Eritrea in 2006

Eritrea in 2006

Area: 121,144 sq km (46,774 sq mi)
Population (2006 est.): 4,787,000
Capital: Asmara
Head of state and government: President Isaias Afwerki

Eritrea faced severe challenges in 2006, most of which were exacerbated by the nation’s authoritarian government, which failed to create a climate of economic revival, good relations with Western donors, neighbourly relations with Ethiopia, or real freedom for its people. Severe drought continued to afflict major portions of the Horn of Africa, causing food shortages for about 11 million people in the region. The hunger crisis prompted the United Nations in February to appoint Norwegian diplomat Kjell Magne Bondevik as its special humanitarian envoy to the region. Pres. Isaias Afwerki’s government in Eritrea downplayed the reality of the famine, however, and insisted that the nation could feed itself. In March Eritrea expelled three aid organizations, stating that they had failed to follow new rules created to regulate nongovernmental organizations. The ousted American, British, and Irish charities were among 24 NGOs that had ceased operating in the country since 2005.

The Eritrean economy remained deep in the red, spending more money on defense, modest economic restructuring, and humanitarian programs than it was taking in. The country’s external debt exceeded $500 million, up from $75 million in 1997. By the end of August, Eritrea, one of the world’s poorest nations, owed the World Bank more than $254 million for seven currently active projects.

The diplomatic stalemate between Eritrea and Ethiopia continued for the sixth year, but tension remained high between the two neighbours, which had fought a bloody war between 1998 and 2000. The two countries had agreed to cease fighting but disputed a UN Security Council ruling that set new borders after the battles ended. In September Eritrea expelled five security employees who were part of a UN force that was monitoring the cease-fire, accusing them of spying. The action was seen as yet another act of hostility and defiance by Eritrea toward the world body. In October Eritrea spurned calls by the UN Security Council to remove its 1,500 troops and 14 tanks from a postwar buffer zone.

Afwerki’s government continued to deny Eritreans political and press freedoms in 2006. Among the victims of the harsh regime were 15 journalists who spent their fifth year in jail notwithstanding pleas for their freedom from supporters overseas.

Despite their tribulations, Eritreans had at least one reason to celebrate in 2006: the Red Sea Boys, the country’s association football (soccer) team, thought to be minnows, handily beat Kenya’s Harambee Stars in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in September.

Patrick L. Thimangu