Mereja.Forum

[Awash]

October 14, 2019. Aaron Brooks

...Abiy Ahmed has embarked on a sweeping campaign of reforms since coming into power last April, addressing some of the country’s most pressing issues, such as human rights and political freedoms. Meanwhile, Afwerki’s Eritrea remains one of the worst countries in the world for its record on human rights.

Last year’s landmark peace deal sparked optimism that Eritrea’s reclusive leader might be ready to step out of isolation from the international community and address his country’s atrocious human rights record.

This simply hasn’t happened.

In July, UN experts warned there no signs of any improvements since the peace deal was signed. UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Daniela Kravetz, said at the time:

“The dividends of peace are not yet benefiting ordinary Eritreans, nor are there any signs to suggest they will. Eritrean authorities remain unwilling to tolerate any expression of dissent.”

Rights groups have heavily criticised the country for failing to address any of its ongoing human rights issues, despite benefiting politically and financially from last year’s peace deal. Economic agreements with Ethiopia featured heavily in peace talks and sanctions lifted by both the UN and the EU.

In October 2018, Eritrea was even elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council by the UN General Assembly, despite having one of the world’s worst records. The country still holds this seat while having made no recognisable progress on the issue of human rights or showing any intention to do so.

The Eritrea-Ethiopia peace deal was signed by the countries’ two leaders in July 2018. Yet, while Abiy Ahmed becomes the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Isais Afwerki’s Eritrea remains in the shadows – and rightfully so until genuine progress is made on human rights in the country.

https://eastafricamonitor.com/as-abiy-w ... e-shadows/