Why is the EU Blatantly Oblivious to the Concerted Voice of Africa?

By:  Tsehaye Debalkew 09/08/09

Washington, DC

It could be arguably vehemently declared that the single most, cardinal issue that has captured unanimity in its entirety and brought Africa together, a rare commodity in African political and diplomatic culture; to voice its concerted concern and worry in unison has been the unabashedly shameful and perfidious act of destabilization in the horn region, decidedly and flagrantly championed by the hooligan Eritrean leadership in Asmara.

It is an open secret that the nefarious thugs at the helm of the political power in the tiny nation of Eritrea have brazenly and consistently exhibited hostile posture by confronting militarily all the neighboring countries in a futile bid to demonstrate their macho and military prowess to the demise and ultimate disaster of their nation.

Today, as a consequence of their self-delusionary military adventure, they have amassed close to 300,000 conscripts in the hills and valleys of Eritrea under the guise of defending the sovereignty of Eritrea, ranking the country as the second militarized nation in the planet.

Unable to cope up with and shoulder the harsh repression and draconian rule unleashed by the regime, thousands of youth, braving mines, electric barbed-wires and “shoot-to-kill- on-the-spot” orders by the country’s Gestapo, are flocking to neighboring Sudan and Ethiopia crossing the borders and risking their dear lives trying to traverse across the red sea by succumbing to perilous sea voyages often culminating in cap-sizing boats much to the delight and cocktail party by sea-borne wild animals feast on the live human blood, bone and flesh.

Africa, after having patiently tried all diplomatic and peaceful means to advise Eritrea to stop its unwarranted meddling, intervention, provocation, open hostilities, arrogance and out-right contempt to international, continental and regional organizations and respected leaders, finally passed a series of resolutions to the effect that the destabilizing acts of Eritrea should be halted and all necessary measure be effected to deter such manifestations prompting the UN Security Council to react accordingly.

It is against this stark backdrop that the EU entered into an agreement with the regime in Asmara, whereby the former would release close to 130 million Euro, equivalent to three billion Nakfa purportedly for the implementation of development programs.

Does the EU has even the flimsiest doubt that Eritrea is ranked as the second militarized nation on earth, because whatever development aid it acquired is channeled towards bolstering and beefing up its singular military muscle?

The EU is adequately aware and sufficiently informed that the miniscule horn of African nation of Eritrea with no blink of the eye is the only country with no constitution, zero independent press, and zilch independent judiciary! Eritrea has earned the pinnacle of notoriety for its human rights, abuse, and persecution of all sorts of religious, congregations, crackdowns upon dissent and complete absence of political pluralism.

If the EU is of the opinion that, resort to carrot and stick policy should be adhered to alternately depending on the reality on the ground, why did it choose to use the carrot, while the regional body the East African group and the AU in league with the UN Security Council are ardently wielding the stick to send the message that Eritrea needs to desist and refrain from its evil acts of destabilizing the region by abetting, supporting and harboring international terrorists and recalcitrant and recluse regional extremist cohorts.

Is this unwarranted and unqualified financial support by the EU to Eritrea at this juncture in history, a testimony to the double-standard used by the EU, while advocating the respect for human rights, the Freedom of Conscience and the right to expression and political organization which are conspicuously absent both in the Eritrean lexicography and landscape and contemporary culture?

If sanity were to prevail, a considered and cool appreciation of the current situation that obtains in Eritrea does not concur to the belief that EU should side with the perpetrators of evil that assiduously conspire, by all counts, against democracy, respect for human rights, political pluralism, constitution, the rule and due process of law which I whole heartedly believe are the kernel of the character and belief of European Democracy.  I hope the EU will have taken a lesson that it has for now momentarily goofed and blundered on timing not on perpetually absconding far from its core ideals.