The leaders of Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan and Somalia are set to meet on Sunday, Octber 4, in New Alamein, Egypt, for the Alamein Consultative Summit.

The meeting will bring together President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia.

According to the Egyptian Presidency, the summit is intended for consultation and coordination on regional issues of mutual interest. No detailed public agenda has been released at this stage.

The timing of the meeting is significant.

New Alamein is currently hosting a series of high-level African gatherings, including the Alamein Africa Forum and the eighth African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. Egypt has presented these events as platforms for African economic integration, development and wider continental cooperation.

The four-way meeting also takes place against a rapidly changing regional environment.

Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have recently deteriorated following Ethiopia’s closure of its embassy in Asmara and the expulsion of Eritrean diplomats. Eritrea subsequently closed Ethiopia’s diplomatic mission in Asmara. Egypt and Ethiopia have also exchanged diplomatic expulsions.

At the same time, developments across the Horn of Africa, Sudan and the Red Sea continue to connect questions of national sovereignty, regional security, maritime stability and political relations among neighbouring states.

For Eritrea, the Red Sea is not a secondary issue. Its coastline places the country directly within one of the most strategically important maritime regions connecting Africa, the Middle East and the wider Indian Ocean.

For Egypt, the security of the Red Sea is closely connected to national and regional interests, including the stability of the Nile Basin and maritime routes. Cairo has repeatedly emphasized the importance of regional coordination and the role of Red Sea littoral states in matters concerning the sea.

Sudan brings another critical dimension to the discussion. The continuing conflict has significant consequences for the security and political stability of the wider Horn of Africa and for neighbouring countries.

Somalia likewise remains central to regional security discussions, given its position along the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.

The importance of the Alamein meeting therefore lies not simply in the number of leaders attending, but in the fact that four states with direct interests in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, the Nile Basin and the Gulf of Aden will be sitting at the same regional table.

What emerges from the meeting will depend on the discussions themselves. At present, the Egyptian Presidency has described the gathering primarily as a framework for consultation and coordination on issues of common regional concern.

The meeting will therefore be closely watched for any concrete positions concerning regional security, sovereignty, stability, diplomatic coordination and cooperation among the four states.

Sources:

• Egyptian Presidency
• Egyptian State Information Service

President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea is in Egypt for a working visit at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, according to the Eritrean Ministry of Information.

The Eritrean Ministry of Information states that President Isaias will participate in a Summit of Heads of State on collective security, stability and partnership. The discussions cover the wider regional neighbourhood, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf and Nile Basin. President Isaias and President el-Sisi are also expected to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between Eritrea and Egypt.

The visit comes as Egypt hosts the Alamein Africa Forum in New Alamein from October 2 to 4. President el-Sisi is scheduled to inaugurate the forum on October 3, with African leaders, government representatives, business leaders and African and international economic institutions taking part, according to Egypt’s State Information Service.

The African Union has also confirmed the gathering in New Alamein, bringing together African leaders, institutions and representatives of the private sector to discuss continental development priorities and their implementation.

Eritrea’s engagement comes at a time when the Red Sea and its surrounding maritime and regional spaces remain central to discussions on security, stability and cooperation.

Egypt and Eritrea have also emphasized the importance of cooperation on Red Sea affairs. In recent diplomatic discussions, Egypt stressed that security and governance of the Red Sea are the responsibility of the Red Sea littoral states.

President Isaias Afwerki’s visit places Eritrea–Egypt relations within a broader regional diplomatic setting involving African cooperation, Red Sea security and relations among neighbouring states.

Sources

• Eritrea Ministry of Information
• Egyptian State Information Service
• African Union

The current hetoric directed at Eritrea raises a broader question about political consistency. The accusation that Eritrea is acting as a subordinate or proxy can also be viewed as an attempt to project onto Eritrea the very dynamics that critics associate with their own political relationships and external alignments.

That is where the charge of duplicity enters the debate.

Eritrea has consistently placed sovereignty and independent decision making at the centre of its foreign policy. Whether one agrees with every aspect of that policy or not, Eritrea’s position is that its national interests cannot be defined by another government, political party, or external power.

