ICERAS

itrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 and is officially a presidential republic. However, the East African country is de facto ruled by a repressive dictatorship under President Isaias Afwerki, who initially ousted the parliament and restricted freedom of the press. There is no separation of powers, independent judiciary or constitution.

In 2018, a peace and friendship treaty was signed between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which is seen internationally as a positive signal. Although little has changed for the majority of Eritrea’s population, the rate of emigration decreased noticeably around the same time. Today, about one-fifth of all Eritreans live abroad.

Military service for an indefinite period

The most common reason for fleeing to other countries is military service, which every Eritrean must complete at the end of his or her school career. Officially, this is an 18-month basic training, as is common in many other countries. Instead of military training, the service can also be completed in agriculture, nursing or mining, depending on the choice of “National Service”. However, the end of this service is set by a superior officer and often exceeds the 18 months significantly. Cases of several decades are known.

Without a final certificate, young Eritreans are denied a self-determined life in many areas. For example, they are not allowed to open a business. But even a university degree or a driver’s license cannot be obtained without completed military service. Since the younger generations in particular are thus faced with a future that cannot be planned, they see no future in their country. The provision for their families also depends on their own professional future. In a country that has massive problems in education, health care and also in the supply of food, this leads to a wave of emigration that has been going on for decades. readmore