Calm has reportedly returned to the east African nation of Eritrea a day after a group of mutinous soldiers attempted to take over the country’s information ministry. More than 100 dissident soldiers stormed the ministry in Asmara early Monday, ordering state television announcers to read a statement calling for the release of political prisoners and […]
Report: Three Eritrean Journalists Die in Prison
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
A new report says three Eritrean journalists have died at a harsh prison camp after years in detention. Media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders says an investigation confirmed that journalists Dawit Habtemichael, Mattewos Habteab and Wedi Itay all died in the prison camp of Eiraeiro. The Paris-based group says the three men had been held […]
UN Investigator: Too Early to Lift Eritrean Sanctions
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 7:15 pm (UTC-5)
The head of the United Nations monitoring group on Somalia and Eritrea says it is too early to lift U.N. sanctions against Eritrea, despite a report suggesting the Asmara government no longer actively supports Somali al-Shabab insurgents. U.N. coordinator Matt Bryden spoke to VOA Tuesday. “While we’ve seen some improvement, I don’t think we see […]
Eritrea Urges UN to Drop Sanctions
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea is urging the United Nations to lift sanctions against the country after a leaked U.N. report suggested Asmara no longer supports Somali al-Shabab insurgents. The report by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, obtained Monday by news agencies including VOA, found no evidence that Eritrea directly supported al-Shabab in the past year. […]
Eritrea Urges UN to Drop Sanctions
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 12:45 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea is urging the United Nations to lift sanctions against the country after a leaked U.N. report suggested Asmara no longer supports Somali al-Shabab insurgents. The report by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, obtained Monday by news agencies including VOA, found no evidence that Eritrea directly supported al-Shabab in the past year. […]
Eritrea President Denies Stifling Freedom of Speech
Posted May 18th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki has denied that his country stifles freedom of speech, just days after a media rights group identified Eritrea as the most censored country in the world. In an interview with VOA’s English to Africa service on Friday, President Afewerki said his government is not interested in keeping people from expressing their […]
Eritrean Government Dismisses Reports that President is Ill
Posted April 23rd, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
The government of Eritrea is denying opposition reports that President Isaias Afewerki is seriously ill. In an interview with VOA on Monday, Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu said the president is “healthier than ever.” One media report claimed President Afewerki was in Kuwait for medical treatment. The government spokesman said the Eritrean leader toured three […]
Eritrea Calls for UN to Respond After Ethiopian Attack
Posted March 16th, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea is calling for the United Nations to impose penalties on arch-rival Ethiopia, after Ethiopian forces attacked a military base inside Eritrea. In a statement Friday, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said the incursion is part of a history of “unlawful and provocative attacks” by Ethiopia. He urged the U.N. Security Council to take measures […]
Eritrea Calls for UN to Respond After Ethiopian Attack
Posted March 16th, 2012 at 5:45 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea is calling for the United Nations to impose penalties on arch-rival Ethiopia, after Ethiopian forces attacked a military base inside Eritrea. In a statement Friday, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said the incursion is part of a history of “unlawful and provocative attacks” by Ethiopia. He urged the U.N. security council to take measures […]
Ethiopia Says Forces Attack Base in Eritrea
Posted March 15th, 2012 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
Ethiopia says its forces have attacked a military base inside arch-rival Eritrea, in what Ethiopia calls an act of retaliation. Government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said Ethiopian troops moved 16 kilometers into Eritrea early Thursday and launched what he called a “successful attack” against two military posts used by “subversive groups.” He said the groups are […]
