Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki is right now a very busy man. Two weeks ago, he completed a 4-day State Visit to China at the invitation of President Xi. Early today, President Afwerki again left for Russia, at the invitation of President Putin for another 4-day State Visit. These visits have raised eyebrows and sparked curiosity worldwide. What is behind China and Russia’s keen interest in the Eritrean leader?
Independence from Western Influence
China and Russia’s strategic overtures toward President Isaias Afwerki reflect their intent to forge alliances beyond the confines of Western influence. Historically, African nations have been subject to the interests and impositions of Western powers.
These Western nations have often viewed the African continent through a lens of exploitation and neo-colonialism. However, under President Afwerki’s leadership, Eritrea has demonstrated a degree of autonomy and resistance to such external pressures.
On the contrary, the majority of African leaders are slavishly subservient to Western powers. Their countries operate as client or vassal states for the US and its allies. The Western view influences their governance, economy, and even social perspectives.
Isaias of Eritrea, on the other hand, has consistently proven to be independent of Western influence and opposed to it in Africa. This demonstration of sovereignty and commitment to pursuing Eritrea’s own interests without excessive reliance on foreign powers has earned the respect of Xi and Putin.
Eritrea’s Self-Reliance
Eritrea is perhaps the only country whose economy does not depend on the West. The country’s self-reliance policy, which has earned it the ire of the West, has been described as a model for other countries to emulate. Xi and Putin see President Isaias as proactive and resourceful.
They find Isaias’ emphasis on developing domestic industries, infrastructure, and capabilities, rather than relying heavily on foreign aid or assistance, something unique among most African leaders.
They see in Eritrea’s self-sufficiency an unmatched strength and resilience. They also see a reflection of the struggles their respective nations experienced in the years preceding their economic and political rebirths.
Insistence on engaging as Partners
Since Eritrea’s independence in 1993, President Isaias has adopted a stance of engaging with foreign powers as partners rather than as a client state, setting it apart from most other African countries.
The country has rejected the giver-beggar aid structure that many African nations are subjected to and instead pursued symmetrical partnerships. As a result, Eritrea has enjoyed significant benefits from its relationships with international organizations such as UNDP.
China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin view this desire for more balanced and mutually beneficial relationships as a sustainable approach. They see President Isaias as assertive, principled, and dependable.
This is due to his bold departure from the traditional power dynamics, where one country is dependent on another for economic or political support, a path that most African countries are not actively pursuing.
President Isaias’s incorruptibility
Xi and Putin therefore see in President Isaias, a courageous principled, selfless, incorruptible leader who has refused to sell his country’s natural resources for pennies along with the dignity of his people.
It is not lost on them that President Isaias has indeed resisted Western pressure longer than even they have. So for some reason, the idea that Xi, and now Putin, are projecting President Isaias as an example for the rest of African leaders, holds water.
The West has always leveraged its economic and military power to diminish President Isaias’s influence on Africa and stop the rest from emulating his great governance and economic model. Only recently, the United States renewed its hostilities toward Eritrea. In obviation of this, China and Russia are seeking to platform President Isaias.
Eritrea as a good ‘good example‘
Former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton once referred to Eritrea as a bad “good example”. This was an admission of Eritrea’s excellent governance and economic path, but also an admission that they did not want the rest of Africa to emulate it.
Everything they did thereafter, was to subdue Eritrea and ensure that its success story never goes beyond Eritrean borders. On the contrary, Russia and China, are trying to give that success story a chance to be seen for what it truly is. They are trying to demonstrate to the rest of Africa, that Eritrea is a good ‘good example’ that they should emulate!
Indeed, today’s visit to Russia comes barely a month before the July Russia-Africa summit to which Putin has invited all African Heads of State. Why is that? Why has Putin chosen to meet President Isaias alone first, when he could just as easily wait and meet him on the sidelines of the upcoming summit?
It is safe to say that Russia, following in the footsteps of China, is aware of Africa’s slavish subservience to the West. Both believe that the only way to awaken the African continent is by supporting the only country whose leaders and people truly understand independence. Perhaps, through the example of Eritrea, other nations will shed the vestiges of colonialism.
Overall, China and Russia’s interest in President Isaias Afwerki transcends mere superficial diplomacy. The allure lies in the Eritrean leader’s independence from Western political influence. It further lies in his pioneering role and potential to spark an awakening of the consciousness of other African nations.
This is the turning point,Eritrea from “bad good example” to good ” good example” for the rest of africa.
Leadership an understanding is everything ••
Great writing . Thank you . And this is truly turning point for us Eritreans and Africans . The time is now , for true and meaningful pan Africanism.
Thanks a lot for what you explained. And if the other African leaders follow to Mr. President Isayas, Africa and African will be free from the stupidity of Western.
So, African interest is this stupid? The reason the genocidal maniac Isayas Afewerki is liked by China and Russia is that these dictators see themselves in him. They have no respect for African lives, any life for that matter and they find a friend in Isayas. Isayas Afewerki killed an aspiring nation called Eritrea and is doing the same to Ethiopia. He has caused the death and misery of generations in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Anyone worth the respect of lives in Africa wouldn’t even think of publishing trash like this. Isayas is a criminal who should be brought to justice, not a man to be celebrated. Yes, the West is not a group of saints either, but Isayas is a demon.
Ethiopian? Off course Tigray is Ethiopia and you are Tigraway ethioian. For a record, the article is written by some one who is well aware of Eritrea and PIA. Considering your tplf was the best and cheapest servant of the western neocolonial powers, this article will give you a nightmare. The fact that you went as far as blaming Putin and Xi for inviting PIA says a lot about your identity. Anyways, there is nothing you do, but deal with it. The world now understands who is the peace lover and who was a messenger of chaos and destabilization in the HOA. I can understand where your frustration is coming but can’t help it. ዓባቕ ትግራይካ ሒዝካ ኩድም.
