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Why I love the government of Eritrea and its leadership

Eritrea celebrated its 20th independence anniversary this year (2011).  While most African countries have had 50 years of independence to rebuild their country, Eritrea has had 20 tumultuous years.  A recurring drought, an invasion by neighbour, an interference by outsiders has not stopped the country's march forward.  Eritrea's achievements in all sectors are unparalleled in Africa.  The president of Eritrea and its top leadership have been wrongly vilified by some in the western media.  There are many reasons why I love the government of Eritrea.  Here are my top 20 in honour of Eritrea's 20 years of Independence:
  1. Natural Resources like gold will be harvested to benefit Eritreans first.  The government of Eritrea negotiated a 40% ownership while the standard is 10% in other parts of Africa.
  2. No fertile land will be sold to foreigner unlike other countries in Africa. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/21/ethiopia-centre-global-farmland-rush
  3. Government has made food security its primary goal.  While other countries in Horn of Africa are begging  for food aid, Eritrea has achieved food self sufficiency.
  4. Eritrean government has shunned aid that breeds dependence and the strings that come attached.  It's children are learning to do for themselves.
  5. President lives in modest means among his people. No fancy palaces and no private jets.  His children attend public schools and participate in national service same as everyone.  According to French Ambassador to Eritrea, President Isais is "without question, articulate, intelligent, and has a keen understanding of the Horn of Africa." http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/04/07ASMARA346.html# President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda called President Isaias "an honorable comrade".
  6. President and top leadership have not enriched themselves at the expenses of the public and they do not have millions stashed away in foreign accounts.
  7. The Eritrean Public including diaspora Eritreans has an precedented access to officials including the President.
  8. An all inclusive government represented by both major religions, women, youth and all ethnic groups.
  9. No ethnically based federal system that pits one ethnic group against another and that can potentially tear a country apart at its seam.  One People, one Heart! 
  10. The government, unlike others in the region, is working very hard to ensure remote areas are not neglected. Hospitals, colleges, and roads are being built in far away places to ensure equal access and opportunity to all citizens. Rural development is not being sacrificed for urban affluence.
  11. Prompts peace and tirelessly works for peace in the Horn of Africa region.  Eritrea was instrumental in mediating between Tigray Libration Front and Oromo Liberation Front at a critical time for Ethiopia.  Eritrea was instrumental in the South & North Sudan peace accord.  Eritrea was instrumental in bringing peace between the Sudanese government and the Eastern Front. Eritrea also mediated during the Yemen Civil war.
  12.  Protects religious harmony by limiting outside negative influences that can upset the balance. Eritrea split equally between Muslims and Christians.  Religious groups are free to practice their faith but those who want to disrupt the harmonious coexistence, backed by foreign finances are not tolerated. 
  13. Respects and abides by international law and agreements it signs.  The Yemen-Eritrea arbitration and the Eritrea-Ethiopia arbitration decisions are just two of the many.
  14. Unparalleled development in the building blocks of a country -- roads, bridges, electricity, schools, dams etc not just in one region but in all regions.
  15. According to the 2005 Millennium Development Goals report, Eritrea is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals dealing with gender equality at the primary school level, child health, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases, and access to safe water.  Eritrea is only one of four countries in Africa projected to achieve these goals. http://www.er.undp.org/mdgs/docs/mdgr_pub_eritrea.pdf
  16. No illicit financial flows that can bleed country dry. http://www.financialtaskforce.org/2011/12/05/illegal-ethiopian-capital-flight-skyrocketed-in-2009-to-us3-26-billion/
  17. Eritrean is one of the safest countries in the world. Its capital Asmara is one of the only city in the region where people can walk in the middle of the night without an iota of fear. 
  18. Ethiopia supported by the west tries to create a no war, no peace situation to cripple the country.  The government of Eritrea launches the warsai-yekealo project to use the army to rebuild the country while at the same time ready to defend the country.
  19. Eritrea is progressing in agriculture, mining, education, medicine faster than any other country in Horn of Africa. http://www.eritreacompass.com/eritrean-news/54-politics/657-eritrea-the-outlier.html
  20. Successfully defended the country from an Ethiopian invasion and continues to defend the country from inside and outside threats to its existence.
These are just 20 of the many reasons most of us believe Eritrea is in good hands and its future is as bright as the sun.

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