This principle is particularly important in the Horn of Africa, where political relationships have frequently been shaped by competing regional interests and external involvement. Cooperation between states is legitimate and necessary, but cooperation does not remove the political independence of the parties involved.

For Eritrea, the issue is therefore not whether it should cooperate with others. The issue is the terms on which that cooperation takes place.

A relationship based on mutual recognition allows both sides to maintain their political agency. A relationship in which one side expects compliance from the other creates a fundamentally different dynamic.

Eritrea’s insistence on sovereignty should therefore be understood within that context. Its refusal to accept political direction from outside is part of a broader position that national decisions should remain the responsibility of the Eritrean state.

The same standard should apply to every country and every political actor in the region.

If sovereignty is considered legitimate for one state, it cannot be treated as conditional for another.

For Eritrea, sovereignty is not a negotiating position. It is the basis from which its external relationships are approached.

Fifty years is long enough for a generation to become history. Yet the memories associated with the Revolutionary School remain closely connected to the people who experienced them. For many, the school was not simply a place where lessons were taught. It represented an effort to preserve learning, discipline, community, and human development under conditions in which ordinary educational structures could not be taken for granted.

The story of the Revolutionary School belongs to a period when education was deeply connected to the broader social and historical circumstances of Eritrea. Learning did not exist separately from the realities surrounding the people. Children and young people were growing up in an environment shaped by displacement, insecurity, limited resources, and political upheaval. In that setting, establishing and maintaining a school required more than classrooms and books. It required organisation, sacrifice, and a belief that education could not be postponed indefinitely.

That is one of the reasons why returning to the history of the Revolutionary School matters.

Education Under Difficult Circumstances

The significance of the school cannot be understood only through the number of students who passed through it or the subjects that were taught. Its deeper importance lies in the circumstances in which education was pursued.

In many societies, education is associated with stability: permanent buildings, trained teachers, established curricula, libraries, and predictable academic calendars. The Revolutionary School emerged from a very different reality. Education had to develop alongside a movement and a population confronting circumstances that repeatedly disrupted ordinary life.

Teachers therefore carried responsibilities extending beyond academic instruction. Students were exposed to an environment in which education, community responsibility, and the realities of their society were closely intertwined.

The experience also created a particular relationship between teacher and student. Resources could be limited, but education continued. The physical surroundings could be difficult, but learning remained a priority.

That persistence is an important part of the historical record.

Tsabra and the Memory of a Generation

The anniversary gathering in Tsabra brought together people from different generations, including those whose lives were directly connected to the history being remembered.

The landscape itself provides an important contrast to the passage of time. Fifty years can transform institutions, technologies, and societies, while the places in which important events occurred can retain a remarkable sense of continuity.

For those who attended the anniversary, returning to such a place was therefore not simply a visit to the past. It was a meeting between generations.

Older participants carry memories that cannot be reconstructed from documents alone: the conditions in which students studied, the responsibilities they carried, the relationships formed between classmates and teachers, and the everyday realities that surrounded education.

Younger generations encounter that history differently. For them, the Revolutionary School is increasingly something to be understood through the memories of parents, relatives, teachers, and former students.

This makes remembrance particularly important.

History does not survive only in archives. It also survives through people.

The Meaning of a School Beyond Its Classrooms

A school can be measured by buildings, enrolment figures, and academic results. But institutions created during periods of profound social change often acquire a wider significance.

The Revolutionary School became part of an effort to ensure that an entire generation would not be deprived of education because of the circumstances into which it was born.

That distinction is important.

Education in such an environment was not merely preparation for an individual career. It was also a means through which knowledge, cultural memory, and a sense of responsibility could be transmitted from one generation to another.

The school therefore belongs to a larger history of Eritrean education: a history in which learning repeatedly had to adapt to changing circumstances while remaining connected to the needs of society.

Fifty Years Later

Half a century after its establishment, the anniversary invites a different kind of reflection.

The students of the early years are now parents, grandparents, professionals, community members, and custodians of memories that increasingly belong to another era. Their personal experiences provide an important bridge between the history of the 1970s and the Eritrea of today.

Their stories also raise questions for the present generation.

