President Isaias Afwerki delivered a powerful keynote address during Eritrea’s 35th Independence Anniversary celebrations in Asmara, reflecting on the nation’s historic journey, current development priorities, and the changing global political landscape.

In his address, the President congratulated the Eritrean people at home and abroad and honored the sacrifices made throughout the country’s long struggle for liberation and sovereignty. He emphasized that independence is an ongoing responsibility that requires resilience, unity, and sustained national effort.

The speech focused on Eritrea’s continued commitment to nation-building, economic growth, and social development. President Isaias highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, housing development, expansion of water and electricity services, as well as improvements in education and healthcare across the country.

On regional matters, the President stressed the importance of peace, cooperation, and collective security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. He reiterated Eritrea’s long-standing call for stability based on mutual respect and regional partnership, while warning against external interference in African affairs.

Addressing international developments, President Isaias discussed the shifting global order and the increasing need for a fair and just international system. He criticized economic inequality, exploitative financial systems, and geopolitical policies that continue to marginalize developing nations, particularly across Africa.

The President also called for stronger African cooperation and emphasized the importance of self-reliance, sustainable development, and strategic regional integration to secure long-term prosperity.

Concluding his speech, President Isaias praised the courage, patience, and determination of the Eritrean people and paid tribute to the country’s martyrs and defense forces.

“Resilience is our guarantee,” he stated, reaffirming Eritrea’s confidence in its future path of sovereignty, development, and national unity.

Glory to the martyrs.
Victory to the masses.

We will free ourselves from economic hardship and social stigma.
Whatever obstacles may come, we shall not fear.

Rejoice, my people!
Peace be upon you, Eritrea.

Here is a special broadcast prepared for this historic hour.

The heroic Eritrean liberation forces have defeated the Derg’s Second Army. Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, has been liberated. After one hundred years of colonial domination and thirty years of determined armed struggle, the people of Eritrea have achieved a historic victory. Last night, Asmara was freed.

With the exception of Assab, all major Eritrean cities that had been under enemy control have now been liberated.

The heroic Eritrean People’s Liberation Army (EPLA) launched a decisive offensive on the Dekemhare front at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 19. Through courage, discipline, and sacrifice, the People’s Army advanced rapidly across all fronts, destroying enemy strongholds that had been heavily fortified for more than a year. Within only six days, the final pillars of Ethiopian colonial rule in Eritrea collapsed.

At the beginning of the fighting, the enemy concentrated its elite divisions on the Dekemhare front and resisted fiercely. But the Eritrean liberation forces crushed the enemy brigades, liberated Dekemhare, cut the Asmara–Mendefera road at Shiket, and isolated enemy forces in the Saraye region. Many enemy troops were destroyed, captured, or forced to flee.

The Eritrean people have won.

To all Eritreans at home and abroad, congratulations on this long-awaited victory. To all who sacrificed and dreamed of this day for many years, this victory belongs to you.

Glory to the martyrs.
Victory to the masses.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea, Osman Saleh Mohammed, met on Thursday with the Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Eritrea, Ghanem bin Mohamed Al Maadeed.

During the meeting in Asmara, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to further strengthen relations between Eritrea and Qatar.

Both parties reportedly exchanged views on areas of mutual interest, with a focus on enhancing diplomatic engagement and future cooperation.

Due to its strategic location between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean, Eritrea is increasingly viewed as a potential hub for trade, logistics, and regional infrastructure. This geographic position is contributing to the country attracting greater attention from international actors.

Reports indicate that economic contacts and discussions on possible cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy, and development are increasing. Observers see this as a sign of growing dynamism in the Horn of Africa.

International interest in the country’s long-term development is also rising, particularly in relation to regional stability and economic prospects.

Conclusion

Eritrea is expanding its international visibility and could play a more important role in the geopolitical landscape of the Red Sea in the future.

dangerous geopolitical trend is steadily emerging in the Horn of Africa — one that threatens not only regional stability, but also the foundational principles of international law and state sovereignty. Over the past several years, Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has gradually shifted its political discourse from economic cooperation toward increasingly revisionist geopolitical ambitions.

What was initially presented as a discussion about economic access to the sea is now evolving into a broader ideological campaign targeting Eritrea’s territorial integrity and sovereign legitimacy.