How would you profile the life of the Eritrean? And “self-reliance” in Eritrea,
… sir?
You seem to be proud of deceptive articles which could have been produced by you or your likes; or desperate visits!
Could you tell about the Eri lives – in 400 prisons!! Loss of Eritrean lives in the wars waged in Yemen, the Sudan, twice or more in Ethiopia? !! … about one-third of its young population abandened it for their lives, … !! ?? …
#TPLF stooge disguised as Ethiopian.
Unlike your TPLF ethnofascist kleptocrats, President Isaias consistently preached & struggled to achieve the great EPLF motto ” SELF RELIANCE” since early 1970s.
The days when colonialists used TPLF as a condom to create chaos in Ethiopia, & export to the rest of Africa by polarising vertically along ethnic & racial lines are gone.
Africa is rising!
It’s a nice article. All what these 2 grand receptions done, seen throughout the world are a show of honest respect, for the free, independent man of courage and commitment. True to himself, the people and his couIntry🇪🇷. It was an honor that matches his spirit of indomitable courage not to kneel down, to any, unjust dominant force/superpower. A well deserved honor to his people and to Africa.. Any thing else narrated is secondaty..
It always depend on who’s talking, Mr. Ethiopia whom have no guts to identify him or herself. Look what is going on in Ethiopia, I would rather have a dictator instead having anarchy in the country. I rather have a dictator, than becomes a Western puppet who flows an order from Western countries ambassadors. Do you know why the Western countries do not like PI, because “assertive, principled and dependable ” not like former Ethiopian dictators Meles Zenawi. Your Zenawi was a good puppet of Weste , look what happened to him when he start looking to Easte, they killed him. That what happened when you have no outonomy.
It is a pity that your media outlet is lavishing praise on one of the most brutal dictators of modern age, Isaias of Eritrea. He has impoverished the country beyond measure; caused the exodus of two generations; has jailed hundreds without trace; run the country with no parliament, cabinet, budget, constitution, electricity, running water; ironically incurred hundreds of millions of debt from China and the Arabs. In stead of researching on such facts, your media africainterest.com has relied on the dictator’s cheap rhetoric and propaganda.
You are out of mind or you’re blind you can’t see it the future or the fares. Because what is the meaning of DICTATOR (chekani) to you is?
What’s the relationship of GIVER – BEGGER to you?
ISIAS is the truth & faithful leader with the great his nation. He served to his nation & they loved him. That’s why Russia & China they see it from the far but you can not see it. Because you’re blind by the corrupt AID, USAID, IMF International Money Foreign and all the agencies you can name it is the AGENCY of western countries, that’s all. How they they help to TPLFiates are we seen, how they bothered by fake news we knew about that. ISIAS said GROWTH together but Meles said we’re do not like to see our neighbors grow otherwise both poor or rich. The question is how to grow? ISAIAS said we’re not to say our enemies (Ethiopia) are not beneficial from the NILE RIVER they are beneficial from NILE RIVER. Nhna msWEYANA texalina sle zkone ETHIOPIA kab feleg NILE terebahti kkonu yeblomn knbl). What would you would be say it if that was the problem occurred in ERITREA? Surely we knew that what you say it. But you are stubborn until you don’t know the truth. MISTAKE is not mistake but if you don’t learn from your mistake is MISTAKE. What about ALGERIS AGREEMENT or just what you want guys to do you interest only. Is that LAW or what is LAW to you?
እዚ ምሕዝነት ፕረሲደንት ኢሰያስ ምስ ቻይናን ሩስያን፡ ዝያዳ ካልእ ኣህዛብ፡ ተጋሩ ክርብሕሉ ኢዮም። ንሱ ክዉን ክኸውን ግን፡ ብዛዕባ’ዚ ድኻ ህዝቢ ዝሓሊ መሪሕነት እንተረኺቦም ጥራይ ኢዩ። እንተዘይኮነ፡ ኣብ ሓላ ቀደሞም (ፍሽኩልና፡ ጥሜት፡ ሓሶት፡ ስርቂ) ከኹድዱ መሰሎም ሕልዊ’ዩ።
President Isaias patiently waited many years for western countries to change their hostile and aggressive policies. Their futile attempt to destroy Eritrea into submission of their dominant and militaristic interests has failed.
The time is COME to the real who is ERITREAN. Why I say the the real person named DICTATOR but he’s SELF RELIANT. No matter is the real is not hide. The no WAVER ISIAS is the good leader ever with the great nation of the country. Mistake is not mistake but if you don’t learn from your mistake is MISTAKE. change is from INSIDE to OUTSIDE. That’s why western countries & their allies are they don’t want that. What the cooperation of between GIVER & BEGGER to you? Absolutely the difference is sky & earthly.
WESTERN COUNTRIES they don’t have permanent friends when everything they taken away your TREASURE they would say bey, not tanks.
Who’s the real FRIEND? Who’s the the truth news information?
WESTERN countries all the time what the give to you is they make you again BEGGER.
For what reason they support TPLF by any reason they want to come power to their corrupt actions to conclusion. And all AID, USAID,International Foreign Money (IFM) all agencies of you can name it belongs Western countries, that’s all.
Excellent observation and article, thank you!
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This is a refreshing African story that should be a headline on every African nation.
Wise up and Rise up Africa
Admonish and emulate your giants