What does it mean to inherit an educational institution shaped by such difficult circumstances?
What lessons can be carried forward without reducing history to nostalgia?
And how can the experiences of those who built and attended the school be preserved for people who did not live through that period?

These questions become particularly relevant as time moves further away from the original generation.

Preserving the Roots

The 50th anniversary in Tsabra is therefore more than a date on a commemorative calendar. It is an opportunity to document a part of Eritrea’s educational and social history while many of its direct witnesses are still able to tell their stories.

Photographs, personal testimonies, school records, and the memories of former students and teachers can provide future generations with a more complete understanding of what the Revolutionary School represented and the circumstances surrounding its development.

The value of such history lies not in turning the past into mythology, but in preserving its complexity.

The Revolutionary School emerged from a particular time, among particular people, under particular circumstances. Its history contains hardship as well as determination, limitations as well as achievement, and personal memories alongside broader historical developments.

Fifty years later, returning to Tsabra means returning to those roots.

It is a reminder that institutions are ultimately built by people — and that the history of education is also the history of generations who refused to allow difficult circumstances to determine the limits of what their children could learn, become, and contribute.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his accompanying delegation were warmly received by President Isaias Afwerki upon their arrival at Asmara International Airport.

The current visit forms part of the periodic consultative framework between the two sisterly countries, reflecting the importance both Eritrea and Sudan attach to direct dialogue and regular exchange at the highest level.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

During the working visit, President Isaias Afwerki and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan will discuss the enhancement of bilateral ties, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The consultations come against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving Horn of Africa and Red Sea region, where stability, sovereignty, security, and constructive relations between neighbouring countries remain of fundamental importance.

For Eritrea and Sudan, maintaining regular communication provides an important avenue for addressing shared concerns and strengthening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect for national sovereignty.

Eritrea and Sudan: Neighbours with Shared Interests

Eritrea and Sudan are linked by geography, history, and longstanding ties between their peoples. Their proximity also means that developments affecting one country inevitably have implications for the wider regional environment.

Regular consultations between Asmara and Khartoum therefore represent more than routine diplomatic engagement. They provide an opportunity for the two neighbouring countries to exchange perspectives, coordinate where their interests converge, and reinforce channels of direct communication.

Eritrea has consistently emphasized the importance of regional countries taking ownership of their affairs and pursuing solutions through dialogue, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Asmara’s Role in Regional Diplomacy

The visit by General al-Burhan once again highlights Asmara’s role as an important venue for regional political consultations.

President Isaias Afwerki’s engagement with neighbouring countries has placed strong emphasis on direct dialogue and frank discussions concerning developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

The meeting with General al-Burhan provides another opportunity for such consultations, particularly on issues of mutual concern to Eritrea and Sudan.

A Continued Commitment to Dialogue

The working visit underscores the value both countries place on maintaining direct, high-level communication.

At a time of profound challenges across the region, strong relations between neighbouring states are increasingly important. Eritrea and Sudan’s continued consultative framework offers a channel through which the two countries can discuss their interests, strengthen bilateral ties, and exchange views on regional and international developments.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s arrival in Asmara is therefore not simply a diplomatic visit. It is a reaffirmation of the enduring relationship between Eritrea and Sudan and of their commitment to continued consultation, mutual respect, and cooperation.

Asmara remains a place where regional issues can be discussed directly, openly, and with the interests of neighbouring countries at the center of the conversation.

5,000,000+ votes. One name. One flag. One people.

Some moments are bigger than the event that creates them.

The remarkable support surrounding Eritrea at Miss World 2026 has become one of those moments — a moment that reaches beyond a beauty competition and speaks to something deeper: identity, belonging, pride, and the extraordinary power of a global community coming together.

More than five million votes represent more than a number on a screen. They represent millions of individual decisions to participate, support, and stand behind Eritrea.

They represent a message that can be heard across continents:
We are Eritrean.

When Distance Becomes Irrelevant

Eritreans are spread across the world.
From Asmara to the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, communities have built lives in different societies while continuing to carry their Eritrean heritage with them.
An Eritrean in Asmara may live a very different life from an Eritrean in London, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Toronto, Melbourne, or Boston. Yet there are moments when those distances suddenly disappear.

