Veronica Almedom ,
Please provide us with your views on the state of peace in the country you will represent at the One Young World Summit
The state of peace in Eritrea has drastically changed over the past few weeks. Abiy Ahmed, the new Ethiopian PM, fully and unconditionally accepted the Algier Agreement and therefore, the “no-war, no peace” status in place in Eritrea since 2000 has no raison d’être.
The government of Eritrea always used the pretext of this emergency state to prevent Eritreans from claiming their basic freedoms and human rights. It has also meant the refusal on many occasions to implement the ratified Constitution. As indicated by many UN Reports, the government of Eritrea has used force in a disproportionate manner notably by shutting down the national assembly, suppressing independent media and arresting, imprisoning and torturing innocent civilians.
Since Ethiopia accepted the agreement, an Eritrean delegation, and afterwards the President Isayas Afeworki, traveled to Addis Abeba to reinforce ties with the Ethiopian government. While the Ethiopian Prime Minister continually reports the state of affairs to citizens, the Eritrean population remains completely in the dark. Eritreans remains excluded from their public affairs and the military continues to rule the country. The impact of this overdue change on the poor, undemocratic living conditions of Eritreans, who remain militarily mobilized despite the threat now being close to nonexistent, has not been addressed. In a nutshell, Eritreans are still not benefitting from the peace.
How do you think your work and/or activism contribute to countering violent extremism and a sustainable peace?
Although difficult to interact with the Eritrean government, I engage with the officials who work at the UN Eritrean Permanent mission in Geneva as well as those in New York. I share ideas with them that lead to the rehumanization of Eritrean justice seekers and Eritrean government officials that is needed for truly effective reconciliation. These steps must then lead to respect on both sides. The perspective must change on both instrumental and emotional levels so that we can all envisage a joint future.