Opinion
Eritrea: A country on the path to self-reliance after rejecting foreign aid
“It has provoked people to do more to feed themselves,” he said, predicting Eritrea would produce an agricultural surplus in 3 years. “We are fed better than anyone.”
However, critics accuse Afwerki of autocratic rule. He rejects criticisms, calling the constitution “only a paper,” dismissing those in jail as “crooks,” and bristling at the suggestion that he’s worried about holding a free vote.
“Do you think I’m scared of elections in this country?” he said. “What have I done wrong to be scared of elections? I’m moving in the right direction.”
With little production and few exports, the government and citizens rely heavily on remittances from Eritreans abroad, including a tax on expatriates collected through the nation’s consulates. Although the tax is voluntary, not paying jeopardizes rights and property in Eritrea, so compliance is fairly good.
Asmara, the capital, is one of Africa’s cleanest and safest cities, with Art Deco architecture, palm-lined avenues and bustling street cafes. The country’s economy is set to grow quite rapidly with the added bonus of new mining ventures which should make Eritrea one of the fastest developing economies on the African continent.
Isaias offered no apologies. He said this generation’s sacrifices would pave the way for Eritrea’s future. “People will either learn the easy way or the hard way,” he said. “If you aspire to become someone in this society with a good quality of life, you work for it. You do not get it for free. It is as simple as that.”