The Eritrean flag is one of those moments.

A familiar colour.
A familiar symbol.
A familiar sense of belonging.

Distance does not erase identity.
Instead, identity travels — through families, through culture, through memories, and through generations.

Our SNIT — More Than a Representative

At the heart of this moment stands our SNIT.

She represents more than beauty. She represents grace, harmony, dignity, unity, and Eritrean pride on an international stage.
The word SNIT carries a beautiful idea: harmony.
And perhaps there is no better message for this moment.

Our SNIT stands on the world stage, but she does not stand alone. Behind her is a global Eritrean community — people from different countries, different backgrounds, and different walks of life who have come together in support.

Our SNIT. Our pride. Our voice.

Her presence gives Eritreans around the world a shared moment — an opportunity to celebrate where we come from and to show the world the strength of a community connected by identity.

Five Million Voices, One Message

The significance of 5 Million+ votes lies not only in the number itself, but in what it represents.
It demonstrates that unity can emerge when people focus on what they share rather than what separates them.

Eritrean unity does not require everyone to think the same way.

It does not require Eritreans to live in the same country.
It does not require every individual to follow the same path.
Unity simply asks us to remember the connection that remains beneath our differences.

One heritage.
One identity.
One pride.

That is a message worth carrying forward.

A Message to the Next Generation

The greatest responsibility of any generation is not simply to remember where it came from, but to make sure the next generation remembers as well.

To every young Eritrean around the world:

Know your history.
Know your culture.
Protect your heritage.
Support your community.
And carry your Eritrean identity with confidence and pride.

You can build your future anywhere in the world.
You can study in one country, work in another, raise your family somewhere else, and still remain deeply connected to Eritrea.

Because being Eritrean is not defined by a postcode.
It lives in the heart.

The Number Behind the Story

Five million-plus votes are remarkable.
But behind those votes are people.

Parents.
Children.
Families.
Friends.
Communities.

People who took a moment to say: I support Eritrea.

That is why this moment matters.
The world may see a voting figure.
Eritreans see a reflection of their collective voice.
And that voice has travelled across borders.

A Personal Message to Every Eritrean

To every Eritrean who supported our SNIT, who voted, shared, encouraged, and stood proudly behind Eritrea:

Thank you.

From the bottom of my heart, I say only one word:

PRIDE.

Our unity is not something fragile. It is strengthened by our shared history, our heritage, our culture, and the bond that connects Eritreans wherever life takes them.

Alhamdulillah, I am proud of Eritrea — beautiful Eritrea, today, tomorrow, and forever.

May this pride continue to live in our children.
May they know where they come from.
May they carry our flag with dignity.
And may they understand that unity is not something to take for granted — it is something every generation has the responsibility to protect.

The Love Letter Continues

Five million-plus voices came together from around the world.

Not because Eritreans all live in one place —
but because Eritrea lives within them.

This is more than a moment.
It is a reminder.

A reminder that a people separated by oceans can still speak with one voice.
A reminder that identity can cross borders.
A reminder that pride can bring generations together.
And a reminder that when Eritreans stand together, the world can hear them.

One People. One Identity. One Pride.
5 Million+ Voices.
One Eritrea. One Heart.

Our SNIT. Our pride. Our unity.

Eritrea — now and forever. 

International demographic data places Eritrea’s population at approximately 6.5 million people. But numbers alone cannot capture the full meaning of Eritrean identity. For Eritreans around the world, belonging is not defined solely by geography. It is carried through generations, communities, culture, history, and a lasting connection to the homeland.

That is the meaning behind the powerful expression:

6.5 million on paper. 65 million in the heart.

The figure of 65 million is a symbol, not an official population statistic. It represents the idea of an Eritrean community whose sense of identity reaches across continents and generations.

Eritrea Beyond Borders

Today, Eritrean communities can be found across the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia. From Washington, D.C., California, and Dallas to cities throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia, Eritreans continue to preserve their heritage and maintain connections with one another and with Eritrea.

Geographical distance does not necessarily weaken identity. In many communities, Eritrean culture, traditions, stories, and pride continue to be passed from one generation to the next.

