Eritrea: Africa's version of North Korea?

Usually when we hear the words self reliant economy, closed border, and a leader saying his country doesn't need elections, we think of North Korea. But this is no longer the case because these words can now be applied to Eritrea as well. Eritrea's 'self reliant' economy is faltering and the country is slipping into is deepest political isolation in 16 years. If this wasn't bad enough, Eritrea is also being accused by the US and other nations of funneling arms and money to several rebel groups across the horn of Africa, including Somalia. Eritrea is not only be accused by the US, but the US is also threatening to use sanctions against the country. Eritrea's president Isaias Afwerki, said that these allegations are pure fabrications and the Eritrea is doing great. Even though Afwerki thinks that Eritrea is doing great the fact is that it is not because there are many problems. First, since Afwerki took power he has not held elections, he also has banned opposition groups, and sent people to remote desert prisons without trials. This might seem bad enough, but this is just the tip of the ice berg. Second, after consecutive poor harvest about two-thirds of Eritreans are malnourished. Third, about one-third of the money in Eritrea's economy is money sent home from Eritreans living overseas. The fourth problem is that many Eritreans want out of their country. The UN refugee agency noted that there were 62,700 asylum applications from Eritrea last year, and only Zimbabwe had more. Clearly from this information we can see the Eritrea is Africa's North Korea. Hopefully though Eritrea unlike North Korea can realize that what it is doing is not allowing it to prosper and then take the necessary steps to change its actions.

By: William Miller
Source: Christian Science Monitor