Mereja.Forum

Potemkin Party officials, hired apologists and minions, have this knack for invoking postulates and arguments that are banal in substance but are, nonetheless, packaged in ostensibly "academic/geopolitical" analysis and garb for purposes of deceptive "credibility".

Latest variants and versions in this saga of incessant public agitation and saber rattling include:

* Delusional arguments on the

imperative for Ethiopia to project naval power to enhance the security of the Red Sea

because, we are told,

the task cannot be fully handled by the littoral States.

Leaving unequivocal legal provisions and prevailing robust security configurations aside, the argument is too ludicrous to merit response. It is indeed mind-boggling why a regime notorious for incubating, and that is constantly embroiled in, perpetual internal conflicts of its own making has the temerity to assume an out-sized regional mantle as an "indispensable anchor State" instead of finding enduring panacea to its real and enormous challenges.

* Tenuous arguments, in addition to worn-out references of population size etc., on exorbitant "transit fees" and purported reduction in its annual GDP growth due to the lack of "sovereign access to the sea". These arguments are often laced with rather explicit corollary/threats that the regime

may indeed unleash war against its neighbour

to rectify these "existential threats".

The Potemkin Party's outrageous allusion to

precedence of, and analogy with, Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights

at the last Session of the House of the Peoples Representatives was made in this context principally to mislead its domestic constituencies.

Apparently, the myopic and callous PP officials are oblivious to the economic devastation and loss of life that any war of aggression is fraught with when they indulge in, and agitate for, these reckless agendas.

* This is the real backdrop and underlying rationale behind the patently false and fabricated accusations leveled against Eritrea by the PP regime, these days. Transparent as they are, the spurious arguments for unleashing war to acquire "sovereign access to the sea" have not, and cannot, find any traction or political endorsement in the wider world. The war agenda must thus be inverted and re-packaged under false premises and pretexts. @hawelti


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Fenkil participants in relaxation. Eritrea-Pictures

ማእከል ስሕበት -- The Center of Gravity



ኣብ ኢድካ እዮ ዘሎ ምስጢር እዚ ከባቢ
ፍቃድካ እዮ ዘሕዊ ዝቐብር ዝደቢ
ድሌትካዮ ዝሓቁፍ ዝግልል ዝድርቢ
ኩራዕ በል ኤርትራዊ ኾንካ መዛረቢ

Farewell Ceremony to National Cycling Team

@shabait

18 Feb 2026



The Commission of Culture and Sports organized a farewell ceremony at its office on 17 February for the National Cycling Team, which is set to participate in the 18th Tour Rwanda to be held from 22 February to 1 March.

The national team, coached by Samson Solomon, comprises Merhawi Kudus, Henok Mulubrhan, Nahom Zeray, Yafiet Mulugeta, and Natan Medhanie.

Mr. Mekonnen Goitom, Director of the Office of the Commission of Culture and Sports, expressed confidence that the national team would register shining victories as it has done in past years.

Mr. Temesgen Reda’e, President of the National Cycling Federation, stated that the national team has conducted ample preparations for the competition and will repeat the successive victories that have been registered in various competitions.

Mr. Samson Solomon, coach of the national team, and Merhawi Kudus, captain of the team, on their parts, said that they have conducted adequate preparation for the competition, in which strong teams are expected to participate.

Noting that Eritrea’s name has been shining beyond the African continent at the global level, Lt. Col. Samuel Tsegay, Head of Administration and Finance of the Commission, wished the national team every success.

The competition will be conducted in eight stages, covering a total distance of 993 km.


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Farewell to Eritrea’s First Winter Olympian: Shannon Abeda

@tesfanews



For a country better known for sun than snow, Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda, 29, has been a trailblazer.

Born in Canada to Eritrean parents, Shannon became Eritrea’s first-ever Winter Olympian, proudly carrying the flag across three Olympic Winter Games.



Alpine skiing is a tough sport: expensive, technical, and resource-heavy, but Shannon overcame every obstacle to ensure his beloved Eritrea was represented on the world’s grandest winter stage.