This global connection gives moments such as Miss World an importance that extends beyond the competition itself.

Eritrea at Miss World 2026

The Miss World platform provides Eritrea with an opportunity to be seen by an international audience and to present an image of the country through its representative.

A global beauty competition is ultimately about much more than appearance. It can provide a platform for culture, confidence, representation, and international visibility.

For Eritreans around the world, seeing Eritrea represented on such a stage can become a moment of shared pride.
It is a moment in which the Eritrean flag, identity, and presence are visible to millions of people beyond the country’s borders.

People’s Choice: A Global Eritrean Voice

The People’s Choice component adds another dimension to this international moment.

TOP 10 PEOPLE’S CHOICE – MISS WORLD 2026: ERITREA LEADS!

Your vote. Your voice. Your pride.

Every vote represents an individual choice, but collectively, those votes can demonstrate the level of international support surrounding Eritrea’s representative.

From the United States and Canada to Europe, Africa, and Asia, Eritreans and friends of Eritrea can participate in the moment and make their voices heard.

The message is simple: support, participation, and pride can bring a global community together.

More Than a Crown

For Eritrea, the significance of Miss World 2026 can therefore be understood beyond the question of winning a crown.

It is about representation.
It is about visibility.
It is about showing the world another dimension of Eritrea and its people.

A representative walking onto an international stage carries not only an individual story, but also the expectations, hopes, and pride of people watching from home and from communities around the world.

That is what makes this moment meaningful.

A Global Community, One Identity

Eritrean identity has never been confined to a single location. It lives wherever Eritreans preserve their heritage, remember their history, raise their children, celebrate their culture, and maintain their connection to one another.

United States. Canada. Europe. Africa. Asia. Eritrea.

Different continents.
Different cities.
One shared heritage.

And when Eritrea appears on the world stage, that global community has an opportunity to stand together.

Eritrea – Visible, United and Proud

The story of Eritrea at Miss World 2026 is ultimately a story about representation and connection.

It is about a country whose presence reaches beyond its population statistics, a culture carried across borders, and a worldwide community that continues to identify with its Eritrean heritage.

6.5 million on paper.
65 million as a symbol.
One identity.
One voice.
One pride.

As Eritrea takes its place on the world stage, the message from its global community is clear:

Your vote. Your voice. Your pride.

Eritrea on the world stage.
Eritrea visible.
Eritrea united.
Eritrea proud.

Awet’Nihafash

President Salva Kiir has invited General Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan to Juba, a move aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, stabilizing borders, and expanding trade cooperation. The invitation, delivered by National Security Adviser Tut Gatluak, comes as the UAE‑backed RSF loses ground militarily, signaling a shift in Sudan’s balance of power. While this development may not immediately end the conflict, it offers a pathway toward dialogue and a glimmer of hope for peace in Sudan and the wider region.

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has officially invited General Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, to visit Juba. The invitation was delivered by Kiir’s National Security Adviser, Tut Gatluak, during meetings in Khartoum, and Burhan accepted. The visit is intended to strengthen bilateral ties, address border stability, and expand trade cooperation.

The purpose of the visit centers on several key priorities: reinforcing the historic bilateral relations between Sudan and South Sudan; addressing border stability challenges, particularly in the Abyei region; ensuring the continued transit of South Sudanese crude oil through Sudanese pipelines; advancing plans to establish joint trade zones along the border; and coordinating broader efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

The economic interdependence between Sudan and South Sudan remains central, as South Sudan exports nearly all of its oil through Sudan, while Sudan depends on the transit fees as a vital source of revenue. Despite ongoing tensions surrounding Abyei’s potential inclusion in South Sudan’s upcoming elections, both governments continue to demonstrate commitment to dialogue. The invitation also carries a broader geopolitical signal, highlighting Juba’s role as a mediator and Sudan’s interest in stabilizing relations amid its ongoing civil war.

The invitation carries several important implications. Diplomatically, it offers an opportunity to reset relations and strengthen engagement following recent disputes. Economically, the establishment of joint trade zones could stimulate cross‑border commerce and enhance cooperation. From a security perspective, the discussions are expected to address measures against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and broader regional instability, underscoring the shared interest in promoting peace and stability.

