Eritrea’s Independence Lessons: Africa’s Missed Opportunities

How can African countries safeguard themselves from the West’s malevolent schemes to keep Africa embroiled in conflict and dependent on aid? This question is perhaps the most pressing existential question of our time. The answer lies in the story of how a certain country in the Horn of Africa attained, but most importantly, defended and sustained its independence, emerging as Africa’s most politically, economically, and militarily stable country today. Yesterday, the 24^th May, that country commemorated the 33rd anniversary of its independence under the theme: “Peace Anchored on Resilience.”

That country is Eritrea – the African nation most blackmailed, maligned and, bedeviled by hegemonistic Western forces for its refusal to comply with imperialistic Western expectations, bow to slavish Western demands, and trade its hard-won independence to become a client state of Western powers. Yet, the Eritrean experience of a solitary struggle for liberation, where ordinary citizens, forsaken by the global community, bravely fought and achieved independence without outside assistance, is one of the most profound accomplishments of human sacrifice in modern military history, state-building, and the pursuit of self-determination.

But even more remarkable for its endurance and resilience is the collective effort of the nation since attaining independence, both within and in the diaspora to defend that independence against ceaseless ideological, economic, and military attacks orchestrated by Western-backed proxies across the media, academia, diplomacy, and even the military spheres for the last 33 years. It is this lived reality that offers key lessons for African countries as they confront the manipulations, maneuvers, and machinations of hostile Western powers seeking to control Africa. This is especially crucial because, in many ways, every malevolent political, economic and military tactic that hegemonistic Western powers have successfully employed in or against any African country in the last 33 years, and continue to do so today and in the future, was first attempted but successfully thwarted in Eritrea.

For example, before the West successfully intervened and caused regime change in Libya in 2011, they had tried it in Eritrea multiple times before but failed each time. Before they successfully supported separatist movements in South Sudan in 2011, they had tried it in Eritrea but failed. Before they successfully orchestrated the on-going civil war in Sudan, they had tried it in Eritrea before but failed. Before they successfully sanctioned, isolated and,crippled the economy of Zimbabwe in 2001, they had tried it in Eritrea before but failed. Before they armed their regional proxies to intervene and destabilize this or that African country from the Sahel to the Nile regions started in the mid-nineties, they first tried it in Eritrea but failed.

This begs the critical learning question for other African nations: How has Eritrea consistently foiled such schemes time and again? And what would African countries become if they emulated the Eritrean example? Regrettably, African countries, for whatever reasons, have failed to seize upon the significant lessons that could be gleaned from Eritrea’s example. However, if the political mindset, economic principles, and foreign policies of African countries mirrored those of Eritrea, they would each enjoy greater peace, prosperity, and, above all, true independence from their former colonizers.

For example, if other African countries were to emulate the Eritrean governance model and fashion their governance around home-built governance systems, the West would be unable to groom, finance, promote, and ultimately install puppets and imposters as presidents in their nations. Consequently, their countries wouldn’t serve as playgrounds for Western interests. For fear of this, the West has channeled the bulk of its media, diplomatic, and even academic machinery to paint blackmail Eritrea as some sort of dictatorship where people have no free will. The reality, of course is far from that. Eritrea’s indigenous governance model, based on consensus and national interest, has proven effective in preserving its sovereignty.

Political activity, contrary to Western propaganda, is not banned but indeed, encouraged, and thrives. The only difference is that in Eritrea, such activity is, as a matter of national principle, regulated for national interests. Every political activity and association must, in character, organization, and execution, meet a common threshold of patriotic responsibility and nationalist obligation to protect Eritrean national independence, defend Eritrean territorial sovereignty, and honor Eritrean identity. Those who bedevil Eritrea for this, are only frustrated that the country has made it costly for them to, in the guise of ‘Western democracy’, plant and breed traitors clocked as ‘human rights defenders’ ‘journalists’, and all those designations they christen traitors whom they later instrumentalize to destabilize and effect regime change in African countries.

Then there is the country’s self-reliance psyche. Were African countries to emulate Eritrea’s self-reliance policy, they would achieve freedom from debt and pave the way for more sustainable economic development. This would eliminate economic sabotage, a powerful tool used by the colonial West to maintain control over African nations. Currently, many African countries rely not only on Western aid but also on loans, which erode the agency of their people and undermine their ability to determine their own future. This reliance fosters a culture of consumption rather than productivity, burdening governments with Western loans until they are deemed politically inconvenient, at which point Western powers exacerbate the situation by imposing sanctions, and eventually intervening overtly or covertly to cause regime change and install their puppet.

Adopting Eritrea’s self-reliance policy would change this. Eritrea not only rejects aid, famously described by the Eritrean President as an addictive pill, but has also developed a resilient local capacity in the economy, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, technology, and other critical sectors. This approach deprives foreign adversaries of leverage to cripple government capabilities and incite conflict. It also enables Eritrea to make independent decisions without succumbing to Western demands. Furthermore, it ensures that Eritreans do not rely on Western aid or corporate goodwill, maintaining their sovereignty and self-sufficiency.

Furthermore, Eritrea has demonstrated that it is indeed possible for the diaspora and the homeland to maintain unity in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and promoting sustainable development. Despite concerted efforts by the country’s enemies to exploit fraudsters and identity imposters to threaten and silence the Country’s diaspora, the unity and collaboration between Eritreans living abroad and those in the homeland have remained steadfast. This solidarity, exemplified through annual festivals and celebrations held in various Western cities in sync with events in the homeland, has served as a powerful shield against external interference and for retaining consciousness and contact with the homeland. If a similar consciousness were to permeate the psyche of other Africans in the diaspora, the West would not have traitors to weaponize to undermine and campaign for the destabilization of their home countries. Instead, they would, like Eritreans, remain loyal to their nation, steadfastly resisting every attempt by foreign entities to turn them against their homeland.

Moreover, Eritrea has demonstrated that the safety and stability of one African country are inherently linked to the safety and stability of its neighbors. It has shown this through its unconditional commitment to the peace, security, and stability of neighboring nations and the broader region. This commitment was vividly demonstrated by Eritrea’s provision of material and logistical support for Ethiopia during the Western-backed 2020-2022 war in Northern Ethiopia. Additionally, Eritrea has recently extended diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to resolve the ongoing civil war in neighboring Sudan, and it has consistently supported efforts to maintain stability in Somalia. If other countries in Africa were to embrace a similar sense of responsibility toward their neighbors, a collective framework of security and prosperity could be established. This would create a climate of trust, cooperation, and mutual development across the continent, fostering enduring peace and sustainable progress for all African nations.

In the above and many other ways, Eritrea is a lived example of what African countries should aspire toward in the emerging multi-polar world. Its sustenance of national independence offers invaluable lessons for African nations striving for true sovereignty, self-reliance, peace. By emulating Eritrea’s model of governance, economic self-sufficiency & neighborly responsibility, African countries can break free from Western shackles and chart their own paths forward. Otherwise, Eritrea’s example will remain a missed opportunity. Of course, Eritrea’s and Africa’s enemies through academic, media and, diplomatic attacks, will not relent. But as Eritreans say: The camel keeps on marching, while the dogs keep on barking!