His legacy lives on in the dignity of Eritrea, in the victory over unjust sanctions, and in the hearts of his people.

His unforgettable words still echo today:

“Collective punishment is the worst and highest form of human rights violations.”

Rest in eternal peace.
Honor to your memory.

Western diplomats continue to speak of “partnership” and “regional stability,” but Ethiopia under Abiy is sinking deeper into political crisis, economic decline, and internal fragmentation. Millions of Ethiopians face inflation, insecurity, armed conflict, and state repression. International monitors have documented mass arrests, extrajudicial killings, restrictions on press freedom, drone strikes on civilians, and widespread abuses carried out under state authority.

Instead of resolving Ethiopia’s internal crises, the regime has turned outward deploying nationalist rhetoric and external tensions as political distraction.

Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the dangerous discourse surrounding the Red Sea.  

In speeches delivered in Amharic, Abiy Ahmed and senior military officials have repeatedly declared that Ethiopia will secure “sovereign access” to the sea “peacefully if possible, militarily if necessary.” State narratives increasingly portray Eritrea’s coastline, and those of neighboring states, as negotiable assets justified by Ethiopia’s alleged “historical rights” or “strategic necessity.”

This is not diplomacy. It is war provocation.

The facts remain clear: no country in the region has denied Ethiopia commercial access to ports. Eritrea has never opposed economic cooperation, trade agreements, or regional connectivity based on mutual consent and sovereign equality. What Eritrea rejects is the arrogant assumption that a larger state can pressure smaller neighbors into compromising their sovereignty.

Eritrea paid an enormous price for independence. Tens of thousands of Eritreans died during the long struggle against occupation and foreign domination. That sacrifice is not symbolic it is foundational to Eritrean national identity. For this reason, Eritrea will never accept renewed fantasies from politicians in Addis Ababa who speak as though Eritrean territory or coastline can be treated as bargaining chips.

Excerpt 

The real crisis facing Ethiopia is not access to the sea.
The real crisis lies within Ethiopia itself: ethnic tensions, armed insurgencies, economic collapse, political fragmentation, and declining public trust. Nationalist mobilization has become a substitute for genuine political solutions.

The Horn of Africa is already one of the world’s most fragile regions. Sudan is collapsing under civil war, foreign powers compete for influence along the Red Sea, and millions suffer displacement, famine, and insecurity. In such an environment, openly discussing militarily enforced access to the sea is not only irresponsible it is profoundly destabilizing.

Eritrea, by contrast, has consistently upheld a clear position: respect for sovereignty, non‑interference, regional cooperation based on equality, and rejection of hegemonic politics. This is precisely why Addis Ababa’s rhetoric is generating growing concern across the region. Increasingly, regional actors recognize that the issue is not economics or trade access it is power projection, political pressure, and the normalization of expansionist thinking.

Diplomatic theater must no longer obscure reality. A government cannot speak of peace abroad while normalizing military threats at home. It cannot present itself as a force for stability while promoting rhetoric that risks igniting confrontation.

The Nobel Peace Prize once symbolized hope. Today, it stands as a painful irony.  

The defining legacy of Abiy Ahmed’s era is no longer reconciliation or reform. It is polarization. Militarization. Internal collapse. Regional tension. And the growing fear that Ethiopia’s leadership is steering the Horn of Africa toward unnecessary confrontation.

Eritrea has every right to defend its sovereignty, its coastline, and its national dignity against intimidation or territorial ambition. The Horn of Africa cannot afford another reckless gamble with peace.  

The choice before Ethiopia’s leadership is stark: resolve internal crises through genuine reform, or continue down a path of militarized distraction that threatens not only Eritrea’s sovereignty but the stability of the entire region.

“Sanctions against Eritrea were justified for years on security allegations. Yet fundamental questions remain unresolved: Where is the conclusive evidence?”

Until recently, Eritrea was widely portrayed in international discourse as an isolated, sanctioned state under heavy political pressure. In much of the Western media narrative, it was framed as an outlier — a difficult actor, a geopolitical problem at the Horn of Africa.  

Today, however, that tone is shifting. Even the United States appears to be reassessing its stance toward Eritrea. Reports of potential diplomatic re-engagement and discussions surrounding the easing of remaining sanctions suggest a clear shift in geopolitical reality. With this, Eritrea’s strategic relevance is being redefined.  

International politics is undergoing structural transformation. The era of uncontested Western dominance is gradually eroding. New centers of power are emerging, global trade routes are increasingly contested, and strategic regions such as the Red Sea are regaining critical importance.  

What has often been underestimated is Eritrea’s long-term strategic view. While many states adapted their policies to external pressure or short-term interests, Eritrea maintained a consistent focus on sovereignty, independence, and strategic autonomy. This approach brought sanctions, isolation, and sustained criticism but it also preserved Eritrea’s political orbit. That persistence is now reshaping how the country is perceived internationally.  