From my perspective, the invitation comes at a time when the UAE‑backed RSF is steadily losing ground on the battlefield. This shifting military balance adds weight to the diplomatic engagement, as Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) gain leverage both domestically and regionally. Against this backdrop, Burhan’s acceptance of President Kiir’s invitation underscores the strategic importance of strengthening ties with South Sudan while projecting confidence in Sudan’s evolving position.

Equally, the invitation signals that Abu Dhabi has lost its diplomatic privilege within President Kiir’s administration. This shift could potentially sever one of the logistical lifelines sustaining the UAE‑backed RSF, undermining its capacity as a war ally in Sudan.Indeed, the recent diplomatic development between Sudan and South Sudan may not immediately silence the guns in Sudan. Nevertheless, it represents a significant step forward—a tunnel that could eventually lead to the cessation of the war and illuminate a path of hope for peace, not only for Sudan and its people but also for the wider region.

Sources:

• References
• The Citizen News 
• Radio Tamazuj

The statement follows high-level meetings in Cairo that attracted widespread international attention. Some commentators portrayed the growing cooperation among Eritrea, Egypt, and Somalia as an effort to isolate Ethiopia. However, Boulos made it clear that U.S. diplomacy is aimed at promoting dialogue, regional stability, and constructive engagement—not encouraging geopolitical confrontation.

For the nations of the Horn of Africa, this clarification is significant. Eritrea, Somalia, and Egypt, as sovereign states, have every right to deepen cooperation on issues of regional security, economic development, and the protection of strategic maritime routes. Diplomatic engagement among neighboring countries should be viewed as a normal exercise of sovereignty rather than evidence of hostility toward another nation.

Eritrea has consistently pursued an independent foreign policy based on sovereignty, mutual respect, and regional stability. As security challenges in the Red Sea continue to evolve, cooperation among the region’s coastal states has become increasingly important. Safeguarding international shipping lanes, combating transnational threats, and expanding economic partnerships remain shared priorities.

The Horn of Africa has emerged as one of the world’s most strategically important regions. Global powers increasingly recognize the region’s geopolitical significance and continue to strengthen diplomatic ties with its governments. Eritrea, with its strategic location along the Red Sea and its growing regional engagement, remains an important actor in efforts to promote long-term peace and security.

The U.S. envoy’s remarks also underscore an important principle: regional cooperation should not be interpreted through the lens of rivalry. Sovereign nations have the legitimate right to build partnerships that serve their national interests without those relationships being portrayed as alliances against another country.

Editorial

The Horn of Africa should not be defined by narratives imposed from outside the region. Its future must be shaped by the people and governments of the region themselves through dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation. Eritrea continues to play an important role in advancing regional stability, safeguarding the security of the Red Sea, and promoting a vision of peace built on sovereign equality and African-led solutions.

Independence Day is not an ordinary date on the calendar.

May 24 is the expression of the tireless spirit of struggle of the Eritrean people, led by the People’s Front, who shattered the worldview of impossibility.

The struggle of the Eritrean people for independence is a record of victory written in blood.
But Eritrea’s independence was not a free gift. It is a light bought at a great price. More than 65,000 martyrs burned their lives like candles to dispel the darkness of colonialism.

The people of Eritrea devoted all their strength to their fighters and revolutionaries.

1. There are characteristics that set Eritrea’s independence apart from other countries.
   African countries gained their independence through political agreements. But Eritrea defeated the colonial army through revolutionary struggle and gained independence through the sacrifice of its children.
   
2. It proved the self-confidence of the Eritrean people.
   The fact that Eritrea’s independence was achieved without external assistance is a testament to the self-confidence, courage, and perseverance of Eritreans.
   
3. It is the fruit of the unity and harmony of the Eritrean people.
   The Eritrean revolution is the result of common sacrifice and the ability to unite the nine ethnic groups of Eritrea, irrespective of religion and race, in one common national struggle.
   