The increasingly aggressive rhetoric of senior Prosperity Party officials reflects a deeply concerning trajectory. Statements regarding access to the Red Sea “by any means necessary” geopolitical doctrines such as the so-called “Two Waters Strategy” and public references to historical occupation models collectively indicate that elements within the Ethiopian leadership are attempting to normalize expansionist thinking under the guise of strategic necessity.

Particularly alarming is the growing effort to question the legitimacy of Eritrean statehood itself. Eritrea’s independence was not granted through political convenience or external favor. It was achieved through decades of resistance, immense sacrifice, and the internationally recognized 1993 referendum conducted under global observation. Both the United Nations and the African Union formally recognized Eritrea’s sovereignty. Any attempt to revise or undermine this historical and legal reality constitutes not only an attack on Eritrea, but also on the very foundations of international law.

At the same time, the Prosperity Party increasingly appears to be externalizing its deep domestic crises. Ethiopia today faces severe internal instability marked by ethnic tensions, economic hardship, armed conflicts, and political fragmentation. Rather than addressing these structural challenges through sustainable governance and national reconciliation, the current leadership seems increasingly inclined to redirect internal pressure outward through nationalist rhetoric and regional confrontation.

Equally dangerous is the manipulation of ethnic identities along regional borders for geopolitical purposes. Attempts to politicize cross-border ethnic dynamics and inflame regional divisions echo colonial-era strategies of destabilization that Africa has historically struggled to overcome.

The response of major international actors has also been deeply disappointing. Despite repeated provocative statements and increasingly revisionist rhetoric, much of the international community has remained noticeably silent. Such silence sends a dangerous message. When threats against sovereign borders and inflammatory political narratives are met without firm diplomatic response, regional instability becomes normalized.

The principles upon which both the African Union and the United Nations were founded are clear: respect for sovereign borders, non-interference in the affairs of states, and peaceful resolution of disputes. These principles cannot be selectively applied. Africa understands better than most the devastating consequences of expansionist politics and geopolitical destabilization.

In contrast, Eritrea has maintained a policy centered on patience, sovereignty, regional stability, and adherence to international law despite repeated provocations. Eritrea continues to advocate for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and regional cooperation based on sovereign equality.

One reality, however, remains undeniable: Eritrea’s sovereignty is not open for negotiation. The Eritrean people defended their independence through extraordinary sacrifice, and they remain fully prepared to safeguard their territorial integrity and national dignity against any external pressure or revisionist ambition.

The Future of Regional Stability

Peace and stability in the Horn of Africa can only be built upon mutual respect, legal equality among sovereign nations, and genuine regional cooperation — not through coercion, revisionism, or geopolitical intimidation.

At a time of growing instability across the region, preserving the sovereignty of states and respecting international law remain essential pillars for lasting peace in Africa.

May 20–21, 2026 | Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (Junior)

HAMAMETE will hold its Third National Innovation and Design Competition and Exhibition from May 20–21, 2026, featuring young inventors and researchers from all regions of the country. Youths who have been receiving vocational training related to innovation and technology for more than two years will also graduate during the event.

The grand national event, which will open on May 20 at the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (former Junior Club), will be attended by invited guests, youth, students, and members of the public.

HAMAMETE has been recognizing innovative works submitted by youths on various occasions. It encourages and strengthens the spirit of competition, creativity, and innovation. As a nation, it contributes to building a better present and plays an important role in shaping a promising future. This inspiring movement requires serious nurturing and continuous support to ensure its sustainability and growth.

To ensure its continuity, the initiative must be institutionalized. However, it is not enough to identify the potential of inventors and researchers and organize exhibitions or competitions alone. Since innovation is measured by its results and impact, it must also be reflected in everyday life. This requires all sectors of society to take active initiatives within their respective fields to support and facilitate innovation.

Since the main goal of HAMAMETE is to awaken, organize, and equip the youth, the mission of innovation and creativity falls under the concept of “equipping.” It reached the conclusion that this effort should not only be sustained, but also organized in a stable and lasting manner through the establishment of an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.