At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, he takes his final Olympic run, closing a chapter of dedication and resilience.

His journey from PyeongChang 2018 to Beijing 2022 and now Milan-Cortina 2026 highlights Africa’s growing presence in winter sports, alongside athletes from South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and more.



Shannon Abeda leaves a legacy of pride, perseverance, and inspiration, showing that even in unlikely places, dreams can carve their own path through the snow.



Eritreans everywhere celebrate his dedication, courage, and unwavering representation.

ኣገናዕ! 🫡



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HUGE congratulations to our incredible Eritrean-Swedish boxers, coached by the brilliant Henok Alem in Höör, Sweden!



What a phenomenal weekend for Eritrean diaspora talent on the world stage!

Two GOLD medals & one SILVER at the championship!

Erjon
Amna
Erina

Your hard work, discipline, and team spirit have made history!



This victory continues to showcase the unstoppable force of Eritrean talent worldwide.

A massive shout-out and respect to Coach Henok Alem for guiding these champions!



The Eritrean victory championship worldwide, continues!

Kudos, Eritrea!

©Tsehaye•Hagos
17 Feb 2026

Opinion
Sovereignty Under Pressure: Eritrea’s Distinct Path Through COVID‑19

By @Dahlakib

https://redseabeacon.com/sovereignty-un ... -covid-19/

February 18, 2026

When the COVID‑19 pandemic swept across the globe, governments faced immense pressure to act quickly, to close borders, secure vaccines, and accept emergency aid. In that moment of global panic, Eritrea once again chose a path shaped by a long‑standing national principle: self‑reliance.

For Eritrea, sovereignty is not rhetoric. It is policy. During the pandemic, Eritrea prioritized early containment with border screenings, quarantine centers, and strict public‑health enforcement. Rather than relying on large external inflows of aid, authorities emphasized internal mobilization and disciplined management. According to global health data, Eritrea reported around 103 total COVID‑19 deaths since the pandemic began, out of over 10,000 reported cases (theglobaleconomy.com).

This philosophy became particularly visible when a high‑profile shipment of COVID‑19 medical supplies, ventilators and protective equipment donated through a foundation associated with Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, was offered. Eritrea recognized the donor’s generosity and intentions. However, the government decided not to accept the shipment, signaling that even during a global emergency, aid must align with national priorities and policies.

Critics viewed this as rigidity. Supporters saw consistency. The same posture appeared in vaccine policy. Eritrea did not immediately join global distribution mechanisms such as COVAX and did not launch a rapid nationwide vaccination campaign, during the early global rollout. Instead, officials maintained a cautious stance, focusing first on containment and internal management. At the time, that decision drew sharp criticism. Vaccination was framed globally as the singular exit strategy. But as years have passed, the global conversation has grown more complex, with ongoing scientific review, evolving booster guidance, and monitoring of rare vaccine side effects reminding the world that emergency medical decisions carry layers of uncertainty. While vaccines have played a major role in reducing severe disease and death worldwide, public‑health debates have also acknowledged that medical interventions, especially those deployed rapidly, require careful long-term evaluation. Within that broader global context, Eritrea’s slower and more guarded approach is now viewed by some as ideological, by others as precautionary.

This does not mean Eritrea rejected science. The country maintained diplomatic and technical engagement with partners, studying containment strategies and sharing public‑health insights. But cooperation did not equal automatic alignment. The distinction is important.

Eritrea’s pandemic response reflected a consistent doctrine: selective engagement, guarded acceptance of external assistance, and an emphasis on national control over critical decisions. Whether one agrees with the approach or not, it was not improvised. It followed a pattern established long before COVID‑19.
In a global system where smaller nations often navigate between dependency and pressure, Eritrea continues to test a difficult proposition, that strategic independence may come at a cost, but dependency carries its own.

History will debate the outcomes. But Eritrea’s path was deliberate. And distinctly its own.