4. Eritrea’s independence was secured by force of arms and by ballot.
   The Eritrean people gained independence by force of arms in 1991 and showed the world their full will by voting yes to independence in the 1993 referendum with 99.8 percent of the vote.
   
5. Eritrea’s independence is not nominal.
   A free political line is its hallmark. The independence of Eritrea is not merely a flag raised in public squares, but an honor and pride that lives in every Eritrean.

Eritrea sees independence not as the end goal, but as the starting point of the long journey of nation-building and dignity. While freedom is decolonization, sovereignty means having full control over your wealth, land, and political decisions.

Since the raising of its flag, Eritrea has been fighting and winning to turn independence into actual sovereignty. The greatest legacy of Eritrea is not material, but spiritual.

Public interest above personal interest, dedication without surrender in times of hardship and pressure, and marching forward with endurance are among our most precious legacies.

The celebration of Independence Day is a national mystery of profound significance to the people of Eritrea. This holiday brings together the struggle of yesterday, the perseverance of today, and the hope of tomorrow.
Eritrea is an African example of politically overcoming contempt and refusing to follow the imposed path of African countries simply because it is African. Eritrea is African, but because she responded independently, pressure was turned into punishment.

In the modern world, free thinking is both precious and dangerous. The price Eritrea has paid so far is the price of its independence. A free line shocks the powerful more than anything else.

Eritrea is a sovereign country that has liberated not only its land, sea, and air, but also its mind.

That is the true definition of sovereignty. Eritrea is an African country that has established both territorial and intellectual sovereignty.

Powerful countries are more threatened by free thinking than by missiles. Their power relies on the fear of smaller nations. Dependency is one of the tools powerful countries use to control the world.
Eritrea bows to no force, inwardly or outwardly, and no power has been able to control it. Courage is Eritrea’s greatest weapon, one that cannot be controlled by satellites or detected by radar.

Eritrea does not attract the world’s attention only because of its strategic location, but because of its strategic and independent thinking.

Over the past 35 years, Eritrea has survived attempts to reverse or make its independence meaningless. Eritrea’s struggle to defend not only its independence but also its existence as a sovereign state is unparalleled.

As a young nation, it faced military pressure from various directions.

In the early 1990s, Eritrea decisively resisted terrorist attempts from Sudan aimed at destabilizing the country.
Yemen’s attempt to seize Eritrea’s strategic maritime borders was defeated through military heroism, and their arguments were made to fail.
Between 1998 and 2000, heavily foreign-funded Ethiopian invasions sought to enter Asmara. Through the perseverance of the Eritrean people and army, Eritrea blocked all three invasions.

When Eritrea refused to be subdued by military force, various structures were established to isolate it regionally and internationally.

The Sanaa Forum, formed in 2002 under the alliance of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen, sought to encircle Eritrea diplomatically. The Bahir Dar–based Tana Forum, launched in 2012, attempted to portray Eritrea as a problem in the Horn of Africa.

Unfair sanctions aimed at weakening Eritrea’s defense capabilities and hindering investment remained for years. Eritrea, however, broke the siege through fact-based diplomacy and today stands as a decisive regional actor.

Eritrea was neither invaded nor robbed for three reasons:

1. Because it possesses a strong and experienced defense force.
2. Because it follows a free political line that does not yield to pressure.
3. Because the strong bond between the people and leadership prevented external conspiracies from succeeding.

Today, Eritrea has crossed the pit dug to destroy it and stands tall as a symbol of perseverance. The proverb “the hole is for the digger” has become reality in Eritrean history.

The conspirators were buried in the pits they dug. Eritrea turned the trenches intended for its destruction into defensive fortresses. Those who claimed Eritrea would disappear are absent from history today.

But Eritrea celebrates its Independence Day every year and looks to the future with hope.

History teaches one truth: Eritrea and truth always win together.

After all these lessons, it is strange to hear those still lying in hospital beds breathing relief oxygen claim, “We lost the sea, prepare us.”
The truth is not a port or a sea, but a healthy dream. Keep dreaming, because dreams cost nothing. As for the land and sea of Eritrea, they belong only to the heroes who bought them with their blood.
The consequence of arrogance is that Eritrea has become a graveyard for greed, and history will repeat itself if necessary.