To formulate a clear vision, mission, values, competencies, goals, and objectives, HAMAMETE designed an implementation strategy in 2023 through experts in the field and further enriched the idea through various workshops. It planned to strengthen its performance and competition activities, which have continued to grow stronger through experience

The center’s priority is to increase youth participation in creative skills, encourage innovative ideas and initiatives that provide solutions to societal challenges, create employment opportunities, and help young people become economically self-reliant. The center began building these essential foundations with the understanding that such goals can only be achieved through strong coordination with relevant partners.

The HAMAMETE Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center also clarified the nature of its activities to turn its goals into reality. Its major implementation plans include establishing innovation and art clubs in the regions, evaluating and ranking outstanding ideas at national and regional levels, conducting training, counseling, and networking programs, promoting exemplary youth and their best works through media platforms, and transforming outstanding ideas and projects into practical implementation and products through grants and loans

In 2022 and 2023, the center launched its programs by providing training to innovators and researchers in the Central, Southern, and Anseba regions. Accordingly, organizing committees were formed at the regional level. Following this, the first national exhibition and competition was successfully organized in 2023 with the participation of selected inventors and researchers from the respective regions.

The event, held in the heart of the innovation hub, was inspiring and reflected the true spirit of creativity and development. The initiative continued to receive a sustainable response, with the Gash Barka region and the two Red Sea regions joining the three regions that had already secured participation. As a result, the second national exhibition and competition of inventors and researchers was successfully conducted.

The Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center currently has a jury composed of 14 experts from various institutions. It provides three levels of training to middle and high school students. The center has already organized a creative idea competition and is continuing to expand its outreach through different media channels.

The Third National Exhibition of Innovation and Crafts is expected to further strengthen the culture of innovation, inspire young inventors and researchers, and contribute to national development through creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship.

The delegation also included Egypt’s Minister of Transport and senior representatives from major Egyptian companies operating in infrastructure, energy, mining, logistics, and maritime transport sectors.

Eritrea’s Growing Strategic Importance

As geopolitical competition intensifies across the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, Eritrea’s strategic relevance continues to grow. Positioned along one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, Eritrea occupies a critical geographic location connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

A substantial portion of global trade and energy shipments passes through the Red Sea every day, making regional stability increasingly important not only for neighboring countries but also for international economic security.

Political observers increasingly view Eritrea as an important regional actor whose stability and geographic position give it a vital role in safeguarding the security of the Red Sea corridor. Despite regional tensions and external pressures, Asmara has maintained an independent foreign policy centered on national sovereignty, regional self-reliance, and resistance to foreign interference.

The expanding cooperation between Eritrea and Egypt may therefore represent more than bilateral economic engagement. Analysts believe it could signal the emergence of a broader regional realignment focused on maritime security, economic integration, and political coordination in the Red Sea region.

Maritime Cooperation and Economic Investment

During the visit, both sides signed a maritime transport agreement aimed at strengthening direct links between Egyptian and Eritrean ports. The agreement is expected to enhance cooperation in:

• Port and logistics infrastructure
• Maritime transportation
• Energy and electricity
• Mining and industrial development
• Agriculture and irrigation
• Pharmaceutical production

Egyptian officials emphasized that major Egyptian companies are not seeking short-term commercial opportunities alone, but are preparing for long-term investment and industrial cooperation inside Eritrea.

Several participating companies have previously implemented major infrastructure projects across Africa, including large-scale hydroelectric and transportation initiatives.

“Eritrea is a Pillar of Stability”

In remarks during the visit, Foreign Minister Abdelatty described Eritrea as a “fundamental pillar of stability” in the Horn of Africa. He praised Eritrea’s approach toward regional diplomacy and emphasized the importance of dialogue, de-escalation, and cooperation in addressing regional challenges.

The Egyptian delegation also conveyed a message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and extended an official invitation to President Isaias Afwerki to visit Cairo.

Red Sea Security and Regional Sovereignty

Both Eritrea and Egypt reaffirmed their shared position that the security and governance of the Red Sea must remain the responsibility of the region’s coastal states. Discussions also focused on strengthening regional mechanisms for cooperation among Red Sea nations in areas such as maritime security, port connectivity, rescue coordination, and economic integration.

The talks come at a time of rising geopolitical tensions across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, increasing the strategic importance of stable regional partnerships.

For many observers, the growing Eritrea–Egypt partnership reflects a broader effort to build a new framework of regional stability based on sovereignty, cooperation, and independent regional decision-making.

Source:
Based on information published by shabait.

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.

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.