For years, sanctions against Eritrea were justified on the basis of security allegations and regional instability. Yet fundamental questions remain unresolved.   

Where is the conclusive evidence?  Why was there never a fully transparent international investigation?  Why were severe political measures maintained for so long despite growing doubts about the original claims?  

Across Africa, Eritrea has come to symbolize more than just a state. It represents an attempt by an African nation to define its own path independently of global power blocs. This is not about opposition to the West. Eritrea is not calling for confrontation. It is calling for respect for its policy of self-reliance.  

Among younger generations across the continent, there is growing awareness of how sanctions, narratives, and economic pressure have often been deployed against states that pursue independent political paths. Within this context, Eritrea has gained symbolic significance. Its principled self-reliance policy has allowed it to maintain sovereignty under the shadow of Western political and economic pressure.  

The Horn of Africa is one of the most strategically significant regions in the world. The United States, China, Russia, Gulf states, and other global actors are competing for influence, access, and positioning in the Red Sea corridor.  

In this new geopolitical landscape, Eritrea can no longer be ignored. Its geographic location and sustained political stance place it firmly within the regional playbook being shaped by both Western and Global South powers.  

Reports of possible normalization between Eritrea and the United States reflect a broader shift, international politics is adapting to new realities. Eritrea’s strategic self-reliance policy stands as a lesson in resilience a refusal to collapse under external pressure.  

Eritrea is not seeking special treatment. It is seeking equal treatment and respect for its political stance.  

In the emerging world order, Eritrea will remain in its own political orbit whether the international system chooses to engage with its self-reliance policy or continue relying on pressure and exclusion.  

One fact is already clear, Eritrea can be sanctioned. But it can no longer be ignored. 

By Dr. Nurit Ali
Dr. Nurit Ali is interest in justice and politics

In the heart of every Eritrean, May stands as a sacred symbol of freedom. It is not merely another page on the calendar  it is the memory of blood, sacrifice, hope, and the unbreakable determination of a people who refused to surrender.

For Eritrea, May marks the end of oppression, colonialism, and suffering. It is the month when the sun of liberty rose over the nation, shattering the darkness of foreign domination. That is why, every May, the heartbeat of Eritrea grows stronger.

The full-moon nights of May carry a unique spirit. Across the country, songs of freedom echo through the streets. Children wave the Eritrean flag with pride. Drums resound in cities and villages alike. Artists celebrate liberty through poetry, music, and theater. Families dance together, while the youth carry the pride of the nation deep within their hearts.

The younger generation celebrates this month with joy and gratitude. Many of them never experienced war or oppression firsthand, yet they understand that the freedom they enjoy today was purchased with the blood and sacrifice of thousands of martyrs.

Eritrea’s past was marked by pain and unimaginable hardship. Men and women fought under brutal conditions in the mountains, valleys, and deserts of the Sahel. They endured hunger, suffering, and death so that future generations could live in dignity and freedom.  

Eritreans remember this past not to remain trapped in sorrow, but to grasp the true value of liberty.

On May 24, 1991, Eritrea was finally liberated after decades of armed struggle. The bell of freedom rang across the nation, announcing the end of oppression and foreign rule.  

Two years later, on May 24, 1993, the Eritrean people overwhelmingly confirmed their independence through a historic referendum. The world recognized the will of a people who had never surrendered.  

On May 28, 1993, the Eritrean flag was raised at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Eritrea became the 182nd member of the UN — a moment of immense pride, dignity, and historical significance.  

Soon after, Eritrea joined the African Union. On May 4, 1994, its flag was raised in Addis Ababa, symbolizing continental recognition of Eritrea’s long and arduous struggle for freedom.

The Legendary “Operation Commando”

May also recalls one of the greatest military achievements in Eritrea’s liberation struggle: the legendary Operation Commando of 1988.

Despite limited resources and overwhelming odds, Eritrean fighters inflicted devastating defeats on the enemy. Planned with discipline and precision under extreme conditions, young men and women risked their lives deep inside enemy territory and returned as heroes.  

Their names became legends. Their actions became history.  

Operation Commando proved to the world that determination, unity, and belief in freedom can be stronger than tanks, aircraft, and massive armies. Even Eritrea’s adversaries were forced to acknowledge the extraordinary bravery of its fighters.  

To this day, the operation continues to inspire Eritreans across the globe.

May is more than a month. It is a living monument to Eritrea’s martyrs a time of honor heroes, glory, and national unity.  

It remembers the heroes who sacrificed their lives so Eritrea could live in freedom: mothers, fathers, and young fighters who never lost hope. A people who, despite hunger, war, and suffering, refused to surrender.  

That is why Eritrea celebrates May every year with pride, dignity, and deep gratitude.  

Because May will forever remain:  

– The Month of Freedom 
– The Month of Heroes 
– The Month of Eritrean Pride