The history of the Horn of Africa has always been a graveyard for arrogant regimes. Any attempt to repeat that history will lead to the same graveyard of failure. The final result, as always, will be victory for the masses.

We also have words for our struggle friends. Eritrea will never forget its friends and those who stood with it. As Eritrea rises as an invincible country, know that you are part of this victory.
Our friendship, built on common values, will endure forever.

The Eritrean people paid a heavy price because of sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Nations. But those sanctions never brought the Eritrean people to their knees. They did not seek temporary solutions. They clenched their teeth and chose the difficult but correct path.

The leadership of the Eritrean government, reflecting the spirit of the Eritrean people, demonstrated perseverance and endurance under every kind of pressure.

There have been many kinds of leaders in the world. Some do not know the truth, some know it and abuse it, and some know it and hold firmly to it.
For example, dictator Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam, in my opinion, was a leader who did not know the truth. He tried to do what he believed was right, but his problem was that he did not know the correct path. That is why he fled his country and his people.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on the other hand, is a deceiver who knows the danger of the path he has chosen for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, yet continues upon it.

But President Isaias Afwerki repeatedly proved that he knows the truth and chooses the right path.

What I announce today is the result of far-sighted leadership.

Today, alongside our independence, we celebrate victory over sanctions. The United States has lifted sanctions against Eritrea.

This is an important step for Eritrea, the United States, the Horn of Africa, and the wider world. The harmful consequences of sanctions have long been condemned by many leaders, organizations, and influential voices.

The lifting of sanctions proves a larger truth: if you hold firmly to truth and principles, and are willing to pay the proper price, victory will eventually come.

The Eritrean people proved through action that they choose the long and bitter but righteous road rather than shortcuts.

At the dawn of independence, the President declared:

“We are raising our flag on the unbroken staff of truth.”

Once again, our flag shines upon that same unbroken staff of truth.

So today, as we celebrate our independence and the lifting of sanctions, we celebrate victory itself.

The United States’ decision to lift sanctions carries a message far beyond diplomacy. It marks a moment where Eritrea struggled, fought, and prevailed.
In 2021, sanctions were imposed on Eritrea to isolate it internationally and create obstacles in finance and development. The objective was clear: pressure the Eritrean people and government.

Despite the economic and social hardships caused by these sanctions, Eritrea never bowed.

If Eritrea had surrendered under pressure, then freedom would have been only symbolic and sovereignty would never have been guaranteed.

The lifting of sanctions reflects Eritrea’s inner strength. The world now clearly sees that Eritrea’s strength is built upon patience, discipline, unity, and a far-sighted commitment to sovereignty.

Who besides the people and government of Eritrea could withstand such pressure without losing direction?

Patience means enduring waves of opposition without abandoning principles. It means seeking justice without surrendering sovereignty. Patience is true power. It is strength born from endurance, not violence.

Had Eritreans not fought together, freedom would never have arrived, sovereignty would never have been respected, and repeated sanctions would never have been lifted.

For Africa and the world, this is a powerful message:

That sovereignty under pressure must not be compromised.
That perseverance overcomes isolation.
That patience is the greatest weapon.

External pressure could delay Eritrea’s journey, but it could never erase its sovereignty.

Eritrea won this battle over sanctions. Those sanctions were designed to weaken and subdue Eritrea, but instead they revealed the resilience of its people.

The lifting of sanctions is not a gift from the United States to Eritrea. It is recognition of perseverance and triumph.
This victory belongs to every Eritrean family that sacrificed, and every hero who never surrendered.

The future is now clearer. With sanctions lifted, the nation-building process will accelerate further. Eritrea’s role in ensuring peace in the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa will grow stronger.

It sends a powerful message to the world:

A united and purposeful people possess immense power.
Today, Eritreans are not only celebrating the lifting of sanctions.
We are celebrating the victory of Eritrean determination.
We celebrate the patience of our people, the strength of our government, and the unity of our nation.

Eritrea has won.
This is history.

Its sovereignty is sacred.
Its endurance is its strength.
And its freedom is eternal.

Victory to the masses.
Eternal remembrance and honor to the martyrs of Eritrea.