”
- Gbowee was named a joint laureate in 2011 along with Yemeni activist, Tawakul Karman and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
