Eritrea: Opposition Poised to Stamp out Despotism

Eritrean opposition leaders wrapped up a successful gathering over the weekend with a renewed commitment to uproot despotism in Eritrea.

To this end, the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) held a five-day (01/15 - 01/19) conference in Addis Ababa where it pledged to work closely with the Eritrean civic community and the independent media.

Delegates from the 11-member EDA coalition chose a three-member interim secretariat to manage day-to-day activities until the organization´s next congress on March 30.

At the end of the conference, the EDA leadership met with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr. Meles Zenawi, who reiterated his full support for the organization.

In the United States, the Bush Administration sent a clear signal of solidarity with the Eritrean democratic movement by hosting a meeting at the State Department for one of the leading members of the EDA coalition.

On January 14, 2008, Dr. Jandayi Frazer, US Assistant Secretary in Charge of African Affairs, held a lengthy meeting with Mr. Mesfin Hagos, EDA senior member and former Eritrean Defense Minister. Items discussed included the deteriorating economic and social crisis sweeping over that African country. Also discussed were the Eritrean government´s relentless disregard for the rule of law and its gross violations of human rights and civil liberties.

The Eritrean delegation also held talks with Mr. Jeff Krilla, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy and Human Rights and the Office of International Religious Freedom.

A strong US backed democratic EDA which continues to enjoy increasing popular support, is surely bound to make the Eritrean Government very nervous. The Ethiopian connection in this political equation is even more unnerving for the Asmara administration given the bitter animosity between the two governments.

A new administration in Asmara is definitely a very attractive idea in the eyes of the US and most of the Horn of Africa because of Eritrea´s inept and hostile foreign policy.

The biggest beneficiaries will, doubtless, be the Eritrean people who in the words of a US diplomat are yet to "enjoy the rewards of their heroic struggle for independence." Whether the Eritrean opposition is ready to seize the opportunity and deliver the ´goods´ as swiftly as possible is yet to be seen.

Sources: Reuter, Awate.com, selfi-democracy.com